Quote:
Originally Posted by Descant
Mostly the regs and RSA;'s you ask about paralell the USCG regs. The state adopts them pretty much wholesale as it is easier to enforce. As a state statute, you can take it to district court instead of a federal court. Most towns do the same with state statutes so that they can locally enforce. Same idea. If you use the lighting provided by the manufacturer, you are in compliance. Sounds like there are some varying definitions within this thread as to what an "anchor light" is. Usually, a 360 degree white light for when you are stationary. Since you cannot anchor overnight in NH the use of an anchor light almost becomes moot.
Having run cabin cruisers at night for many decades, I've never heard of anybody being stopped for cabin lights. However, if you have a helm close to the cabin egress and a passenger opens the cabin door and suddenly puts all that white glare in the eyes of the helmsman, it can cause temporary night blindness. In most circumstances, a blind helmsman is probably a bigger risk than running without cabin lights.
The legislature reviewed much of this a few years ago when the speed limits were being discussed, along with other safety issues. That's when the display of shore lights that look like navigation lights was outlawed.
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I use the "anchor light" often during the season. We go out in the evening to a period after dark, and when at anchor, I will have the anchor light on. Watching the sun go down on a warm summer evening, and then enjoying the stars making their appearance makes for a great evening. We sit in the bowrider section, and therefore pretty much avoid the effect of the anchor light cutting down on seeing the stars.