Navigation
Lights
The
Navigation Rules include safety lighting requirements for every
type of watercraft. Boat owners are responsible for equipping
their boat with the required navigation lights and for displaying
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 or power).
|
Enable
you to properly apply the Navigation Rules for the safety
of your vessel and those around you.
|
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 function
- 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.
|
Sternlights:
White showing 135 degrees aft (67.5 degrees from directly
astern each side of boat).
|
|
Visibility
Requirements |
If
your Vessel Length is |
...then
this light on your vessel |
...must
be visible for at least |
Less
than 39.4 feet |
Masthead
light |
2
miles |
All-around |
2
miles |
Sidelights |
1
mile |
Sternlights |
2
miles |
|
|
|
39.4
feet but less than 65.6 feet |
Masthead
light |
3
miles |
All-around |
2
miles |
Sidelights |
2
miles |
Sternlights |
2
miles |
|