by talbot » Wed Sep 18, 2013 1:34 am
I agree that the removable running lights (AquaSignal is the brand I used) are a cost-effective solution to reducing the chance that you will get hit by someone. (The fact that you are not required to carry running lights is irrelevant.)
That said, I wearied of having to go forward and attach my running lights, particularly on breezy nights. Like others on the forum, I worked out quick-attach methods, but it was still a drag.
I had already installed a keelson-mounted battery for my auxiliary trolling motor, so last winter, I ran a new circuit and installed fixed Atwood 2-mile LED running lights, just like a regular yacht. I know, it's ridiculous for a dinghy, but we love to sail on the evening breeze, especially on the full moon, and the whole experience is enhanced by being able to just flick a switch at sundown.
You could buy a new jib for the price of the lights, not to mention the time spent groveling around in the cabin trying to heat-shrink butt-splice connectors. So I'm not recommending it. But if you want to . . .
The logical place to mount the lights, with the shortest wire run (voltage loss) and clearest view for oncoming vessels, is on the cabin sides forward of the mast. You could also put them on the bow, but they would be lower, and the DS forepeak is a notoriously wet, clammy place that I could imagine eating up electrical connectors. The problem with the cabin sides is that they are not parallel, so you have to shim the lights to get the legal alignment. I bought a brick of HDPE from Amazon and cut my own shims. Another issue that I never anticipated is that the lights reflect off the deck. That lets you know they are on, which can be a problem with bow-mounted lights. However, the reflected light is bad for your night vision. I'm open to suggestions.
And the stern light? That's still the old AquaSignal removable 360-degree light, powered by its own AA batteries. I put opaque tape on the forward half of the light to keep the cockpit dark and preserve night vision.
With all this, you still should carry a light to shine on your sail. I don't know if that will keep a drunken power boater from running over you, but it might help your kids' lawyer collect in court after the fact.