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Tried and tested: Anchor lights & where they should be fitted

  • Duncan Kent
  • April 26, 2020

Still relying on an old hurricane lamp at anchor? Duncan Kent tests the latest electric anchor lights

Anchor lights

We range-tested the lights from a yacht moored off Calshot in Southampton Water Credit: Colin Work

Anchor lights have changed rapidly over the past few years, partly due to the shift from incandescent filament bulbs to LEDs.

In addition to navigation lights, another area important to all cruising sailors is visibility when anchored.

Some skippers just hoist an old oil-powered hurricane lamp up a halyard, others deploy converted solar garden lamps, but if you really want to avoid being hit in the early hours by a latecomer to the anchorage it’s surely best to ensure your anchor light is clearly visible from a good distance.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Nowadays, the problem of high current drain from your boat’s lights should be in the past.

Modern LED ‘bulbs’ are rapidly overtaking the old, inefficient filament-type bulbs, proving to be equally bright – brighter in many cases – and with a fraction of their power demands.

Being nearly 10 times as power-efficient as standard filament bulbs, as well as considerably more resistant to vibration and impact, they appear to be the ideal solution for all sailing boat lights.

They can be left on without the worry of flattening the ship’s batteries, but also the wiring required to power them can be reduced in size, minimising weight aloft where masthead and steaming lights are situated.

Wiring them up

LEDs are wired in a similar way to filament units. Although they are polarity sensitive, most can be wired up either way and they will still work, thanks to integral diode correction circuitry.

At worst, they simply won’t light if you reverse positive and negative, until you swap the wires over.

It is worth mentioning at this point that if you intend to keep the same wiring and just change the lamp or bulb to a lower power LED type, the circuit protection fuse or breaker must remain the same value as it is there to protect the wiring, not the device.

Reliability and lifespan

Almost as important as low power consumption is reliability.

When a masthead bulb blows, someone has to change it – something few sailors are inclined to do at sea.

Being less vulnerable to the typical jarring the masthead is likely to experience in rough sea states, LEDs are far less likely to blow during a bumpy passage.

In fact, most of the top quality units are quoted as having a 50,000-hour lifespan! F

or this reason it’s not surprising they are currently quite a bit more expensive than the incandescent bulb types, but this is likely to change once LED navlights become the norm.

Changing bulbs to LEDs

Many boat owners have converted their incandescent navigation lights to LED by simply swapping existing filament-type bulbs with the equivalent LED clusters.

Early LEDs were not very powerful and therefore not necessarily visible over the legally required range.

Nowadays, however, with the integration of miniature voltage regulators, most decent-quality LED clusters can accept any voltage between 10v and 30v DC, whilst retaining full brightness, regardless of the battery condition or voltage fluctuation.

Top quality LED clusters are encapsulated in resin to prevent water ingress.

Though more expensive, it makes sense to fit this sort, particularly to a masthead-mounted unit, to avoid the climb to replace it.

Despite the longevity of LEDs, bulb replacement clusters suffer the same problems with dirty or corroded contacts as filament bulbs, so it’s a good idea to grease up their contacts with silicone grease before installing them.

How we tested the anchor lights

A man hanging a light in the fore triangle of a yacht

We hung the anchor lights in the fore triangle, but tested them individually

In this test we took a selection of typical modern anchor lights – a mix of masthead mounting and hoistable types – and tested their visibility from a mile away to see if the new LED types were genuinely as easy to see from a distance as the traditional filament bulb models.

Taking all the anchor lights out on the editor’s boat late one June evening, we picked up a buoy in Calshot Bay and hung the lights in the foretriangle of the yacht, around 2.5m above deck level.

At first we tried lighting five of them at once, to see if we could compare them together, but 150m away the light started to merge into one bright blob, so we reverted to testing each one individually.

Testing current of a light using an ammeter

Testing the current draw of each light using an ammeter

I set off across Southampton Water in our RIB, having set the boat as a mark on my GPS, so that I knew when I was exactly one nautical mile from the yacht.

Then, communicating via VHF radio, we lit each light and judged by eye as to how bright, white and clear to see they were – scoring them out of 10.

We did consider using a spot-beam analyser, but in the end the human eye is by far the most accurate detector of distant lights and, after all, that’s exactly what would happen in real life.

Later, back on land, we powered them up again to check their actual current consumption using an ammeter.

Where should an anchor light be fitted?

A man hanging up an anchor light

On the boom end, masthead or hung in the foretriangle? Colregs say you shouldn’t show more than one

Every time I go off for a week, or even a long weekend, I spend as much time as possible at anchor.

There’s something about being in charge of your own destiny that culminates in a night at anchor.

After a good day’s sail I often end up entering an anchorage after dark, picking my way through a forest of unlit masts and almost imperceptible hull silhouettes.

Most boats are poorly lit – if at all – and the few that are lit have an all-round white light at the top of their mast, which boatbuilders these days like to call an anchor light.

The masthead anchor light came about to make life easy for builders.

Wires have to go up to mast for a tricolour ( de rigueur for today’s small to medium-size cruisers), so why not take one more up for an all-round white ‘anchor’ light?

In the Colregs, Rule 30(b) simply states that for a vessel under 50m LOA ‘an all-round white light should be placed where best seen’.

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Traditionally, this always meant hanging it in the foretriangle. An anchor light at the masthead was never a consideration until a couple of decades ago.

Anyway, the purpose of the anchor light is not to satisfy regulations, but to enable your vessel to be seen by others so that they can take avoiding action.

Being keen to light up my rig or decks to an incoming vessel, rather than show a light 40ft up my mast where it often gets lost in amongst the jumble of shore lights surrounding many anchorages, I often hang mine from the stern end of the boom, raising it to ensure it is visible above the sprayhood.

This also serves as a useful cockpit light when eating al fresco on warm summer evenings.

However, there is a point to the old custom of hanging it in the foretriangle: it gives some indication of where your anchor cable is laid out, so that others can avoid snagging it when they drop their own hook.

This is particularly useful in crowded anchorages, where swinging room can be tight.

Anchor lights tested

Boatlamp portable anchor light .

Boatlamp portable anchor light 

A hoisting ring would have been useful

Most portable anchor/cockpit lights plug into a 12V socket, but this one comes with a choice of LED clusters and has an automatic dawn-to-dusk switch to save power when the sun is up but you’re not.

Boatlamp portable anchor light 

Boatlamp Portable Anchor Light

Both the standard 1.3W (6-LED) and the more power-hungry 3W, 15-LED version worked very well, and even the 1.3W model could be seen clearly from 1nm.

Current draw: 1.3W/46mA; 3W/115mA

Range: 1nm/2nm

Brightness: 5/10; 6/10

Price: From £27.50

Buy it now from eBay (UK)

Buy it now from eBay (US)

Hella Compact NaviLED 360 – Best on test

Hella Compact NaviLED 360

The unit has a five-year warranty

This light is fully sealed and has a heavy-duty, polyamide lens and UV-resistant, high-impact nylon housing designed to provide outstanding resistance to vibration and impact.

It is waterproof to IP67. Its 90mm diameter, round base can be black or white with three holes for mounting flat.

