Navigation Lights

Operating at night (or in reduced visibility) can present some special challenges. Not
only is your depth perception lessened, bright lights on the shore can cast misleading
reflections on the water and if you wear glasses, or worse yet bifocals, you simply don't
see as well at night as you do during the day.

It is not only important that you be able to identify other vessels operating in your
proximity, it is equally important that other vessels see you. Most recreational vessels
are less than 30 feet in length and, according to the Rules of the Road, shall be equipped
with navigation lights. These lights not only have a certain arc through which they can
be seen but must be seen from a minimum distance. The following lighting
requirements are for recreational vessels less than 12 meters in length. (approximately
39.4')

Visible
Light Arc Color
Range

Masthead Light 225º White 2

Starboard Sidelight 112.5º Green 1

Port Sidelight 112.5º Red 1

Sternlight 135º White 2

Does your stern light shine dead astern over the required 135º arc or does it shine to one
side or up or down. Can it be seen from the required 2 miles and why is that important?
As an example, let's say that your stern light for some reason can only be seen for 1/2
mile. You are underway at 8 knots and a large ship is approaching at 15 knots. The ship
is only 4 minutes away from collision with you. By the time the ship "might" see you,
identify the light and decide on the reaction that should be taken, it is too late. A ship
traveling at 15 knots may take miles to stop.

Look at the stern light again, as you move from the stern toward the bow, does the stern
light "disappear" as the sidelight "appears"? The stern light should disappear and
sidelights appear at 22.5º abaft the beam. If you don't see the green starboard sidelight
or the red port sidelight when the stern light disappears there is a problem with the arc
of one or all these lights. This means that if another boat were approaching you at the
angle where no lights are seen there is increased risk of collision.
If both the sternlight and sidelights are seen brightly at the same time you still have a
problem. A vessel approaching won't know whether they are overtaking or crossing and
whether they should give-way or stand-on.

You should also check to make sure that your masthead light disappears at the same
time each sidelight disappears and they both disappear when the stern light appears.

Check your sidelights from dead ahead. You should see both red and green. However,
by moving toward one side just 1-3º you should then see only one light. If you still see
two lights, an approaching vessel won't be able to tell which direction you are going.

It is very important to be seen from a distance but also for an approaching vessel to be
able to determine your direction of travel.

When boating at night remember the following: "When two lights you see ahead turn
your helm and show your red".

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Federal and International regulations require boats to carry lights between sunset and
sunrise and during conditions of restricted visibility i.e. fog or heavy rain. The number
and color of these lights varies with the size of the vessel. Many commercial vessels
carry special lights that identify them to others. This is important because rights of way
depend on what type of vessel is involved. Tugs and commercial fishing vessels have
the right of way over sailboats which have the right of way over ordinary power vessels.
Unique lights are carried by each one.

Let's take a look at the lights a moderate size (23'-65') sailboat carries in different
conditions so she will be apparent to anyone approaching. By the way, smaller
sailboats and boats propelled by oars should carry these lights also but do not have to. A
flashlight, ready to be illuminated, can be a substitute on these small, non-power driven
craft. If you would like to read the full set of rules governing navigation lights you can
find them here: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules.htm  You may also
read a condensed version, with pictures, for recreational boaters here:
http://www.uscgboating.org/SAFETY/fedreqs/equ_nav.htm

Under sail. Under sail without the engine on, a sailboat displays two sidelights and a
stern light. Port sidelight is red with green for starboard. Each shines from straight
ahead through an arc of 112.5°. The stern light shines white directly astern through
an arc of 135°.
Notice in the above illustration if you put all three lights together they would form a
perfect circle. We will actually see this when we get to the tricolor light. Moving around
the vessel at night you would always see one light and rarely see two at once. The two
sidelights at the bow may be combined together into one unit (but still show red and
green appropriately) if the vessel is less than 20 meters (65') in length. This uses one
light bulb in place of two.

Under power. These are the same lights a power driven vessel would show. In addition
to the lights above we add, what the rules call, a masthead light. This masthead light
may be at the top of a short mast on a power vessel but is placed about 2/3 the way up
the forward mast on a sailboat.

The masthead (steaming) light is white and shines forward through an arc of 225°. This
is the same combined arc of the two sidelights (each at 112.5°). Now, if we were to
move around this vessel we would always see two lights from the front; either a red or a
green with white over it. Very large vessels (over 50 meters) have two masthead lights;
the one you see above and another identical one aft and higher. Note that with both of
the above vessels there is only a single white stern light.

Tricolor light. We have the choice to use a tricolor light with these conditions met:
Under sail only and less than 20 meters (65') in length.
Why would we choose to use a tricolor light? Well, the big difference is the
consumption of electricity. We power the tricolor light with just one light bulb. Because
it must be seen from all around it needs to be at the top of the mast. This is why it
cannot be used when the engine is engaged. With the engine on we turn on the masthead
light to indicate we are under power but the rules state that the masthead light must be
located above the sidelights. Since the masthead light on a sailboat is only part way up
the mast this combination doesn't work. So, we can only use the tricolor light on
moderately sized sailboats under sail only.

At anchor. Here, we are anchored, or tied to a mooring ball, and must display an anchor
light which is a white all around light where it can best be seen. This is usually at the
very top of the mast.

All vessels at anchor must display an anchor light with two exceptions: When in a
special designated anchorage and less than 20 meters (65') in length, there is no
requirement for this light. Special designated anchorages are not common (as of this
writing there are 96 in the US) but may occur where there are large numbers of vessels
moored. You will know if the anchorage you are in is so designated by reading the chart
where it will be clearly marked. If it's not on the chart then it's not a special designated
anchorage by the secretary of transportation. The one other exception to the anchor light
rule is for vessels under 7 meters (23') in length provided they are not anchored in or
near a channel or where other vessels normally navigate.

Now that we've noted the exceptions to using an anchor light, I must give my own
opinion here: Why would anyone ever want to not use an anchor light? Why take the
chance a speed boat driven by someone who has had too much to drink will run into
you? In Florida there are several deaths a year relating directly to this. I am always
amazed, and so are my students, when we anchor with a couple dozen other sailboats
and we are one of the few boats displaying an anchor light.

What if your anchor light is burned out? Well, you might make do by turning on lights
in the cockpit or hang one in the rigging. In fact, you may use additional lights both
navigational and otherwise: "The lights prescribed by these Rules...may be exhibited in
all other circumstances when it is deemed necessary". Quoted from the navigation rules.

Fishing vessels. A commercial fishing boat while fishing will show either a red or a
green all around light above an all around white light. Sailboats must stay out of their
way. Green over white indicates trawling and red over white for other types of fishing.

Pilot boats. These are the smaller, enclosed power driven vessels that ferry the harbor
pilot to and from freighters and cruise ships coming in and out of port. They show all
around white over red when engaged in their duties.

Tug boats. The lights prescribed vary depending on whether the tug is pushing, towing
alongside, towing behind, or in inland or international waters. You will see two
masthead lights vertically aligned on the tug and often a yellow light above the stern
light. If the tug is towing behind you will also see sidelights and a stern light on the tow.
Sailboats must keep clear. Two examples from the Inland rules are below: