Boat Navigation Lights: When And What Type?

Boat navigation lights are a crucial safety feature, designed to prevent collisions and communicate a vessel's direction, size, and intentions. They are required on most boats and come in several types, including sidelights, stern lights, and all-round lights, each with a specific colour, location, range of visibility, and arc of illumination. These lights are necessary for legal and safe boating, and it is the owner's or operator's responsibility to ensure their correct use and display. This paragraph will explore the topic of boat navigation lights, including their importance, requirements, and how they contribute to safe boating experiences.

Powerboats

Types of Navigation Lights for Powerboats

For powerboats, there are three types of navigation lights: sidelights, a stern light, and a masthead or all-round white light. Sidelights consist of a green light on the starboard (right) side and a red light on the port (left) side. These lights should be visible from a distance of at least one mile and should be placed where they are most visible, typically on the hull or the deck. The stern light is a white light displayed at the rear of the boat, visible from all directions, and also visible from at least one mile away. The masthead light or all-round white light is displayed at the forward end of the vessel, and it should be visible from a distance of at least two miles.

Powerboat Sizes and Requirements

The requirements for navigation lights on powerboats vary depending on the size of the vessel. For powerboats less than 12 meters (39.4 feet) in length, the minimum requirement is to display sidelights and a stern light. If the powerboat is between 12 and 20 meters (39.4 to 65.6 feet) in length, it should display sidelights, a stern light, and a masthead light. For powerboats longer than 20 meters, the requirements are similar to those for smaller vessels, but the visibility range for the masthead light may need to be increased to ensure compliance with regulations.

Additional Considerations

It's important to ensure that your navigation lights comply with the specific regulations in your region, as there may be varying requirements for light placement, colour, and visibility angles. Additionally, remember that during times of reduced visibility, such as fog or heavy rain, you may need to use additional lights, such as a foghorn or a flashing light, to enhance the visibility of your powerboat and prevent collisions. Always adhere to local regulations and use your best judgment to ensure safe boating practices.

Sailboats

The navigation lights required depend on the size of the sailboat. For sailboats or vessels using paddles or oars under 7 metres (or 23 feet) in length, one white navigation light, or torch/lantern, must be visible from 2 nautical miles away between sunset and sunrise or during periods of low visibility. In the presence of another vessel, the light must be displayed in time to avoid a collision.

For sailboats between 7 and 20 metres (or 23 and 65.6 feet) in length, the following lights are required:

• One white stern light visible at 135 degrees and from 2 nautical miles
• One green starboard and one red port sidelight, visible across 112.5 degrees from one nautical mile away
• A tricolour light, which is a single all-around light that includes the three colours of lights indicated above, facing the same directions, visible from a distance of 2 nautical miles. This type of light can only be used when under sail and never when using a motor, regardless of whether the sails are hoisted. It may not be used at the same time as regular sidelights.

Lights at anchor

Navigation lights are a crucial safety system for boats, helping to prevent collisions and providing essential information about a vessel's size, activity, and direction of travel. When a boat is at anchor, the lighting requirements are different from when it is underway. Here's what you need to know about displaying proper navigation lights when anchored:

Visibility and Safety

When your boat is at anchor, ensuring visibility is crucial for safety. Even if you are in a designated anchoring area like a marina, other vessels, and dinghies may be travelling nearby. Displaying the correct anchor lights helps them to see and avoid your boat, preventing potential collisions.

Anchor Light Requirements

The lighting requirements for anchored vessels are specified by the US Coast Guard, also known as the USCG, and are as follows:

• A vessel at anchor must display an all-around white light at the fore part (front) and another all-around white light at or near the stern (rear) of the vessel. These lights should be visible from a distance of two miles.
• The front light should be positioned higher than the rear light.
• Vessels less than 50 meters in length may exhibit a single all-around white light instead of the two lights mentioned above.
• Vessels at anchor may also use working or equivalent lights to illuminate their decks, especially if they are 100 meters or longer.
• Vessels aground (temporarily stopped due to touching the bottom) must follow similar lighting requirements as anchored vessels. Additionally, if practicable, they should display two all-round red lights in a vertical line or three balls in a vertical line.
• Vessels less than 7 meters in length, when at anchor not in or near a narrow channel or other vessel navigation areas, are exempt from displaying anchor lights.
• Vessels less than 12 meters in length, when aground, are not required to display the additional red lights or shapes specified for aground vessels.
• Vessels less than 20 meters in length, when at anchor in a special anchorage area designated by the Secretary, are exempt from displaying anchor lights.