Hella Compact NaviLED 360

Hella Compact NaviLED 360

Prewired with a 1.3m cable, it operates over a wide voltage range, using electronics to ensure consistent brightness.

Its five-year warranty won’t cover faulty LEDs.

Current draw: 110mA

Brightness: 7/10

Price: From £101.70

Buy it now at Amazon (US)

Buy it now at eBay (UK)

Buy it now at eBay (US)

Hella NaviLED 360 pole-mount 

Hella NaviLED 360 pole-mount 

Power draw matched the Compact version

Almost identical to the Compact with the same 1.3m lead, only it comes on a short (155mm high) aluminium pole with a two-hole, screw-down plastic base mount.

Hella NaviLED 360 pole-mount 

Hella NaviLED 360 pole-mount

The info and packaging claims a mere 1W consumption, but it drew exactly the same current as the 2W Compact and appeared to be equally as bright, so my guess is they are the same light just on a different mounting.

Price: From £125.80

Buy it now at Amazon (UK)

Lopolight

Mounts as an anchor light or a steaming light

The virtually bombproof Lopolight’s sophisticated circuitry regulates its output over time.

LEDs dim with age so a monitor counts ‘on’ hours and gradually increases current to compensate.

The Lopolight operates from 10-32v DC and power spikes are absorbed.

It uses top spec, 3mm LEDs in a UV-stable acrylic lens within a rugged, anodised aluminium housing. Electronics are sealed in epoxy.

Anchor lights

Designed to masthead mount with a 750mm cable, it can be wired as a 360deg, a 225deg (steaming) light or both.

Current draw: 202mA

From: £443.02

NASA Supernova – Best value for money

Anchor lights

A membrane equalises pressure on the seals

NASA Marine was one of the first to produce LED navlights, including the Supernova 2nm all-round white anchor light.

It has 32 high-efficiency LEDs to ensure minimal power consumption, which are encased in a tough, waterproof polycarbonate shell.

Anchor lights

NASA Supernova

Each comes with a black-painted steel bracket that is designed to be bent to conform to the correct shape for your boat, which supports a simple clamp that tightens around the short pole supplied with the light.

A 250mm cable enters the unit via a clamp-sealed grommet.

Current draw: 189mA

Brightness: 6/10

Price: From £60.00

Navi Light 360 

Navi Light 360 

Our ‘most useful to have around’ winner

It’s AAA battery-powered, waterproof and floats light-side up. While not designed as a permanent anchor light, it’s a useful emergency all-round light, easy to use and well made.

A magnetic back and detachable panel allows it to be used in many ways, including on the head strap provided.

Navi Light 360  Anchor light

Navi Light 360

Its 16 powerful LEDs can be seen clearly from two miles as a steaming or stern light, or flashing.

We used it as a navlight on the RIB, and it was clearly seen a mile away – even in economy mode with four LEDs lit.

Duration: Full 15hrs; 4-LED 72hrs

Price: From £59.99

Buy it now from Amazon (UK)

Buy it now from Amazon (US)

Aqua Signal Series 40 

Aqua Signal Series 40

A more traditional lamp for filament or LED bulbs

A larger lamp than the other units we tested, Aqua Signal’s Series 40 can be bought as either a masthead mount or a hoistable lamp.

It is supplied with a 10W incandescent bulb as standard, but easily took our bayonet fitting Searolf 30-LED cluster as a simple, direct replacement.

Aqua Signal Series 40

Aqua Signal Series 40

The lamp is robustly made and looks pretty tough, although it doesn’t claim to be completely waterproof.

Current draw: 1.4A

Price: From £82.95

Web: www.marathonleisure.com

Anchor Lights: the results

Every piece of kit Yachting Monthly tests is thoroughly examined against three key criteria

Performance: How well can they be seen over a distance of 1nm? Did they shine with a white or coloured light?

Power efficiency: How much power do they consume? Can you leave them on all night without flattening the batteries?

Value for money: Does the product’s performance justify its price-tag for the average cruising sailor?

All the anchor lights we tested were guaranteed to be visible from at least 2nm – the standard for a yacht up to 20m LOA.

With traditional filament lamps this roughly equates to a 10W filament bulb or a 3W LED cluster.

It’s not necessary to have a really bright light that can be seen for several miles – in fact it can often be misleading for vessels further offshore.

It’s really only when entering an anchorage that you’re interested to see where other boats are.

At no more than 200m a really bright light can be quite distracting to a newcomer to the anchorage on a dark night.

For this reason visibility up to one mile was all we sought.

It would be short-sighted not to choose an LED light for anchor duty, given their meagre power needs.

However, they are generally quite a bit more expensive than standard filament lamps, especially the sealed types.

* Yachting Monthly is not paid by manufacturers for our recommendations. If you click through and buy an item, we may receive a small amount of money from the retailer, at no cost to you. *

Enjoyed reading tried and tested: anchor lights & where they should be fitted.

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Sail Far Live Free

Sail Far Live Free

Sailing gear review: navisafe navi light 360 portable anchor light.

portable anchor light for sailboat

Here's the Navi Light 360 off and on (all 16 LEDs lit)
The packing shows the functions quite nicely

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Dear Readers

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Extra Anchor Lighting

Masthead anchor lights often aren’t enough in crowded anchorages..

portable anchor light for sailboat

When summer comes, a dozen or more sparkling white lights will adorn every popular anchorage. Visible from miles away, they promise to provide good warning to approaching boats that something is anchored there. In practice, they have manifold shortcomings. They all look alike, distance is impossible to gauge, and they can be difficult to distinguish from stars and shore lights. Fast-moving dinghies and runabouts often overlook them, since they are far above the driver’s sight line.

The basic rules for anchor lights were written in 1846-1850. The United Kingdom led with the Steam Navigation Act of 1846, and the US followed soon after. Electric lamps had not been invented, confusion with background lights was a minor concern, and a single lantern was considered enough. But is it now?

COLREGS states in Rule 5 (long before we get to the description of lights in Rule 30) that we must maintain a watch. There is no exemption for smaller vessels or while at anchor. Since this is impractical for the cruising sailor, and because nighttime harbor collisions are unfortunately common, taking additional steps in the form of supplemental lighting seems prudent.

OBSERVATIONS

When entering a harbor or any area that might have anchored boats, watch out for a relatively bright star that is moving in relation to the others. That’s a mast light indicating a boat. And if you are approaching that boat, the motion will be even less obvious. Once you learn how difficult this can be on a moonless night, you will understand our call for supplemental lighting.

Our opinion is that anchoring in an active harbor requires lighting both high and low. A masthead anchor light can be lost in the cloud of anchor lights and stars. An anchor light placed lower can be lost against the background of street lights and porch lights. So while the lower light could be a second anchor light product—COLREGS 30 (a) says it can be—an area light may better serve the purpose by illuminating the deck and super structure. COLREGS 30 (b) says you may display additional work lights, and we think you should.

A powerful spreader-mounted deck light may be too much, disturbing your neighbors. In principle they are focused downward, but some light up the whole harbor.

