Non-Navigation Lighting While Underway?

§ 155.790 Deck lighting.

(c) Lighting must be located or shielded so as not to mislead or otherwise interfere with navigation on the adjacent waterways.

It seems that any extra light could potentially be misinterpreted by other traffic. If nothing else, I would be concerned about liability issues. Don't give the authorities or insurance companies any excuse to find you at fault in the event of an accident.
 
USCG rules are pretty clear about this. Don't use any lighting that would confuse other mariners, particularly on the bow nav lights. .
 
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These regulations are not enforced in West Michigan. As someone mentioned above, it becomes an issue when you are involved in an accident. The police report and a CC report if the agency becomes involved will mention the facts of the case such as alcohol, improper light characteristics, weather, etc. We see all manner of violators go by our home, often in plane view of the Ottawa County Sherrif boat.
 
sbw1 said:
View attachment 63203 These regulations are not enforced in West Michigan. As someone mentioned above, it becomes an issue when you are involved in an accident. The police report and a CC report if the agency becomes involved will mention the facts of the case such as alcohol, improper light characteristics, weather, etc. We see all manner of violators go by our home, often in plane view of the Ottawa County Sherrif boat.
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That is common for the response I get on this topic. Not legal but not enforced. Does anyone have any idea why?

MM
 
On a priority list of what's important for the USCG and what's not important I can't imagine that would be even a ripple on the water......UNLESS you are involved in an accident and the other party's attorney brings up the fact that you had ancillary lighting that confused his poor client so badly he had no choice but to ram your boat.

Not really, but you see the possibility.
 
Gofirstclass said:
On a priority list of what's important for the USCG and what's not important I can't imagine that would be even a ripple on the water......UNLESS you are involved in an accident and the other party's attorney brings up the fact that you had ancillary lighting that confused his poor client so badly he had no choice but to ram your boat.

Not really, but you see the possibility.
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You would think it would matter to them, at least in our area, but one issue is they rarely are out after dark that I see. It takes them half the summer to get their ordered safety checks done. Early boaters get the brunt of them trying to get their quota. One friend was pulled over three times in 2 weeks for "safety checks".

MM
 
We have run our spotlight at night when there is trash in the river and the CG has come by and told us to turn it off.
 
MonacoMike said:
Every year we see a boat or two with their docking lights on like headlights.

MM
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Using docking lights is a valid reason to avoid a collision with floating debris. Of course the operator needs to have enough common sense to turn them off when another boat is approaching.

Using rail lights at the dock to illuminate one's boat is no different than using underwater lights at the dock. It looks cool and could even help avoid a collision with passing boats.

Our docking lights provide a good view of the water ahead. Years ago we had a deck mounted spotlight and the glare off the deck made it unusable for navigation. Seems to me that rail lights would pose a similar problem. Even if they don't, why would anyone want to use them while underway?

Regardless, its clear they are illegal. I don't see the USCG out at night in my area, but our local Sheriff and Troopers certainly are ans i guarantee they won't let it go unticketed.
 
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WV 320 Dancer said:
We have run our spotlight at night when there is trash in the river and the CG has come by and told us to turn it off.
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CG attitude toward spot lights while underway is variable. Our CG does patrol at night and if you are using a light to pick up a channel marker in the river they are not going to hassle you. If you are running with it on, you wil probably see some flashing blue lights depending on what the crew has going. We don't use our light any more in the river as plotters, MFDs and radar make the spot light unnecessary. We do use it for docking at night as it helps the person on the bow pick up lines. I also use it to help guests see where they are walking until they get to a lighted side walk on the way up to the house. Lots of people out at night seem to think they need headlights, flood lights and underwater lights to get around. It's pretty annoying at times. On the 4 th of July, our harbor is a crazy place to be.
 
The last few seasons around here there has been an increase in boaters using their spotlights as headlights. The channels are narrow and unforgiving, but well marked for the most part. Between the flashing buoys and chart plotters being pretty common, there is really little reason to use a spotlight.
What these guys either don’t realize or don’t care about is that using their spotlight to guide them blinds the guy going in the other direction.
It’s a real safety hazard.
Nobody seems to be enforcing it
 
MonacoMike said:
Every year we see a boat or two with their docking lights on like headlights.
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Heh, every year? I see it done EVERY WEEKEND. Mostly by cantoon boats and some of the larger bowriders that have them built in. But I'd swear every year during the 4th of July fireworks anchorage derby, there's at least one cantoon boat that leaves them on while anchored. Last summer they were basically beaming directly at us and I finally just grabbed my portable spotlight and illuminated their whole boat until they turned them off.

Hell, there's at least 2-3 boats a summer I have to yell at to even turn on their navigation lights. It makes me want to add a loud hailing speaker. I even have a photo of a passenger vessel after dusk without navigation lights running.

Now, I only boat on a large inland lake where "good seamanship" is measured by the lowest common denominator of "I didn't crash or get picked up by the sheriff for BUI" so I think some of the standards are low.
 
Only more reason in my mind to add FLIR to my list of must have’s our boat club is right down river from a huge set of locks and the trash that builds up in the locks and is then released when a 3 wide 3 long coal tow is locked thru...
 
Our local lake crosses state lines and is policed by 3 counties, both state wildlife/DNR and the coast Guard. I do a lot of interior, exterior and above gunwale lighting, so I make a point to talk with these officials when I get a chance. In short:

If its below the gunwale inside the boat, its a courtesy light.

Above the gunwale, like a tower speaker LED ring, it falls under the navigation rules - white 360 and green/red seen from the front, yada yada yada. So any color but white, can get you a ticket. In most cases, the patrol will not bother a boat that anchored in a cove or otherwise out of the main channel.

Underwater lights also get viewed the same as nav lights. If it does not fit that mold, its likely going to get you a ticket. Same as above with underwater lights. Anchored or even at no-wake speed, the patrol will likely not bother you. Lights on while up on plane, they will prolly stop you.

One exception is pontoons with the under deck LEDs. The can look like flashing lights from a distance, as the boat bobs around on the waves. They say they are all against the regs, but I dont know anyone thats ever received a ticket.

Your mileage may very.
 
Marine Police will and do enforce it in my area. Slip neighbor got a summons
 
Our area has a lot of tourist traffic in the spring, summer and early fall. The USCG and Florida Wildlife Commission (marine patrol, same as the state hiway patrol) heavily patrols at that time of the year. DEA, ICE, County sheriff and city police all have enough presence on the water that we see their boats every day, but they deal with more immportant things than colored lights.

Blue lights in the cockpit and underwater usually gets you stopped and warned. In rest of the year, everyone out on the water is local and the enforcement is much more lax becauce locals are experienced, know the rules of the road and generally follow the law.
 
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