Michael,
The light I'm talking about is on the front of the mast, not on the top. On 
an inland lake, you want every possible light on because you have a greater 
possibility of being seen. There are very few, if any people that know the 
difference between a steaming light and an anchor light. I always sail with a spot 
light at the helm so I can light up my sails when someone gets to 
close.......and I use it a lot.
The stories I could tell of people with their first boat at the launch ramp 
at the marina would fill a book. I sometimes go down their with a cooler and 
just sit and watch the circus. Last Friday I actually saw a boat get launched 
with a youngster in the boat, but no line going to the dock. The kid had to get 
in the water and bring a line to the dock so the father could pull the boat in 
to the dock so he and his wife could get aboard. Once on the boat, he fired 
it up and took off at full throttle in the marina which is a slow, no wake 
area. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've seen that happen.

Rummy