Cabin lights generally impart a glow to the whole boat, making the outline clear, but you can’t sleep with them on. Allowing for tinting and curtains, they are generally visible for only ¼- to ½-mile, depending on intensity. Cockpit lights draw mosquitoes to the companionway; if you leave cabin lights or the cockpit light on and go to shore for dinner, you may return to a cabin full of the pests. Put the screens in before you leave. Sometimes we set a light on the pulpit to draw them away from the companionway. Don’t forget radio interference. LEDs require current regulation, which is most often accomplished by a combination of resistors and rapid switching of the power using transistors. If the voltage drop is sufficient, this will cause radio frequency interference. Most interference is contained within the boat’s own power system, where it interferes with your radio and instruments, but it can also radiate a short distance.

Lights that show an FCC or USCG approval have been tested for radio frequency interference (RFI). In our testing, the RFI of low-voltage solar lights, which lack the approval of either agency, are too low to be a problem. At a minimum, scan that full range of VHF frequencies after installing any new lighting.

No flashing or strobe lights, please. This is reserved for signaling distress and can annoy your neighbors.

SOLAR PATHWAY LIGHTS

Designed for lighting footpaths ashore, these cheap lights intrigued us. Most solar pathway lights claim 8-hour run time, but all the ones we have used go dim after 4-6 hours and wink out well before first light. The solar panels are really tiny. Although they require only a few watt-hours to recharge the battery, they need at least 4-6 hours of full sun for best results.

Units we tested in broken shade usually fully recharged, but those in deep shade often winked out hours earlier. Likewise, overcast and rainy days can slightly reduce run time.

Swapping the factory NiCads (0.600 Ah) for lithium rechargeables (2.3 Ah) seemed like a good idea. Fully charged, they kept the lights on for two nights, but then failed to recharge because they require a higher charging voltage than the factory NiCads, more than the solar panel puts out. Also note that not all lithium batteries are rechargeable, and not all lithium rechargeables are 1.5V (some are 3.2V).

Don’t overdo it. Decorative lighting and strips can obscure your functional navigations lights. Observe your boat from all directions with all the lights on. Are the basic navigation lights clearly visible and the course of the boat obvious? Any supplemental or decorative lights that could interfere with clear recognition of your functional navigation lights must be turned off when underway.

Boats on moorings. For moored boats, we’d install enough built-in solar panels to run a conventional masthead anchor light through the main battery system.

Although there are photocell systems that will turn lights off during the day, a low-draw LED anchor light draws little more than the sensing circuit, so you can just leave it on. We don’t fully trust the durability of any of the solar pathway lights, so we would install one additional anchor light down low, with a separate switch.

For anchoring while aboard, or for a short hiatus away from the boat, a few of the Hampton Bay Silver Pathway Lights should make your boat easy to find and will make it more visible.

Technically, anchor lights are not required for boats under 23 feet (7 meters) in length, but to leave your boat unlit at anchor or mooring is risking trouble. Light your boat, even if it’s just a dinghy.

SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHTS

There are literally hundreds of possibilities, so we’ll discuss only a few, highlighting what we do and do not like (see also PS May, 2011 “ Portable LED Rail Lights ” )

MANTUS SNAP ON LIGHT

Initially, we thought this was a bit pricey for a battery-powered light, but over time we realized it filled the roles of several products, a good thing on a smaller boat.

On the high setting, it is as bright as most cockpit lights and will run for 16 hours. Switched to either low or red, it spreads an even light that does not compromise night vision, perfect for reading charts or tidying up underway. Clamped to a high railing, it meets the candela basis of a USCG anchor light; we’ve confirmed this on the water. It makes our F-24 easier to find when return from a mid-night kayak trip.

It makes a good non-glaring bilge worklight; we’ve dropped it in the water enough times to confirm that it’s waterproof. Clamped to the pulpit it makes a bow worklight, though we would use a head lamp for most night deckwork. It even has an SOS flasher setting. Although it does not meet the standard for an eVDSD (Electronic Visual Distress Signal), it will supplement other signaling means (see PS June 2021, “ Distress Flares Go Electric ”).

Finally, it is rechargeable by USB, and now that most of us have a port somewhere on the boat, it will always be charged without lugging around another charger.

Bottom line: Recommended as a small boat supplemental and a non- USCG emergency anchor light.

HAMPTON BAY PATHWAY LIGHTS

Most pathway lights direct the light downwards, toward your feet, with little escaping to the sides. They light up the cockpit a bit, but you can’t see them from a distance. Hampton Bay Silver Pathways lights, on the other hand, direct the light horizontally, perfect for viewing from a distance.

Though not as well focused as an anchor light, the mere 15 lumens output was clearly visible at 1-mile and very nearly meets the 2-mile anchor light visibility standard. The low profile allows them to be slapped on any flat surface with self-adhesive Velcro. We love the price, but unfortunately they only run 4-6 hours, meaning they will protect you from late arrivals and wee hour drunks, but will not stay lit until first light.

Bottom line: This is our Budget Buy for supplemental lighting. Do not expect the light to be on at 2 or 3 a.m. in the morning.

EMERGENCY ANCHOR LIGHTS

Our search for temporary lights took us into the realm of temporary lights designed specifically for anchoring, and claiming to meet one or more marine specification.

DAVIS INSTRUMENTS MEGA LIGHT

Many small boat sailors use this as their primary anchor light, hanging it in the rigging. It is has a 15-foot cord.

The Mega-Light is still available with the original incandescent bulb (0.3 amps), and with that lamp installed, performs the same as it did in prior testing. We measured the bright beam width at +/- 8 degrees, and long distance visibility seemed enough to meet the standard.

However, on the newer LED lights, with a factory-installed LED bulb, the center of the bright beam is about 30 degrees above the horizon if mounted with the base down (and 30 degrees below the horizon if suspended from the base). In the areas outside this narrow bright band of light (within +/- 5 degrees of the horizon), the light is less than 10 percent of the required brightness. Although quite bright, the LED emits upwards instead of radially like the incandescent lamp does.

The LED also sits about 1/4-inch lower in the housing. When tilted 30 degrees, the lamp aligns with the fresnel lens and becomes much brighter. In practice this means that if it is suspended as suggested by the maker, the light is really only visible within 50-100 feet of the boat, with most of the beam being directed skyward.

Our experience offers an important lesson for DIY sailors looking to save some amps by swapping to a different bulb than the one specified. Navigation lights are only approved with the specific lamp that was used for approval testing—no changes allowed.

Another thing that bothers us is the cigarette lighter plug, but it’s not Davis Instrument’s fault that we have such an impractical industry standard. We’re hoping the boating industry moves to a better standard, perhaps the DIN 4165 Powerlet- style (see PS August 2021, “Watertight Connectors”).

Bottom line: The non-LED version is Recommended, but the LED version has a limited beam angle that restricts visibility. There are better low-draw options for deck level lighting.

TECNIQ TOWER LIGHT

Although intended for permanent installation, this USCG-compliant light is tiny, dirt cheap, and could easily be adapted to a rail clamp or other temporary mounting. The diameter is a perfect match for 2-inch PVC pipe, something we learned when installing one on the mast of our F-24. Because it is so low profile, we needed a short vertical extension to clear the wind instrument housing, a short stub of pipe boosted it just enough and gave us a place to hide the splices. Very low power draw and low price make it an outstanding choice for secondary low level anchor light for a boat kept at a mooring.

