{"id":951,"date":"2015-05-05T16:42:57","date_gmt":"2015-05-05T20:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/?post_type=article&#038;p=456"},"modified":"2020-03-25T18:32:55","modified_gmt":"2020-03-25T18:32:55","slug":"boat-navigation-at-night","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/boat-navigation-at-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Boat Navigation at Night in the USA"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Boat Navigation in Restricted Visibility<\/h2>\n<p>Boat navigation at night, or during periods of reduced visibility can be dangerous. Boaters should take additional care when operating at night or during periods of restricted visibility, such as darkness, fog or heavy rain.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/RestrictedVisibility.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-457\" data-original=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/RestrictedVisibility-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"OperatinginRestrictedVisibility\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you hear a sound signal during restricted visibility, you should reduce your speed in order to proceed safely. Make sure you keep the engine ready for immediate action in case another boat or hazard comes through the fog or darkness and puts your boat at immediate risk of collision.<\/p>\n<h2>Boat Navigation at Night<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/embed\/iframe\/t469hjxdvx?dnt=1&#038;popover=true\" class=\"wistia-popover[height=393,playerColor=7b796a,width=699]\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/embed-ssl.wistia.com\/deliveries\/fd99da6488c23098e972348b0d17dc27f013fccf.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>Right-of-way and navigation rules are the same whether you\u2019re operating during the day or at night. However, while operating at night or during restricted visibility, you must determine the speed, position and size of other boats according to the <a href=\"\/article\/navigation-lights-requirements-for-boaters\/\">navigation lights <\/a>they exhibit.<\/p>\n<p>Navigation lights must be used on any pleasure craft that operates from sunset to sunrise or during periods of restricted visibility.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/Navigation_at_Night.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-458\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/Navigation_at_Night-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"RestrictedVisibility\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The navigation lights you are required to display depend on the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The size of your boat.<\/li>\n<li>Whether your boat is power-driven, human-powered or sail-powered.<\/li>\n<li>Whether your boat is underway or at anchor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Head-on Approach<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/embed\/iframe\/givbib6053?dnt=1&#038;popover=true\" class=\"wistia-popover[height=393,playerColor=7b796a,width=699]\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/embed-ssl.wistia.com\/deliveries\/27b2cb6a3db4bdca9667a799d9c520ceda0be37b.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>If you meet another boat and see a green, red and white light, you\u2019re approaching another power-driven boat head-on. In this situation, <strong>neither boat has the right-of-way.<\/strong> Both operators must take early and substantial action to steer well clear of the other boat by reducing their speed and steer to starboard (right).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/N_A_NHeadOnApproach-01HeroScaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-459\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/N_A_NHeadOnApproach-01HeroScaled-1024x580.jpg\" alt=\"NAVIGATING_AT_NIGHTOvertaking\" width=\"700\" height=\"397\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you meet another boat and see a green and red light but no masthead (white) light, then you\u2019re approaching a sail-powered boat. In this situation, you are the <strong>give-way craft<\/strong> and must yield the right-of-way to the sailboat.<\/p>\n<h2>Port (Left) Approach<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/embed\/iframe\/givbib6053?dnt=1&#038;popover=true\" class=\"wistia-popover[height=393,playerColor=7b796a,width=699]\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/embed-ssl.wistia.com\/deliveries\/27b2cb6a3db4bdca9667a799d9c520ceda0be37b.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>If a green and white light is visible, then another boat is approaching you from your boat\u2019s port (left) side. In this situation, you are the stand-on craft and should maintain your speed and direction. The other boat should take early and substantial action to steer well clear of your boat.<\/p>\n<h2>Starboard (Right) Approach<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/embed\/iframe\/20wux09tdz?dnt=1&#038;popover=true\" class=\"wistia-popover[height=393,playerColor=7b796a,width=699]\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/embed-ssl.wistia.com\/deliveries\/489414dffed00844c0cd7e6b12d14408f695856c.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>If a red and white light is visible, then another boat is approaching you from your boat\u2019s starboard (right) side. In this situation, you are the give-way craft and must yield the right-of-way. You should take early and substantial action to steer well clear of the other boat. Reduce your speed, change direction and pass at a safe distance behind the other boat.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Safe Boating Tip<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>A simple way to make sense of powerboat navigation lights is to remember the following rule of thumb:<br \/>\n<strong>A green light = GO<\/strong> (because another boat is approaching you from your port side).<br \/>\n<strong>A red light = STOP<\/strong> (because another boat is approaching from your starboard side).<\/p>\n<h2>What Else Does a White Light Indicate?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.net\/embed\/iframe\/l7uvy84euy?dnt=1&#038;popover=true\" class=\"wistia-popover[height=393,playerColor=7b796a,width=699]\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/embed-ssl.wistia.com\/deliveries\/9459ded45f9bee90c04f8bb9a2fb7e8730c7029a.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>If you see a white light on its own, it identifies one of the following three situations, indicating that you DO NOT have the right-of-way:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You\u2019re approaching another boat from behind.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019re approaching a boat that\u2019s at anchor.<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019re approaching a human-powered boat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Approaching Human-Powered Boats<\/h2>\n<p>When approaching a human-powered boats, you\u2019re the give-way craft and must yield the right-of-way. You should take early and substantial action to stay well clear and pass at a safe speed and distance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/WhatElseDoesAWhiteLightMean21.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-460\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/WhatElseDoesAWhiteLightMean21-1024x641.jpg\" alt=\"WhatElseDoesAWhiteLightMean2\" width=\"700\" height=\"438\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Remember that if you\u2019re operating a human-powered boat at night, you\u2019re required to have a working, electric torch, flashlight or lighted lantern showing a white light (this rule applies if the boat cannot be equipped with standard navigation lights.).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","article-category":[11],"article-tag":[31,112,145,247],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Boat Navigation at Night and During Restricted Visbility<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about boat navigation at night and during reduced visibility. Includes recognizing navigation lights at night and approaching human-powered boats.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/boat-navigation-at-night\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Boat Navigation at Night and During Restricted Visbility\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn about boat navigation at night and during reduced visibility. Includes recognizing navigation lights at night and approaching human-powered boats.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/boat-navigation-at-night\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BOATsmart! Knowledgebase\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-03-25T18:32:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/RestrictedVisibility-1024x576.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/\",\"name\":\"BOATsmart! Knowledgebase\",\"description\":\"Everything you need to know about boating safety\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/boat-navigation-at-night\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/04\/RestrictedVisibility-1024x576.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/boat-navigation-at-night\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/boat-navigation-at-night\/\",\"name\":\"Boat Navigation at Night and During Restricted Visbility\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/boat-navigation-at-night\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2015-05-05T20:42:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-03-25T18:32:55+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn about boat navigation at night and during reduced visibility. Includes recognizing navigation lights at night and approaching human-powered boats.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/boat-navigation-at-night\/\"]}]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/951"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=951"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/951\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1525,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/951\/revisions\/1525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-category?post=951"},{"taxonomy":"article-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article-tag?post=951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}