BOAT NAVIGATION LIGHTS

Navigation lights like these don't pass muster, and don't make for safe boating (credit: Daniel Rutherford).

Over the last couple of boating seasons, I've seen some very odd lights on pleasure vessels both here on my inland lake (Joe Pool Lake in Texas) and on the Gulf Coast.  Invariably these improper light combinations seem to be on vessels under 30 feet in length.  I've seen:

• Reversed port and starboard running lights
• Pontoon boats with "headlights"
• No or inadequate all-round white light (common)
• No or inadequate stern light (common)
• "Vanity" lights obstructing navigation lights (primarily wake board and ski boats)

Display of proper lights, with the proper arcs of visibility, are absolutely vital for safe navigation. This applies under both power and sail. A trained sailor can tell at at glance which way you're going and your approximate heading if these lights are displayed correctly. (Some vessels, such as aircraft carriers with angle decks, are a special case and not within the scope of this short blog post.) N.B. -- if there's interest, I can treat these and other "special use vessels" in a separate article. Regardless of whether your boat came from the dealer this way, proper display of lights is the master's sole responsibility (usually the owner).

State fish and game departments, as well as the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and various Power Squadrons and yacht clubs, offer minimal cost or free courses which cover the basics. I'll offer more on this subject fairly routinely within the blog as proper lighting is vital to safety and a legal requirement.

Thanks to BoatUS for the accompanying press release copied below in it's entirety.

NEWS from BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatUS Press Room at www.BoatUS.com/PressRoom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

BoatUS Foundation: Three Safety Tips for Upgrading Boat Lighting

US Coast Guard Cautions Use of Some New Types of Lights

ANNAPOLIS, MD, January 11, 2016 – With the latest technical advances in recreational boat lights – both for navigation and aesthetic purposes – recreational boaters have more choices than ever when upgrading their boat’s lighting. However, the US Coast Guard wants boaters to know that some of the new lights aren’t up to snuff and could increase the chances of a collision. It has found that some sold for navigation purposes don’t meet regulations, and other aesthetic lighting products such as LED ropes and underwater lights may go against the light provisions of the nautical rules of the road. The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water shares these concerns has these three tips when shopping for or installing boat lights:

1) Navigation lights have to be “approved”.  Some manufacturers are selling navigation lights that don’t meet regulations. These lights are typically cheaper, but do not provide the proper color quality, brightness or cut-off angles that boaters rely on to avoid collision. So how do you know you are buying a good nav light? The US Coast Guard (USCG) says things to look for include 1.) USCG approval, 2.) The rated visibility of the light in nautical miles, 3.) Meets ABYC A-16, 4.) “Tested by: laboratory name,” along with 5.) Manufacturer and model #.

2) Don’t let your boat’s lights confuse. The USCG reports that some boaters have hazardously installed unapproved red and green LED strip lighting on the bow, which hampers other boaters efforts to avoid collision. Also avoid displaying any light that could be confused as another navigation light or another vessel. And do remember flashing blue lights are reserved for law enforcement – at a distance, wave action combined with the steady rocking of below the waterline high-intensity blue lights can give the appearance of a police vessel.

3) Don’t install lights that prevent the operator from maintaining a good lookout. When running between sunset and sunrise, it’s critical that those behind the wheel maintain their night vision, so the #1 goal is to keep light out of the operator’s eyes. Glare from existing nav lights may be a problem, or reflections from aesthetic lighting such as LED rope lights wrapped around a helm station hinder eyesight.

A helpful video by West Marine, “How to Choose the Right Navigation Lights for Your Boat,” can be found at http://goo.gl/o4oYoC.

To see lights tested at night by the BoatUS Foundation, visit BoatUS.org/findings/48.

###

About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):

BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with over a half million members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We help ensure a roadside breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins, and on the water, we bring boaters safely back to the launch ramp or dock when their boat won’t, day or night. The BoatUS Insurance Program gives boat owners the specialized coverage and superior service they need, and we help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the non-profit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.