Bottom Line: Recommended for permanent installation or to make a custom plug-in.

ESAFETY S6LS SOLAR MARINE LANTERN

An improved version of the solar pathway lights, the S6LS has enough battery capacity to last 60 hours, getting you through a stretch of cloudy days. A local marina installed these on the outlying pilings several years ago, and we can see them at 2-miles, just about the same time the USCG fixed lights marking the harbor entrance come into the clear view.

Esafety also makes a slightly version (S8LS, 2-mile vis, 72-hour life, $85), suitable for a boat on a mooring. Too bad neither is USCG approved as an anchor light.

Bottom Line: Recommended for supplemental lighting and as an anchor light for moored boats that lack adequate battery power.

LANAKO SOLAR POSITIONING LIGHT

The solar power has clear advantages for boats that live on a mooring. In addition to the all-around white light, it also can serve as a tricolor light, and an SOS strobe. A wireless remote control determines which mode it will show. The strobe does meet the USCG carriage requirement for a visual distress signal. It has a convenient rail clamp.

Bottom Line: Recommended for moored boats that lack battery power.

HOW BRIGHT?

Supplemental lights don’t need to meet a specific standard, but if you are shopping around it helps to understand the output claims—usually expressed in lumens and candela.

A lumen is a measure of total light output in all directions, without focusing. Candela is the intensity of the light within the focused beam, which can be anything from a hemisphere in the case of an area light, down to a narrowly focused beam. If a light emits evenly in all directions it takes about 12.6 lumens of light emission to create 1 candela of intensity. An anchor light, on the other hand, with a beam focused into 6 degrees vertically and 360 degrees horizontally, can produce as much as 2 candela per lumen if the optics are just right, although the actual output is typically closer to 1 candela per lumen.

The 2-mile visibility requirement requires 4.3 candela. An unfocused area light will require 25-50 lumens to meet this standard. Garden lights are typically focused downwards, so the typical 10-lumen light will be visible for less than a mile. With less than perfectly adjusted night vision, PS testing suggests a few hundred yards is more realistic.

We performed additional visibility evaluation of the Mantus Snap-On Light and Hampton Bay Silver Pathway lights, photographing at distances up to 1-mile, calculating intensity, and measuring run time.

In the June 2021 article on electronic visual distress signalling devices, we reviewed the USCG standard. Four handheld products met the standard. None of the devices in this review meet this requirement. A flashing masthead light is not bright enough and does not have independent power supply that the eVSD

If you are considering an unfocused area light to serve as supplementary or backup anchor light, it should have an output of >50 lumens to approximate the visibility required for anchor lights. Be aware that any blocking or partial interference from cabin top structures will decrease visibility significantly.

SOS beacons, intended to be seen from many miles, require a very bright area light, approaching that of a flare. They are expected to be visible at 5 miles and clearly noticeable at a few miles. A blinking anchor light is not bright enough to meet the visual distress signaling standard and does not have its own power supply, which is required of a true eVSD.

WINCH MOUNT

The high point on our test boat’s superstructure is a cabin-top winch. We built a simple mount to keep a Hampton Bay Silver light level and secure from sliding off. We have a similar homemade winch mount we use for our camera.

The standard octagonal winch handle hole fits a 0.70-inch (17.8 mm) square about 1-inch long, and you can extend it as needed to clear low obstructions; we chose 2.5 inches as a compromise between visibility and stability. Teak is a good material; rot-proof, hard, and easy to work accurately.

The Hampton Bay Silver Pathway light was mounted to a 5-inch circle of ¾-inch wood with a counter sunk hole for the screw that secures it to the square winch adapter. (The camera mount uses the same size wood square, but is topped with the swivel portion of a cheap table-top tripod.) You can repurpose the socket of an old winch handle.

Alternatively, you can just place the light on the highest part of the cabin, secured by Velcro. We still recommend mounting the light to a disk of wood with screws, because this adds compression to the bottom plate and improves the weather sealing.

CONCLUSIONS

When we went ashore from our cruising cat, we’d leave the cockpit light on, and perhaps a few cabin lights. The cockpit light was not blocked by more than a few degrees in any direction and was quite visible, and the glow of cabin lights through the windows made the length and width of the boat obvious. If the anchorage was isolated, we’d turn off all but the anchor light at night, but if we expected late night traffic, we’d leave the cockpit light on for a bit of security. With our F-24, lacking an installed cockpit light or anything overhead to fasten it to, we clip a Mantus Snap-On Light to the stern rail. Both are about as bright as the anchor light, with the advantage of lighting up some portion of the deck as well.

What about emergency anchor lights? A plug-in light will do if the electrical system is still working, and generally it is. Turning on cockpit and cabin lights will work for a single night’s emergency. In the event of general electrical failure, a separate battery powered light also makes good sense. Locate it so that it is visible from all directions.

We’re not saying that supplemental lights are a substitute for a conventional USCG recognized anchor light. Not at all. You need that for compliance, because it is visible above shore lights, and because it is visible at a reliable distance. We’re saying that adding some light down low will make your boat easier to find and reduce the risk of things going bump in the night. Your fellow sailors will also appreciate the improved safety when navigating a crowded harbor at night.

VALUE GUIDE: SUPPLEMENTARY ANCHOR LIGHTS

BRAND MANTUS HAMPTON BAY TECNIQ ESAFETY LIGHTS LONAKO DAVIS 
TYPE Supplemental Supplemental Rechargeable Lithium Emergency Anchor Light Emergency Anchor Light Emergency Anchor Light 
MODEL Snap-On LED Silver Pathway Lights Tower Anchor Light Beacon Light S6LS LNK-PL-RGW Mega Light Utility 
USCG APPROVED No No Yes No No No
LUMENS 7-140 15 N/A N/A N/A N/A 
HORIZONTAL BEAM 1.5-28 cd 3.5 cd 4.5 cd 8 cd 5 cd 5 cd 
VISIBILITY (MILES) 1-3 >2 >2 >2 >2 
VERTICAL ARC (OUT OF 90 DEGREES) +90/-20 degrees +30/-15 degrees +6/-6 degrees +10/-10 degrees -12/+12 degrees -12/+12 degrees 
RUN TIME (HOURS) 16-156 hours 6-8 N/A 60 hours 10-12 N/A 
CURRENT DRAW N/A 200 mA 100 mA N/A N/A 23 mA 
POWER SOURCE Rechargeable via USB Solar Wired Solar Solar Wired or cigarette plug 
DIMENSIONS (W X H) 2.8" x 1.8" (plus clamp) 4.8" x 0.9" 2.5" x 1.2" 6.5" x 6.1 4.5" x 2.8" 1.9" x 2.6" 
PRICE (EACH) $69 $25 (4 pack) $18 $156 $85 $54 

Know the rules to prevent collisions and to avoid liability lawsuits.

All sailors should be familiar with the International COLREGS rule 30, which details the uniform requirements for ship lights. Below are excerpts of the important specifications with some italicized comments from our testers.

(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

(i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball; and

(ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.

(b) A vessel of less than 50 m in length may exhibit an allround white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule.

