What would you do - masthead light w/obstructed stern light

[Stee6043]

I typically only drive the boat after dark a couple times per year. More often we'll park the Sea Ray and use the dinghy for any evening activities. This past Sunday I took the fam to watch some fireworks a few miles away from our home slip. Not a big cruise but it's all no-wake speed for me, not so no-wake for smaller boats.

After the fireworks everyone is headed in the same direction on a narrow lake. I had my dinghy on the platform which substantially obstructs my stern light. This may be the first time I've actually run post-dark since the new dink last year. Certainly this is the first time I noticed this stern light issue. So as the smaller boats were running past me I decided to turn on my anchor light (all around masthead) along with the running lights (which only illuminates the forward portion of my masthead light).

This is not the proper lighting configuration for anything over 36 feet. But I figure I'd rather not get run into from astern. I also wonder if the average Sheriff or USCG officer would really know the break at 36 feet for a stern light requirement?

I assume most of you folks would do the same? I'm just curious. Obviously I need to address the stern light issue for future night runs...

 

[Creekwood]

I typically only drive the boat after dark a couple times per year. More often we'll park the Sea Ray and use the dinghy for any evening activities. This past Sunday I took the fam to watch some fireworks a few miles away from our home slip. Not a big cruise but it's all no-wake speed for me, not so no-wake for smaller boats.

After the fireworks everyone is headed in the same direction on a narrow lake. I had my dinghy on the platform which substantially obstructs my stern light. This may be the first time I've actually run post-dark since the new dink last year. Certainly this is the first time I noticed this stern light issue. So as the smaller boats were running past me I decided to turn on my anchor light (all around masthead) along with the running lights (which only illuminates the forward portion of my masthead light).

This is not the proper lighting configuration for anything over 36 feet. But I figure I'd rather not get run into from astern. I also wonder if the average Sheriff or USCG officer would really know the break at 36 feet for a stern light requirement?

I assume most of you folks would do the same? I'm just curious. Obviously I need to address the stern light issue for future night runs...

That is exactly what I do when my dinghy is on the platform and I am running after dark. An all around white mast head light is allowed on a power boat while underway, rather than forward facing with a stern light. I have a separate "anchor" switch from the Navigation switch, so both are on when the dinghy is on board.

 

[Woody]

The cutoff is 12meters or 39.37ft not 36ft.
But this from BoatUS....

 

[Strecker25]

I run the all around mast light the same way when the stern is obstructed. Never been bothered but we also don’t run much at night

 

[jmcdboater]

We don’t run a lot at night either, but I’d absolutely run with the anchor light to (hopefully) avoid a rear-ended in a situation like you are describing. I think USCG officials would know the 3 meter rule, not so sure Sheriffs would, but with a logical explanation you would think (there’s the rub, lol) they would understand & appreciate your running lights.