Does my boat need running lights?

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 you can see 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.

Can you run lights on a boat at night?

When it’s dark, your running lights should be on at all times. The red and green navigation lights are located on the bow of the boat and meant to indicate to other vessels which way they’re headed toward you.

What do green and white lights mean on a boat at night?

When you are in a power-driven vessel and you see a red, a green, and a white light, you are approaching another power-driven vessel head-on and both vessels must give way.

Why do people put blue lights on boats?

(a) Law enforcement vessels may display a flashing blue light when engaged in direct law enforcement or public safety activities. This light must be located so that it does not interfere with the visibility of the vessel’s navigation lights.

What are the lights on a boat called?

Common Navigation Lights

• Sidelights: These red and green lights are called sidelights (also called combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the side or head-on.
• Sternlight: This white light is seen only from behind or nearly behind the vessel.

What does a single white light on a boat tell you at night?

Powerboat A: When only a white light is visible, you may be overtaking another vessel. Give way to either side.

Why can’t boats have headlights?

There is a natural tendency for a boater to want to use a searchlight or spotlight at night, just as one would use headlights on a car. But headlights won’t work on the water. The other reason headlights would be of little use for boats is because boating is three-dimensional.

What does a single white light on a boat tell you?

What Does a White Light Indicate? If only a white light is visible, you may be approaching another craft from behind. You are the give-way-craft and must take early and substantial action to steer well clear by altering your course and passing at a safe distance on the starboard (right) or port (left) side.

What side do you pass a boat on at night?

The Meeting Situation Each vessel in a meeting situation must alter course to starboard so that each will pass on the port side of the other. At night, you will recognize a head-on meeting situation if you see both red and green side lights at the same time.

Are LED lights legal on boats?

There are some things, however, boaters need to know about this type of lighting to avoid being in violation of navigation lighting law. There is not a “ban” on interior accent or LED underwater lighting unless it interferes with required navigation lighting.

What does a yellow light on a boat mean?

A steady red light marks the port (left) side of a boat; a steady green light marks the starboard (right). A steady yellow light marks the stern (back) of a tug pushing barges.