(c) A vessel at anchor may, and a vessel of 100 meters and more in length shall, also use the available working or equivalent lights to illuminate her decks.

Note that the anchor light does not have to be at the masthead, but rather where it can best be seen. The masthead is generally a good place, free of obstructions. The “where it can best be seen” requirement rules out very low locations, but there is no stipulation that it be placed high in the rigging or at the masthead, where it might be hard to see in a crowded anchorages. Note also that the placement and specifications for deck illumination lights is left open for the captain to decide.

Annex I provides additional detail that sailors are often less aware of:

9. Horizontal sector.

(b) (i) All-round lights shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, topmasts or structures within angular sectors of more than 6°, except anchor lights prescribed in Rule 30, which need not be placed at an impractical height above the hull.

(ii) If it is impracticable to comply with paragraph

(i) of this section by exhibiting only one all-round light, two all-round lights shall be used suitably positioned or screened so that they appear, as far as practicable, as one light at a distance of one mile.

Practically speaking, this means that if a light is not mounted at the masthead, it must be above the cabin and canvas work, and it must be mounted about

10 times the mast diameter away from the mast to ensure that the mast will not excessively obscure the light. 10. Vertical sector.

(a) The vertical sectors of electric lights as fitted, with the exception of lights on sailing vessels underway, shall ensure that:

(i) at least the required minimum intensity is maintained at all angles from 5° above to 5° below the horizontal;

(ii) at least 60% of the required intensity is maintained from 7.5° above to 7.5° below the horizontal.

(b) In the case of sailing vessels underway the vertical sectors of electric lights as fitted shall ensure that:

(ii) at least 50% of the required minimum intensity is maintained from 25° above to 25° below the horizontal.

Because anchor lights are not used underway, they need not adhere to the sailboat beam angle requirement. Some lights we have tested met only the section (i) requirement of 5 degrees above and below the horizon, yet don’t indicate they are for powerboats only. These are hard to see when you get close to the boat, gradually dimming as you approach within 150-250 feet of the boat and under the focused band. Even sailboat lights with the broader beam angle dim when you get within a few boat lengths.

Additionally, this means that anchor lights that meet only part (a) vertical sector (5 degrees) must be mounted within a few degrees of plumb to avoid black-out zones. Even sailboat lights meeting part (b) appear dim when rigged out of plumb.

EMERGENCY LIGHTS

Cruise long enough and your anchor light will fail. The first night after the failure, anything that lights up the boat will help. Leave on the cockpit light, as well as deck lights and cabin lights, as needed to meet the intent of the rule (that the boat is visible from 2 miles away).

After that, a US Coast Guard approved anchor light is needed, as a matter of practicality and legality. In some areas local law enforcement target boats that lack a bright all-around light. If a boat collides with yours at night, attorneys could cite your inadequate lighting as an easy defense for their clients.

If you still have power, a plug-in emergency light will serve. The Davis Instruments Mega Light is probably the best known, or you can make your own from an inexpensive anchor light and a cord. Don’t string an emergency or supplemental light at an angle to get the required spacing from the mast. Don’t place it in an angled fishing rod holder. And no allowing it to swing free; it will appear to flash.

We’re not fans of cigarette plugs, which are not waterproof (see PS August 2021, “Waterproof Electrical Connectors”). Consider swapping the common cigarette plug for either an SAE 2-pin or DIN 4165 Powerlet-type plug.

To minimize maintenance, you can replace the masthead anchor light with a sealed LED unit. The bulb life is practically forever and corrosion is rarely a problem. Alternatively, you could find a new mounting location closer to the ground.

A dead battery or general electrical failure requires a portable unit, and low-draw LEDs and improvements in battery power have made these possible. The Mantus Snap-on Light is bright enough to meet the USCG requirements, and testers have used the Hampton Bay light on the transom of our kayak as a nighttime running light; it is bright, all around, flat for easy mounting with Velcro, and on the transom is out of the paddlers line-of-sight.

Many of the early solar powered garden lights converted for marine use with the addition of a plastic rail clamp turned out to be duds after a single season (see PS May 2011, “ Portable LED Lights ”). As prices for LEDs have dropped precipitously and the market for robust weatherproof garden lights has exploded, we’re seeing some terrestrial products that seem perfectly suited for use at sea.

Nevertheless, quality is highly variable in this category. This report looks at only a few of the many varieties on the market. We’ve tried several other types, but they weren’t worth the waste of ink. If you’ve found a reliable light that compares to what we have here, we’d be interested in hearing about it.

Extra Anchor Lighting

1. We built our own winch mount using a square wooden plug that fit neatly into the winch handle socket.

Extra Anchor Lighting

2. We also tried leaving it flat on the deck, secured by high strength hook and loop (Velcro) fasteners. This location made the light less visible at closer distances, but the main drawback was the vulnerability to being stepped on.

Extra Anchor Lighting

3. Although the solar charged Hampton Bay light is not specifically designed for marine use, it is meant for use outdoors, and its seals do a good job of keeping moisture at bay in the harsh marine environment.

Extra Anchor Lighting

4. We experimented by replacing the rechargeable NiCad batteries with rechargeable lithium ion batteries. They ran longer, but would not recharge fully on solar power.

MANTUS, www.mantusmarine.com

HAMPTON BAY, www.hamptonbay.com

TECNIQ, www.tecniqinc.com

ESAFETY, www.esafetylights.com

LONAKO, www.lonako.com

DAVIS INSTRUMENTS, www.davisinstruments.com

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

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Can You Run a Marine Air-Conditioner on Battery Power?

I am really surprised that you did not include the Luci light in your choices. It is my go to option hanging on the davit at the back of our boat. It also doubles as a navigation light for the dinghy. It maintains its brightness thru the night and if it falls overboard it floats. Peter Clay

I love Luci lights have owned several but the hanging piece always breaks causing leakage way to quick. I actually sent my last one back after it lasted less then a month. If they fixed this issue I would buy a few of them to keep around.

I’d like to share my version of a supplemental solar powered anchor light. I bought what was back in 2018 listed as “the brightest solar path light” and modified it to hang from my port spreader by adding hanging wires of stainless steel seizing wire and a downhaul, and based on Practical Sailor’s recommendation that anchor lights should be blue to distinguish them from the white lights ashore, I made a cone out of blue plastic film from an art supply online source, and put that inside the clear plastic lens of the light. It shows up nicely from a distance when approaching the boat at night, and is certainly distinctive. The light is bright enough to light up the deck well enough at night to move about safely, although is not bright enough to do tasks. For that I still use a headlamp. Alas, that particular light is no longer being made, but the same idea could be applied to many other currently available lights. I’ve had to install new commonly available AA NiMH batteries twice since I started using it. They eventually poop out.

Hanging it from the spreader seems about ideal – high enough to be easily seen from a distance, but not so high as to blend in with shore lights.

I’d post a photo of the modified light, but your comment section doesn’t appear to allow that.

Another good lighting product is a lantern from luminAID ( https://luminaid.com ). The company makes various sizes of inflatable, floating lanterns which are solar charged. The light intensity can be varied and the shape makes the lantern easy to hang. I hang one from mid-boom and set it to illuminate most of the deck.

