Fallguy
Where ever you mount them, ensure they are parallel to the centreline of the ship and horizontal to the typical night running trim under power, sail, or both .
That way you will meet the legal requirement of providing zero to 112.5 degrees from dead ahead to 12.5 degree abaft the beam, port and strd.
By doing so you will insure that opposing traffic clearly understands your light signature, and therefore, your movements at night and in low lighting.
I know, and have refined my night nav skills, but can only interpret what I see.
If you show me lights that are not configured properly, I can't accurately and repeatedly interpret your movements.
In the event of an incident, it is not in your favour if your lights are not to spec (liability).
Your earlier proposed installation on the bows would create cross-eyeing and sizable inaccuracies.
What's your bow angle ~36 degrees? So ~18 degrees off centre.
That puts your right of way zone frwd by ~18 degrees and makes the side lights cross-eyed dead-ahead by the same.
An ~18 degree inaccurate head-on signal. Don't expect me, your opposing traffic, to be able to interpret that.
It's confusing and very probably dangerous in my opinion.
Also, the lights will not send their focused beam horizontally showing maximum brightness across the 112.5 degree arc of the horizon.
Instead they will point down, toward the water creating glare (backscatter) and wasted signal.
A mounting platform accounting for sight lines and trim may need to be fabricated.
Hope that helps sailor and I haven't pissed you off.
