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Navigational Lighting |
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The Navigation Rules include lighting requirements for every description of watercraft. It is the boat owners responsibility
to equip his boat with the correct navigation lights. Display them whenever the boat is operated between sunset and sunrise
or during periods of of limited visibility, such as fog, rain, or haze.
PWC's are not required to have navigation lights since they are not permitted to operate between the hours of sunset to sunrise.
Purpose and Nature of Navigation Lights
Alert other boats of your presence and relative location.
Tell other boats something of your vessel's size, speed, course, and type (sail, power)
Enable you to properly apply the Navigation Rules
Types of Navigation Lights
Masthead light: White showing 225 degrees forward (112.5 degrees each side)
All-around light: Showing 360 degrees around horizon.
May be white, red, green, yellow depending on the boats purpose.
White for a recreational boat navigation or anchor light.
Sidelights: Red on port side, green on starboard side.
They show 112.5 degrees on each side of boat from dead ahead to slightly aft of beam.
Stern lights: White showing 135 degrees aft (67.5 degrees from directly astern each side of boat).
Visibility Requirements:
| Vessel Length | Less than 39.4 feet | 39.4 feet but less that 65.6 feet |
| Masthead Light | 2 miles | 3 miles |
| All Around Light | 2 miles | 2 miles |
| Sidelights | 1 miles | 2 miles |
| Stern Light | 2 miles | 2 miles |
Navigation Lights Requirements:
Powerboats less than 65.5 feet
White masthead light forward
Red and green sidelights (separate or combined)
White stern light
Option 1
White masthead
Combination red and green sidelights
white stern light
Option 2
White masthead
Separate red and green sidelights
White stern light
Powerboats less than 39.4 feet
Masthead and stern light may be combined into one all-round light
Option 1
All-around white light
Combination red and green sidelights
Option 2
All-around white light
Separate red and green sidelights
Sailing vessels less than 65.5 feet
Sailboats under power display a white masthead light, white stern
light and separate or combined red and green sidelights
Sailboats not under power display a white stern light
and red and green sidelights, separate or combined.
Never display white masthead lights.
May combine into one tri-color light at top of mast for better visibility when offshore
Sailing vessels less than 23 feet
If it is not practical to show the lights described for larger sailboats, may display a white light