Another reason to buy from luminAID is they donate lanterns to people hit by disasters. In fact, you can buy and lantern and donate a lantern.

Mantus Rail light is the only way to go. They are rechargeable and last several days without charge and they go off automatically during daylight hours. Very robust and well made.

Most curious that the article did not include a kerosene lantern as an auxiliary, or primary, anchor light. They are a low tech solution that are utterly reliable. The only downside is the need for a supply of kerosene. My experience is that a few quart fuel bottles lasts an entire sailing season. It is a low tech solution worthy of consideration.

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Attwood Anchor Masthead 12" LED Boat Navigation Light

Attwood Anchor Masthead 12" LED Boat Navigation Light

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  • This Item: Attwood Anchor Masthead 12" LED Boat Navigation Light $154.49 $117.49 $37.00 37 154.49
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Attwood Anchor Masthead 12" LED Boat Navigation Light

This Attwood Anchor Masthead 12" LED Boat Navigation Light is designed for the harsh coastal marine environment with its blend of enhanced 316 stainless steel alloy and its corrosion resistant composites with stainless steel accents. The lights are rated for 50,000+ hours of use and are equipped with a durable folding base cast. For use on boats up to 65.6 ft. (20 meters), this boat navigation light achieves 3NM of 360° visibility while drawing a fraction of the power of traditional incandescent lights.

  • Constructed Of Corrosion Resistant Composites With Stainless Steel Accents
  • Blend Of Enhanced 316 Stainless Steel Alloy
  • Designed For The Harsh Coastal Marine Environment
  • Achieves 3NM Of 360° Visibility While Drawing A Fraction Of The Power Of Traditional Incandescent Lights
  • Lights Are Rated For 50,000+ Hours Of Use
  • All Lights Come Equipped With A Durable Folding Base Cast
  • Proprietary Optics Design Draws Only 1.8 Watts At 12 VDC
  • For Use On Boats Up To 65.6 ft. (20 Meters)

Specifications:

  • 3NM Of 360° Visibility
  • 10 Year Warranty

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"Portable" Anchor Light?

  • Thread starter jviss
  • Start date Jul 21, 2023
  • Forums for All Owners
  • Ask All Sailors

thinwater

dlochner said: Davis Instruments Mega-Light LED Utility Light - Exterior - 3300 The Davis Instruments Mega-Light™ LED Utility Light is an energy efficient light that turns on at dusk and off at dawn. Features: Includes 15 ft. heavy-duty cord with standard lighter plug Dual-function Fresnel lens: Fr defender.com Click to expand

jviss

thinwater said: Not USCG legal. Does not meet the brightness requirements. They have to be tested for compliance. And yes, that means if you use a different bulb it is automatically non-compliment, since aproval is only valid with the bulb used. In actual reality, many lights no longer meet USCG requirements with a different bulb because the beam is focused in the wrong plane (I have done some of this testing--if the filiment is in a slightly different possition in the bulb it screws up the focus). The Navisafe light is USCG listed. But it is not designed to be hung in the rigging (requires a mounting). There were a few legal hanging lights in the past, but to my knowledge, they have all been discontinued, probably due to no demand. I agree, this is a poor state of affairs. Click to expand
jviss said: That's interesting. It's my understanding that when Dr. LED produces bulbs for particular fixtures, like their Polar Star 40 for Aqua Signal Series 40 fixtures, they have them USCG certified. Is that not so, to your knowledge? Click to expand
thinwater said: Yes, that does appear to be the case. I also suspect they are the only ones. Small market for aftermarket bulbs. Click to expand

Alan Gomes

jviss said: Cool. So the exorbitant price was worth it. I paid like $45 for the "White Polar Star 40 Navigation LED Replacement Bulb." Just for shits I bought an imported LED 15d bulb on Amazon for $11. I think the cheap one is brighter! Click to expand

Helpful

jviss said: Thanks. I was thinking (over-thinking) that it would be cool to fabricate a bracket for the end of the boom that's out of the way of all sailing activity, mount an anchor light it it, and wire it through the boom, mast, and to the panel. Click to expand

1689974961205.png

rgranger said: You must be an engineer Click to expand

Richard19068

Richard19068

jviss said: Not sure what nuance you are going for here. The fixture should state it, I guess, as well as the bulb. That's why I over-paid for Dr. LED bulbs! Click to expand
jviss said: I wonder if there's a mast head anchor light with a dusk/dawn switch? Click to expand

And, for the record, I have often hung a Mega-Light from my boom as an anchor light since the all around white light at the top of my mast doesn't work due to wiring problems.  

jviss said: Thanks. I was thinking (over-thinking) that it would be cool to fabricate a bracket for the end of the boom that's out of the way of all sailing activity, mount an anchor light it it, and wire it through the boom, mast, and to the panel. I wonder if there's a mast head anchor light with a dusk/dawn switch? Click to expand
Richard19068 said: It is nuanced. And I do have a tendency to overthink things . Just curious that if what you had on your boat met the visibility requirements, but the fixture/bulb/packaging didn't specifically say that it did, would that be "legal". For example, if you had a setup that met the specifications but didn't have the lingo on the bulb/fixture/packaging, could a boat that hit you at anchor prevail in court based on the argument that your fixture/bulb/packaging did not state that it met the requirements, even if it did. Of course you might have to prove that your "custom" setup did fit the visibility requirements but that is another question. I imagine in the real world there would be some sort of shared liability judgement if it got that far. Can the Coast Guard cite you on a technicality if you couldn't show that your bulb/fixture/packaging didn't state that they met the requirements even if in actuality they did? Just musing.... Click to expand
jviss said: I also think you have a misplaced negative in your last sentence. Take a look. Click to expand

:facepalm:

Richard19068 said: Okay, here is over thinking for you! "... (b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen instead of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule." If the light was on the end of the boom it might be obscured from the bow by the boom and/or the mast. Would that satisfy "where it can best be seen" (as compared to the top of the mast)? ... Click to expand
thinwater said: The answer to your question is spelled out in the annex to COLREGS. A certain number of degrees of blockage are permitted. A certain minimum height. Certain angles of light projection above and below the horizon. All spelled out. No, it does not need to be at the top of the mast (and remember when reading COLREGS that the masthead is not the top of the mast). Happy reading. Click to expand
jviss said: @Rick486 and @dlochner how and where do you mount these? Click to expand
Richard19068 said: Understood that masthead is a power vessel definition and not a "top of mast" thing. I didn't know there were "degrees of blockage" allowances. Good to know. Thank you. Click to expand

1690028455777.png

thinwater said: The masthead nomenclature comes from when mast sections overlapped, and is the location where the steaming light is now placed. Weird nomenclature in this day and age. I'm sure it was way more practical to refill kerosene lamps at the mast head than the top of the mast. 6 degrees blockage is allowed, which means it needs to be >5-8 feet from the mast unless it is at the top. View attachment 218035 Click to expand

Bottom line: It needs to be obvious enough that you don't get hit. You could do worse than use two.  

thinwater said: Bottom line: It needs to be obvious enough that you don't get hit. You could do worse than use two. Click to expand
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All-Around LED Anchor Light for Sailboat Mast - Series 40 Type <20M

LED All-Around Anchor Light - Series 40 Type

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Product Description

An economical 2NM LED All-Around Anchor Light fixture navigation light intended to be mounted on the top of the mast on larger sailboats.  It replaces the Aqua Signal Series 40 type anchor lights, as it is of similar size and height.

