[Airwaves]

Orignally posted by Winnipesaukee;
That rule was really intended for larger boats with a separate brighter anchor light, on the ocean, free of lights on shore.

The combination anchor/stern nav light on most small powerboats is usually relatively dim compared to the true "anchor lights."

I find it hard to distinguish between these stern lights and lights on shore.

Just keep a lookout when anchored at night on a lake. Other boaters may not be able to see you.

Oh, yeah, and the other guy was wrong. You were totally right. Although it doesn't hurt to have your nav lights on while at anchor, I guess.

Actually Winnipesaukee you are incorrect about the power of the lights. The requirements regarding the "power" of navigation lights including the anchor/stern lights are identical off shore and inland.
The following is from the Boat-Ed webpage re: NH Navigation lights; Bold is mine!

Power-Driven Vessels Less Than 65.6 Feet Long When Underway
If less than 65.6 feet (20 meters) long, these vessels must exhibit the lights as shown in Figure 1. Remember, power-driven vessels include sailboats operating under engine power. The required lights are:

Red and green sidelights visible from a distance of at least two miles away—or if less than 39.4 feet (12 meters) long, at least one mile away—on a dark, clear night.
An all-round white light (if less than 39.4 feet long) or both a masthead light and a sternlight. These lights must be visible from a distance of at least two miles away on a dark, clear night. The all-round white light (or the masthead light) must be at least 3.3 feet (one meter) higher than the sidelights

I have had old timers on the lake tell me that in years past the NHMP wanted boaters to have all their navigation lights on even while at anchor in order to give them greater visability.

So while the gentleman in the old Cris Craft was incorrect in interpreting the law, he was telling you what has been the case in years gone by.

According to Boat-Ed the following is the case in NH;

All vessels are required to use a white light visible for 360 degrees and from a distance of two miles whenever they are moored or anchored away from dock between sunset and sunrise.

The reason NOT to have your navigation lights on while at anchor (beyond the legal ramification) is that you are telling other boats in the area that you are at anchor and that you are a fixed object!

If you are underway or drifting a different set of lights is required to alert other boats of that fact.

If your stern/anchor light is not visible from a distance of 2 miles on a clear night then you need to upgrade to meet the legal requirement.

VitaBene is/was your combination stern/anchor light high enough over the boat so that it could be seen for 360 degrees?

If the all around white light were blocked by a bimini top etc. the person in the Cris Craft may not have seen it and approached you to warn you to turn your lights on and just used the wrong words to tell you which light to turn on? Just a thought.