Overfalls Lightship Station (DE)

Historical Light List Characteristics

1899 Light 1: F W. W12. Light 2: F W. W12. LHB Light List (Atlantic): 456
1905 Light 1: Oc W 15s. W13. Light 2: Oc W 15s. W13. Three lanterns encircling each masthead; electric. If the electric light apparatus should become inoperative, the lights will show fixed white without eclipses and will be less brilliant than the electric lights. LHB Light List (Atlantic): 493
1908 Light 1: Oc W 15s. W13. ec 5. Light 2: Oc W 15s. W13. ec 5. Three lanterns encircling each masthead. (e. i.) If the electric light apparatus should become inoperative, the lights will show fixed white without eclipses and will be less brilliant than the electric lights. LHB Light List (Atlantic): 527
1915 Light 1: Oc W 15s. W12 (400 cp). ec 5. Light 2: Oc W 15s. W12 (400 cp). ec 5. If occulting lights inoperative, less brilliant fixed white lights will be shown. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 666
1917 Light 1: Oc W 15s. W12 (500 cp). ec 5. Light 2: Oc W 15s. W12 (500 cp). ec 5. If occulting lights inoperative, less brilliant fixed white lights will be shown. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 681
1920 Oc W 15s. W12 (480 cp). ec 5. Light shown from foremast head. If foremast light can not be shown, similar light will be shown from mainmast head. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 705
1927 Oc W 15s. W12 (3,000 cp). ec 5. If regular light inoperative, light of 160 candlepower will be shown. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 750
1931 USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 945
1935 USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 1120
1943 Oc W 15s. W12 (18,000 cp). ec 5. Light of 160 candlepower shown if regular light inoperative. Riding light, F. W. 250 cp., 21 feet high. USCG Light List (Atlantic): 1497
1945
1946 USCG Light List (Atlantic): 1495
1947
1950
1951
1952 Oc W 15s. W13 (15,000 cp). ec 5. Riding light, F. W. 250 cp. 21 feet high.
1953 USCG Light List - Vol. I-VI: 637
1954
1955
1957
1959 Oc W 15s. W13 (13,000 cp). ec 5. Fixed white riding light, 250 cp on forestay. USCG Light List - Vol. I-V: 692
1960
1961 USCG Light List - Vol. I: 692

Historical Light List Optics and Structures

1899 Reflector Reflector N/A 45 Two masts, schooner-rigged, no bowsprit, red hoop-iron day mark at each masthead. Hull straw-color, with "OVERFALLS" in black on each side, and "No. 46" in black on each quarter. Moored in 72 feet of water, about 31/2 miles to the southward and westward of Overfalls or South Shoal, entrance to Delaware Bay, Del. LHB Light List (Atlantic): 456
1905 Lens lantern Lens lantern 57 Flush-deck, steam light-vessel; two masts schooner-rigged, no bowsprit, red, circular gallery under the lens lanterns at each masthead. Hull straw-color, with "OVERFALLS" in black on each side and "69" in black on each bow. A black smokestack and the fog signal between the masts. Moored in 66 feet of water, about 31/2 miles to the southward and westward of Overfalls or South Shoal, entrance to Delaware Bay, Del., and 81/2 miles SSW. 1/4 W. from Cape May Light-House, 31/8 miles ENE 3/8 E. from Cape Henlopen Light-House, and 117/8 miles S. by E. 3/8 E. from Brandywine Shoal Light-House. LHB Light List (Atlantic): 493
1908 Flush-deck, schooner-rigged, steam light; two masts, no bowsprit; red, circular gallery under the lens lanterns at each masthead; straw-colored hull with "OVERFALLS" in black on each side and "69" in black on each bow; black smokestack and the fog signal between the masts. Moored in 66 feet of water, about 31/2 miles to the S'd and W'd of Overfalls or South Shoal, entrance to Delaware Bay, Del., and 81/2 miles 206° 30' (SSW 3/8 W) from Cape May Light-House,21 miles 278° 20' (W 3/4 N) from Five-Fathom Bank Light-Vessel, No. 79, 31/8 miles 72° 30' (ENE 1/2 E) from Cape Henlopen Light-House, and 117/8 miles 165° 45' (S by E 1/4 E) from Brandywine Shoal Light-House. LHB Light List (Atlantic): 527
1915 N/A N/A Straw-colored hull, "OVERFALLS" on sides; two masts, red, circular gallery under lens lanterns at each masthead. In 11 fathoms, south of shoal, entrance to Delaware Bay. (Del.) USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 666
1917 USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 681
1920 N/A Straw-colored hull, "OVERFALLS" on sides; two masts, red, circular gallery under lens lantern at foremast head. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 705
1927 Black hull, "OVERFALLS," in white, on sides; lantern and gallery on black tubular mast, small black mast aft; white deckhouses. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 750
1931 375 mm ei NA NA Black hull, "OVERFALLS," in white, on sides, lantern and gallery on black tubular mast, small black mast aft; white deck houses. In 66 feet, south of shoal, entrance to Delaware Bay. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 945
1935 USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 1120
1943 375 mm e Red hull, "OVERFALLS," in white, on sides, lantern and gallery on tubular mast, small mast aft. USCG Light List (Atlantic): 1497
1945
1946 USCG Light List (Atlantic): 1495
1947
1950
1951
1952 N/A
1953 Red hull, "OVERFALLS" on sides, lantern and gallery on tubular mast, small mast aft. USCG Light List - Vol. I-VI: 637
1954
1955
1957
1959 USCG Light List - Vol. I-V: 692
1960
1961 Red hull, "OVERFALLS" on sides, two masts, circular galley at each masthead. USCG Light List - Vol. I: 692