General Rules for Navigation Lights

It's important to remember that navigation lights have specific characteristics, including colour, arc of illumination, range of visibility, and location, as required by marine light laws and regulations. Here are some general rules:

• Navigation lights are required to be displayed from sunset to sunrise and during periods of reduced visibility, such as fog or rain.
• The colour of navigation lights can be white, red, green, yellow, or blue, each indicating different information about the vessel.
• The arc of illumination varies for different lights, with some providing 360 degrees of visibility (all-around lights) while others have specific ranges, such as 112.5 degrees for sidelights.
• The range of visibility is also specified, with lights needing to be visible from certain distances, typically one or two miles.
• The placement of lights is important, with certain lights required to be at specific locations on the vessel, such as the fore part or stern.

Boat size

The navigation light requirements for boats depend on several factors, including the boat's size, type, and location. The rules may also vary between inland and offshore waters. Here is a detailed breakdown of the navigation light requirements based on boat size:

Boats under 7 meters (23 feet) in length:

• Sailboats, paddleboats, rowboats, and canoes under 7 meters in length are generally not required to display navigation lights.
• However, they must have an electric torch, lantern, or flashlight emitting a white light that is visible from 2 nautical miles away. This light should be displayed in time to prevent collisions with other vessels.

Boats between 7 meters (23 feet) and 12 meters (39.4 feet) in length:

• Boats in this size range are required to have a combination of sidelights and stern lights.
• The sidelights consist of a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side, visible across 112.5 degrees from one nautical mile away.
• The stern light is a white light at the rear of the boat, visible across 135 degrees from 2 nautical miles away.
• Alternatively, boats under 12 meters in length can display an all-around white light instead of separate stern and masthead lights. This light should be visible from 2 nautical miles away.

Boats between 12 meters (39.4 feet) and 20 meters (65.6 feet) in length:

• Boats in this size range are required to have a masthead light, stern light, and sidelights.
• The masthead light is a white light at the front of the boat, visible across 225 degrees from 2 nautical miles away. It must be positioned at least 8 feet above the gunnel.
• The stern light is a white light at the rear of the boat, visible across 135 degrees from 2 nautical miles away.
• The sidelights are a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side, visible across 112.5 degrees from one nautical mile away.
• For boats over 39.4 feet in length, the sidelights should be visible from 2 nautical miles away.

Boats over 20 meters (65.6 feet) in length:

• Larger boats are required to use lights with a higher visibility range and cannot combine sidelights into a single bi-color light.
• Boats over 20 meters in length must display a masthead light visible for at least 3 nautical miles. All other lights must be visible for 2 nautical miles.
• Additionally, a copy of the Navigation Rules and Regulations must be kept on board at all times for boats in this size range.

Regulations

Navigation lights are one of the most important safety systems on a boat. They are used to prevent collisions at night or in times of reduced visibility, and are required by law. The US Coast Guard has put these boat navigation lights rules in place for safety reasons. Understanding these rules is a legal requirement for operating a boat.

The rules for what navigation lights to display depend on several factors, including the length of your boat, whether your boat is being powered by an engine, where you're boating, and whether you are at anchor.

In general, all navigation light systems include red and green sidelights, indicating the port and starboard side of your boat, as well as one or more white lights. The sidelights shine from dead ahead to 112.5° aft on either side of the vessel. The white lights can be all-around lights, masthead lights, or stern lights. All-around lights project a full circle of light and need to be visible for 2 miles. Masthead lights shine across 225° and must be located above the sidelights. Stern lights shine aft and 67.5° forward on each side, creating a full circle of light when combined with the sidelights.

For powered boats less than 39.4 feet or 12 meters, you need to have the following set of navigation lights: one all-around white light that can be seen from 360 degrees and from two miles away, and one pair of red and green sidelights that are visible at 112.5 degrees and from one mile away. The all-around white light needs to be positioned at a height of at least 39 inches above the sidelights.

If your boat is greater than 39.4 feet but less than 65.6 feet or 20 meters, you need the following set of navigation lights: a masthead light (a white light at the front of the boat) visible across 225 degrees and from two miles away, and a stern light (a white light at the rear of the boat) visible across 135 degrees and from two miles away. When combined, these lights make up 360 degrees. You also need one pair of red and green sidelights that are visible across 112.5 degrees and from a distance of one mile. For boats of this size, the masthead light must be positioned at a height of at least 8 feet above the gunnel.

Sailboats under 7 meters in length should exhibit regular navigation lights if practicable. If not, they should have ready an electric torch or lantern showing a white light that shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent a collision. Sailboats between 23 and 65.6 feet require one white stern light visible at 135 degrees and from 2 nautical miles, one green starboard and one red port sidelight visible across 112.5 degrees from one nautical mile away, and a tricolour light, which is a single all-around light that includes the three colours indicated above. This type of light can only be used when under sail, never when using a motor, and may not be used at the same time as regular sidelights.

When your boat is anchored at a dock, it is not necessary to turn on your navigation lights. However, if you are at anchor in an undesignated area, you need to display an all-around white light to make other boats aware that you are not moving.

Frequently asked questions