Prefitted with a user-replaceable Marinebeam constant-current 10-30VDC BAY15d high-output LED bulb and 8" of marine tinned wire - ready to mount. The wiring connection can be made inside the fixture via the internal spade terminal connections, or by connecting to the included external wire pigtails.

The height is 4-3/8" and the base diameter is 3".  Mounted with 4 screws or bolts (not included) to any flat surface.

You won't find a brighter LED fixture with a longer life for this price.

Made of UV resistant plastic with brass internals.  O-ring sealed cover.

  • Draws 0.18A at 12VDC
  • Constant-Current LED driver
  • Replaceable 30,000 hour LED bulb
  • Cool White high-intensity LED output (>2nm visibility)
  • Candela output exceeds COLREG 72 requirements for boats up to 20M
  • 360 degree visibility
  • Tinned marine wiring and o-ring sealed cover
  • 2 year warranty

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LED All-Around Anchor Light - Series 40 Type

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Posted by Molly Mullins on 14th Sep 2023

Works well, easy installation.

Recommended

LED All-Around Anchor Light - Black Hsg

sku: N1-360-CLR

Led all-around anchor light, sku: n2-360-fld, folding all-round anchor light for boats < 20m.

LED Tri-Color Navigation Lamp

sku: N4-TRI-124

Led tri-color and all-around anchor navigation stack light.

Fixed-Mount Type

Stainless Steel PAR36 LED Spreader Light for sailboats

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  • LED Engine Room/Utility Lights
  • LED Waterproof Strip Lighting
  • High Output LED Light Bars
  • LED Ceiling & Wall Fixtures
  • Blown Glass LED Hanging Light Fixtures
  • Bilge Pumps
  • Deck Washdown
  • Water Pressure Pumps
  • CB SERIES TOP LOADING
  • 2690_CD-030_spec_sheet-20090630-Web
  • L-2607 CF Series Portable Refrigerators-Freezers
  • L-2604 CR Series Built-in Refrigerators
  • CDR-50 DRAWER REFRIGERATOR
  • L-3209 HZB Series Portable Ice Makers Spec Sheet
  • ADLER/BARBOUR COLDMACHINES
  • 2693_AB_ColdMachine_spec_sheet-20090630-Web
  • 2692_AB_CoolMatic_specsheet-20090630-Web
  • 2146_GRU_Passagemaker_specsheet-20090227-Web
  • 0831_KRA_specsheet-20090717-Web
  • Cruise 30.pdf
  • cruise 65-130.pdf
  • cruise 165-271.pdf
  • cruise freezers.pdf
  • drawer 49-55.pdf
  • drawer 65.pdf
  • cruise 105-190.pdf
  • DE-0041/EV-0041
  • DE-0061/EV-0061
  • DE-788 / EV0788
  • ltplates2013
  • LT SPEC SHEET
  • Single Door Refrigerators
  • Single Door Freezers
  • Two Door Units
  • Sea Classic / Sea Steel
  • Drawer Units
  • Conversion Units
  • SeaLand VacuFlush Systems
  • Tecma Toilets
  • Isotemp Water Heaters
  • AquaMatic Mid to Large Powerboats - 40-80ft
  • BLUE SEA SYSTEMS
  • CZONE DIGITAL SWITCHING
  • Espar Diesel Heaters
  • Johnson Pumps
  • LunaSea Lighting
  • March Pumps
  • Marine Hardware
  • Marine Systems, Inc.
  • PanelTronics
  • Sea Recovery
  • Victron Energy
  • Whisper Power
  • Zeus by Arco

C75LX STAINLESS STEEL

C75LX / C75LXAC SPEC SHEET

IMAGES

  1. Obcursco 9 Inch LED Anchor Light for Boat, Fold Down All Round Light

    portable anchor light for sailboat

  2. Greensen Navigation LED,12V Marine Boat Yacht Navigation All Round 360

    portable anchor light for sailboat

  3. 12V LED BLACK NAVIGATION & ANCHOR LIGHT KIT

    portable anchor light for sailboat

  4. LED All-Around Anchor Light for Boats

    portable anchor light for sailboat

  5. The Brightest Finds: Expert-Recommended LED Anchor Lights For Boats And

    portable anchor light for sailboat

  6. Sailing Gear Review: NaviSafe Navi Light 360 Portable Anchor Light

    portable anchor light for sailboat

VIDEO

  1. The Importance of Having Working Boat Lights

  2. Unleash Your Anchoring Confidence with the Jetpilot Plough Anchor

  3. No Wiring Nav Light Solution For Small

  4. Adding A Proper Anchor Light To Our Houseboat

  5. LED Anchor Navigation Lights, Removable Boat Light Pole BY: FIVEOCEANS

  6. Canoe Sail Kit from SailboatsToGo.com Flies Across Lake

COMMENTS

  1. Shop Sports & Outdoors

    Free shipping on qualified orders. Free, easy returns on millions of items. Browse & discover thousands of brands. Read customer reviews & find best sellers

  2. Amazon.com: Portable Anchor Light

    Battery Boat Light Bow and Stern Portable Battery Power Boat Navigation Ligt for Pontoon and Small Boat (Black) 4.0 out of 5 stars. 578. 600+ bought in past month. $29.99 $ 29. 99. FREE delivery Mon, Jul 29 on $35 of items shipped by Amazon. ... Keenso Marine Boat Anchor Light Yacht Navigation LED Light, All Round 360°12V White Waterproof ...

  3. LED Anchor, Mooring & Utility Cockpit Light 12V

    Utility LED Anchor Light. Posted by Russ Bailas on 4th Jul 2022 I use this light plugged in to a 12 volt socket in my anchor locker, wired to the panel anchor light switch. I use a small halyard to get it up about 10 feet above the bow foredeck. When returning to boat at night, we know exactly where our boat is.

  4. Best Anchor Navigation Lights for Boats

    Pedestal Mount LED All-Round Anchor Navigation Light. Pedestal Mount Tri-Color LED Navigation Light with Anchor Light, 3-Wire. Series 5500 Waketower LED All-Round Navigation Light. NaviLED 360 Pro LED All-Round Anchor Navigation Light, Black Housing, 2 Nautical Miles Visibility. 2010 Fold-Down Anchor Light, 2 Nautical Miles Visibility.

  5. Keenso Marine Boat Anchor Light Yacht Navigation LED Light, All Round

    Keenso Marine Boat Anchor Light Yacht Navigation LED Light, All Round 360°12V White Waterproof Round LED Anchor Light Light Lamp Arch Lights Cockpit Lights Portable . Visit the Keenso Store. 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 51 ratings | Search this page . $17.32 $ 17. 32. Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime.

  6. Amazon.com: Battery Operated Anchor Lights For Boat

    Battery Boat Light Bow and Stern Portable Battery Power Boat Navigation Ligt for Pontoon and Small Boat (Black) 4.0 out of 5 stars. 605. 400+ bought in past month. ... Stern Lights for Boats, Anchor Light, 8-inch, Battery-Powered LED Kayak Lights for Night Kayaking with Suction Cup for Small Boat, Canoe, Dinghy, Paddle Board - FO4483 ...