Historical Light List Audible Fog Signals

1899 12-inch steam whistle; blasts 3 sec., silent intervals 27 sec. If whistle be disabled, a bell will be rung by hand. LHB Light List (Atlantic): 456
1905 12-inch steam chime whistle; blasts 3 sec., silent intervals 27 sec. If whistle be disabled a bell will be rung by hand. LHB Light List (Atlantic): 493
1908 LHB Light List (Atlantic): 527
1915 12-inch steam chime whistle: Blast 3 sec. Silent 27 sec. Bell (hand) if whistle is disabled. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 666
1917 USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 681
1920 USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 705
1927 10-inch air whistle: Blast 3 sec. Silent 27 sec. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 750
1931 WHISTLE, air, 10-inch; blast 3 sec., silent 27 sec. Bell, hand, if whistle disabled. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 945
1935 USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 1120
1943 DIAPHONE, air; 2 blasts every 20 sec., blast 1.5 sec., silent 3 sec., blast 1.5 sec., silent 14 sec. None USCG Light List (Atlantic): 1497
1945
1946-1947 DIAPHONE, air; 2 blasts every 20 sec., blast 1.5 secs., silent 3 sec., blast 1.5 secs., silent 14 sec. USCG Light List (Atlantic): 1495
1950-1952 DIAPHONE, two-tone, air; 2 blasts every 20 sec., blast 1.5 secs., silent 3 sec., blast 1.5 secs., silent 14 sec.
1953 DIAPHONE, two-tone; when operating, is synchronized with radiobeacon ev 3 minutes for distance finding. USCG Light List - Vol. I-VI: 637
1954-1955 DIAPHONE, two-tone; when operating, is synchronized with radiobeacon ev 3 minutes for distance finding.
1957
1959-1960 DIAPHONE, two-tone; when operating, is synchronized with radiobeacon ev 3 minutes for distance finding. USCG Light List - Vol. I-V: 692
1961 HORN, single tone diaphragm; when operating, is synchronized with radiobeacon ev 3 minutes for distance finding. USCG Light List - Vol. I: 692

Historical Light List Other Signals

1927 NoneSubmarine bell; gps. 6 and 9 strokes ("69") every 38 sec. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 750
1931 RADIOBEACON; transmits gps. of dot, dash, dot. SUBMARINE BELL; gps. 6 and 9 strokes "69" every 38 sec. USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 945
1935 RADIOBEACON; transmits gps. of . USLHS Light List (Atlantic): 1120
1943 RADIOBEACON: Transmits on 306 kc, groups of dot dash dot (). DISTANCE-FINDING STATION. NoneUSCG Light List (Atlantic): 1497
1945 RADIOBEACON: Transmits on 306 kc, groups of dot dash dot (). Antenna lead-in at center of ship. DISTANCE-FINDING STATION.
1946-1947 USCG Light List (Atlantic): 1495
1950-1952 RADIOBEACON: Transmits on 306 kc, groups of dot dash dot (). Antenna lead-in at center of ship. DISTANCE-FINDING STATION.
1953-1955 RADIOBEACON: 306 kc (Code: ). Antenna at center of ship. USCG Light List - Vol. I-VI: 637
1957
1959-1960 USCG Light List - Vol. I-V: 692
1961 USCG Light List - Vol. I: 692
1898 - 1943
1944 - 1961 (Lightship was still in the light list after 1960.)