{"id":941,"date":"2015-05-04T13:32:12","date_gmt":"2015-05-04T17:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/?post_type=article&#038;p=576"},"modified":"2015-12-14T14:36:49","modified_gmt":"2015-12-14T14:36:49","slug":"navigation-lights-requirements-for-boaters","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/navigation-lights-requirements-for-boaters\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigation Light Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Navigation Light Equipment<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/embed\/iframe\/0ee8jbrdy6?dnt=1&#038;popover=true\" class=\"wistia-popover[height=393,playerColor=7b796a,width=699]\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-original=\"https:\/\/embed-ssl.wistia.com\/deliveries\/0e531ece6ba056a0463c6e3425df1df9a1d9fefe.jpg?image_play_button=true&#038;image_play_button_color=7b796ae0&#038;image_crop_resized=600x338\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><script charset=\"ISO-8859-1\" src=\"\/\/fast.wistia.com\/assets\/external\/popover-v1.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>There will be mornings when the water looks like glass and you\u2019ll want to head out for an early fishing trip. Or, you may return from visiting a friend\u2019s cabin after sunset, or a heavy layer of fog may roll in while you\u2019re out exploring a new area of the lake. These scenarios are not unlikely, and for that reason, you\u2019re required to display the proper navigation light equipment when your boat is underway or when it\u2019s at anchor. Using your navigation lights correctly will help keep the waterways a safe and relaxing place to spend your time.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Navigation Light Types<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/NavigationLights-01.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-578\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/NavigationLights-01-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Navigation Lights Types\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Masthead Light:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Color:<\/strong>\u00a0White.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arc:\u00a0<\/strong>Shows a solid light over a sweep of 225<strong>\u00b0<\/strong> from the front of the boat to 22.5<strong>\u00b0<\/strong> on either side of the bow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Position:\u00a0<\/strong>Centered in the boat, facing forward. On common powerboats, this light is often on a short pole on top of the cabin, windshield or at the stern.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Port Sidelight:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Color:\u00a0<\/strong>Red.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arc:<\/strong>\u00a0Showing an unbroken light over an arc of 112.5<strong>\u00b0<\/strong> that is visible to other boats approaching from the port (left) side or from head-on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Position<\/strong>: Forward, left area of the boat.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Starboard Sidelight:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Color<\/strong>: Green.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arc:\u00a0<\/strong>Showing an unbroken light over an arc of 112.5<strong>\u00b0<\/strong> that is visible to other boats approaching from the starboard (right) side or from head-on.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Position:\u00a0<\/strong>Forward, right area of the boat.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Sternlight:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Color:\u00a0<\/strong>White.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arc:\u00a0<\/strong>Shows an unbroken light over an arc of 135<strong>\u00b0.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Position:\u00a0<\/strong>Placed at the stern (back) of the boat.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>All-around Light:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Color:\u00a0<\/strong>White.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arc:\u00a0<\/strong>Shows a solid light over 360<strong>\u00b0 <\/strong>(all around the boat)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Position:\u00a0<\/strong>Clearly visible from all directions<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> The all-around light functions as a combined masthead and sternlight\u2013this light must be visible in all directions and must be at least 1 m higher than the sidelights.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Tricolor Light:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Color:\u00a0<\/strong>Green, red and white.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arc:\u00a0<\/strong>Combined, the light is a 360<strong>\u00b0<\/strong> view. The white section is at the stern (135<strong>\u00b0<\/strong>), the red section is portside and extends to the bow (112.5<strong>\u00b0<\/strong>) and the green section is on the starboard side extending to the bow (112.5<strong>\u00b0<\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Position:\u00a0<\/strong>It is placed where it can be seen from all directions<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> This light combines the stern and sidelights and is applicable only to wind-powered sailboats. The tricolor light can be used in place of the side lights\/sternlight combination but must not be used when the sidelights are on. Either option is acceptable when used on its own.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Towing Light:<\/h2>\n<p>A towing boat that is 30 feet in length or longer must display two white masthead lights on top of each other at night to indicate that it\u2019s towing another boat. Use this rhyme to remember: White over white, towing at night!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Law Enforcement Light:<\/h2>\n<p>If you should see a flashing blue light on the water, this is a law enforcement boat and you should be careful to stay out of its way. Use this rhyme to remember: Flashing blue could rescue you!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Navigation Lights for Different Boats<\/h2>\n<p>You are required to display your navigation lights whenever you\u2019re operating your boat between sunset and sunrise and during periods of reduced visibility<em>. <\/em>Boat accident statistics indicate that nighttime collisions account for a significant portion of the total fatal and non-fatal collisions that happen every year. For the most recent lighting requirements available for recreational boaters, visit the Coast Guard\u2019s website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uscgboating.org\">www.uscgboating.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-577\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/N_A_NLightRequirements1.jpg\" alt=\"Using your navigation lights in restricted visibility\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Safe Boating Tip: <\/strong><br \/>\nWhen purchasing a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.boatsmartmarine.com\/collections\/retail\/products\/led-marine-flashlight\">flashlight<\/a> for your boat, make sure it\u2019s watertight and always check the condition of the batteries before you leave the dock.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","article-category":[8],"article-tag":[83,112,148,247,46],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Navigation Light Requirements for Boating in the USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Navigation light types and what they indicate. 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