  7. Anchor lights test

    Hella Compact NaviLED 360 - Best on test. The unit has a five-year warranty. This light is fully sealed and has a heavy-duty, polyamide lens and UV-resistant, high-impact nylon housing designed to provide outstanding resistance to vibration and impact. It is waterproof to IP67.

  8. 24 Inch Folding All-Round Anchor Light

    This a US Coast Guard tested and approved 2nm all-around 360° white LED anchor light. This light features a 24" polished stainless steel fold-down pole, with ratchet-style positive-engagement position lock, which makes angle adjustments secure and easy. The fold-down feature is especially convenient when you want a high visibility light on ...

  9. LED Anchor Light with Photocell Sensor

    Cable: 16", 18AWG Tinned. Visibility: 3NM. Housing Color: Black. Output Color: Cool White. Ingress Protection: IP67 (fully sealed) Approvals: USCG 33CFR183.810, ABYC A-16, EMC EN55022, EN61547 & EN60945. Our LED anchor lamps do not emit RF harmful interference, and are EMC certified to EN55022, EN61547, and EN60945 so they will not interfere ...

  10. Sailing Gear Review: NaviSafe Navi Light 360 Portable Anchor Light

    My go-to portable anchor light the last couple of years has been the Carmanah M550, a really high quality solar powered LED that has a remote control and up to 3 nautical miles of visibility. The downside to recommending the M550 is the high cost and limited availability. Of course the ultra affordable option is a solar garden light available ...

  11. Top Port & Starboard Navigation Lights

    LED lights are more efficient and draw far less power compared to incandescent lights. Whereas old-style 2 nautical mile (nm) incandescent anchor lights drew close to 1A, many modern LED anchor lights only draw about .1A which is a 90 percent reduction in power draw. Portable Lights for Inflatable Boats, Kayaks and Canoes

  12. Extra Anchor Lighting

    DAVIS INSTRUMENTS MEGA LIGHT. Many small boat sailors use this as their primary anchor light, hanging it in the rigging. It is has a 15-foot cord. The Mega-Light is still available with the original incandescent bulb (0.3 amps), and with that lamp installed, performs the same as it did in prior testing.

  13. Anchor light

    On my boat a portable Led light is much brighter than my CG approved anchor light that came with the boat. I string a Led lantern from the forestay and one from the backstay which I believe are much more visible than than a light at the top of the mast. ... Portable Anchor Light, LED Anchor Light, NaviSafe Anchor Light 2NM. store.marinebeam.com ...

  14. Attwood Anchor Masthead 12" LED Boat Navigation Light

    Proprietary Optics Design Draws Only 1.8 Watts At 12 VDC. For Use On Boats Up To 65.6 ft. (20 Meters) Specifications: 12". 3NM Of 360° Visibility. 10 Year Warranty. Click to download Attwood 7812-S-7 Anchor Masthead LED Boat Navigation Light Installation Instructions. California Residents: WARNING Cancer and Reproductive Harm - P65Warnings.ca.gov.

  15. "Portable" Anchor Light?

    Actually, it was far better than a masthead light as it illuminated a lot of the mast, boat and bimini brightly. It was a regulation anchor light, so it was very bright. Wired it into my chart table switch panel and stored it in a small box in the dodger. I thought it was the bees knees as far as making the boat visible to everybody in the dark.

  16. Amazon.com: Battery Operated Anchor Lights For Boats

    Five Oceans Anchor Light - Stern Lights for Boats, LED Anchor Light and Signal Flashlight Function, 2-Option Base Installation, Stern Light for Inflatable Boat, Small Tender, Canoe, Kayak - FO4690 ... Battery Boat Light Bow and Stern Portable Battery Power Boat Navigation Ligt for Pontoon and Small Boat (Black) 4.0 out of 5 stars. 558. 500 ...

  17. "Portable" Anchor Light?

    Maybe I could get that Davis light, install a cigarette lighter outlet in the anchor locker (I have a few of the good Marineco ones), and then rig a bracket on my cowl guards to support a telescoping boat hook, and make a bracket for the light for the top of the hook.

  18. LED All-Around Anchor Light for Boats

    An economical 2NM LED All-Around Anchor Light fixture navigation light intended to be mounted on the top of the mast on larger sailboats. It replaces the Aqua Signal Series 40 type anchor lights, as it is of similar size and height. Prefitted with a user-replaceable Marinebeam constant-current 10-30VDC BAY15d high-output LED bulb and 8" of ...

  19. Home

    CF SERIES PORTABLE REFRIGERATORS/FREEZERS. L-2607 CF Series Portable Refrigerators-Freezers; CR SERIES REFRIGERATORS/FREEZERS. L-2604 CR Series Built-in Refrigerators; CDR-50 DRAWER REFRIGERATOR; PORTABLE ICE MAKER. L-3209 HZB Series Portable Ice Makers Spec Sheet; ADLER/BARBOUR COLDMACHINES; ADLER/BARBOUR EVAPORATORS. 2693_AB_ColdMachine_spec ...

  20. Amazon.com: Battery Anchor Light

    Battery Boat Light Bow and Stern Portable Battery Power Boat Navigation Ligt for Pontoon and Small Boat (Black) 4.0 out of 5 stars. 609. 400+ bought in past month. ... Stern Lights for Boats, Anchor Light, 8-inch, Battery-Powered LED Kayak Lights for Night Kayaking with Suction Cup for Small Boat, Canoe, Dinghy, Paddle Board - FO4483 ...

  21. Boat Parts, Sailing, Kayaks, Paddleboards and Marine Electronics

    Shop the official West Marine Store to find over 100,000 products in stock for boating, sailing, fishing, or paddling. Since 1968, West Marine has grown to over 250 local stores, with knowledgeable Associates happy to assist. Shop with confidence - get free shipping to home or stores + price match guarantee!

  22. Amazon.com: Masthead Anchor Light

    Five Oceans Anchor Light, Combination Masthead and All-Around Lights, Fold Down, LED Boat Navigation Lights, 12V DC, USCG 2NM Rule, 10.5" Fixed Mount, for Sailboats and Powerboats - FO4595. 10. $3390. FREE delivery Wed, Jul 17 on $35 of items shipped by Amazon. Only 2 left in stock - order soon. Small Business.

  23. Water Makers

    Breathe-Easy-portable; Marine Air Systems. Self Contained Air Conditioning; Split Gas Air Conditioning; ... Flood and Spot Light LED Replacement Bulbs; LED General Lighting Misc. Replacement Bulbs; ... Aqua Whisper Mini Small Power & Sail Boats 35-45ft. Aqua MATIC XL Mega Yachts Over 80ft. Coral Sea Mega Yachts Over 80ft.

  24. C75lx Stainless Steel

    March Pump Family. Breathe Easy InDuct Air Purifier. Breathe-Easy-portable. Marine Air Systems. Self Contained Air Conditioning. Split Gas Air Conditioning. Chilled Water Air Conditioning. Radome ECU (HSA16K) for Ductable Radar Dome Applications.