A Guide To Installing Navigation Lights On Your Boat

Boat navigation lights are crucial for safety on the water, especially when it's dark or the visibility is poor. They help prevent accidents and collisions by communicating a boat's location, direction, size, and intentions to other boaters. The placement of these lights depends on the size, type, and location of the boat, with different rules for powered boats, sailboats, and unpowered boats such as kayaks and canoes. In general, navigation light systems include red and green sidelights, indicating the port and starboard sides, and one or more white lights. These lights should be visible from a certain distance and mounted at specific heights to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.

The lights on the port and starboard sides are red and green, respectively

When putting navigation lights on a boat, it is important to remember that the red light goes on the port side (left) and the green light goes on the starboard side (right). These are known as sidelights and they help other boaters understand your boat's direction, size, and intentions.

The red and green sidelights should be placed at the front of the boat, facing forward. They should be positioned so that they are visible from an angle of 112.5 degrees and can be seen from a distance of at least one mile away. This is important for boats of all sizes. The lights should be mounted towards the bow (front) of the boat.

In addition to the sidelights, boats also need to display white lights. For boats under 39.4 feet or 12 meters, one all-around white light should be placed at the stern (rear) of the boat and should be visible from all angles (360 degrees) and from a distance of two miles away. This white light should be positioned at least 39 inches above the sidelights.

For larger boats, over 39.4 feet but under 65.6 feet, the lighting configuration is more complex. In addition to the red and green sidelights, these boats require two white lights: a masthead light at the front of the boat and a stern light at the rear. The masthead light must be visible from 225 degrees and the stern light from 135 degrees, with both visible from two miles away. The masthead light must be mounted at least eight feet above the gunnel (the top edge of the side of the boat).

Regardless of the size of the boat, it is always a good idea to have a flashlight on board as a backup in case any of the navigation lights burn out or become inoperable.

A white light is placed at the stern of the boat

For boats smaller than 39.4 feet or 12 meters, the white light should be positioned at a height of at least 39 inches or 99 centimeters above the red and green sidelights. This height ensures it can be clearly seen by other boaters and helps to determine who has the right of way.

On boats larger than 39.4 feet but smaller than 65.6 feet, the white light placement differs slightly. In addition to the stern light, another white light is mounted at the masthead of the boat, which is the forward position. The masthead light must be at least 8 feet above the gunnel, or the top edge of the boat's side.

The combination of the masthead and stern lights provides a 360-degree field of illumination, ensuring visibility from all directions. These lights are crucial for safe boating, especially during nighttime or low-visibility conditions, as they help prevent collisions and allow boats to communicate their position and intentions.

Lights must be visible from at least two nautical miles away

When boating at night or in low-visibility conditions, it is crucial to ensure that your navigation lights are visible from a distance to prevent accidents and collisions. All navigation lights should be visible from at least two nautical miles away.

For powered boats less than 39.4 feet or 12 meters in length, you need to have one all-around white light visible from 360 degrees and two nautical miles away. This light needs to be positioned at a height of at least 39 inches above the sidelights. Additionally, you will need a pair of red and green sidelights, which should be visible from 112.5 degrees and one nautical mile away.

If your boat is larger, between 39.4 feet and 65.6 feet or 12 meters and 20 meters, the requirements change slightly. You will need a masthead light, a white light at the front of the boat, visible across 225 degrees and from two nautical miles away. At the rear of the boat, you will need a stern light, also a white light, visible across 135 degrees and from two nautical miles away. Finally, you will need a pair of red and green sidelights, visible across 112.5 degrees and from one nautical mile away. For boats of this size, the masthead light must be at least eight feet above the gunnel, which is the top edge of the side of the boat.

For boats over 20 meters or 65.6 feet, the requirements are similar to the previous category, but with the addition of matt black inboard screens to the sidelights.

Unpowered boats such as sailboats, rowboats, and kayaks under 23 feet or seven meters only need to have one white light, which can be a flashlight or a lantern.

When boating, it is important to remember that navigation lights are not just for show. They serve a crucial purpose in communicating your boat's location, direction, size, and intentions to other boaters, helping to prevent accidents and collisions.

Lights should be turned on from sunset to sunrise

Boat navigation lights are crucial for safety on the water, especially when it's dark or visibility is limited. These lights help prevent accidents and collisions by communicating a boat's location, direction, size, and intentions to other boaters. Therefore, it is essential to turn on your boat's navigation lights from sunset to sunrise or during periods of restricted visibility, such as in fog or rain.

When boating at night or in low-visibility conditions, it is important to understand the specific requirements for your vessel's size, type, and location. For example, powerboats and sailboats have different lighting requirements. Additionally, the rules may vary between inland and offshore waters, so it is crucial to research the applicable nautical rules for your area.

In general, all navigation light systems include red and green sidelights, indicating the port (left) and starboard (right) sides of the boat, respectively. These sidelights should be visible from an angle of 112.5 degrees and a distance of at least one mile. Additionally, one or more white lights are required. A white stern light, visible from the rear of the boat, is necessary to inform other boaters of your position from behind.

The placement of navigation lights depends on the size of the boat. For boats less than 39.4 feet or 12 meters in length, the all-around white light should be positioned at least 39 inches above the sidelights. Boats between 39.4 and 65.6 feet or 12 and 20 meters require a masthead light, which is a white light at the front of the boat, visible across a 225-degree angle and from two miles away. The stern light on these boats must be visible from a distance of two miles and an angle of 135 degrees.

Regardless of the size and type of boat, it is always a good idea to have a flashlight on board. If your boat lights fail or become inoperable, a flashlight can be a crucial tool for signalling and preventing collisions.

Use lights in poor visibility conditions, such as fog or rain

Using navigation lights is crucial for preventing collisions, especially when boating in low-visibility conditions such as fog or heavy rain. In such situations, the appropriate lights must be displayed so that other boats can see you and take the appropriate action to avoid a collision.

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) mandate that boats display the appropriate lights during nighttime or in low-visibility conditions. Vessels must also have a backup lighting system in case the primary one fails.

Navigation lights communicate important information about a vessel's size, type, activity, and direction of travel. For instance, if you see a vessel approaching with both red and green lights, it means the vessel is heading directly toward you. Similarly, seeing a green light over a white light indicates a fishing vessel actively trawling, and you must remember that it may have a large net deployed that you need to avoid.

To ensure your boat complies with the regulations, it's important to understand the different types of marine navigation lights and their purposes. A masthead light is a white light positioned along the vessel's fore and aft centerline, illuminating a continuous arc of 225 degrees on the horizon. A stern light, on the other hand, is a white light positioned at the rear of the boat, illuminating an uninterrupted arc of 135 degrees across the horizon. The starboard light is green and displays over a 112.5-degree arc on the right side of the boat, while the port side light is red and displays over a 112.5-degree arc on the left side.

In addition to these lights, power-driven vessels under 39.4 feet (12 meters) can combine the masthead and stern lights into a single all-around white light visible from all directions. This light also functions as an anchor light when the sidelights are turned off.

Frequently asked questions