Re: Bow Light Cut Off Date
You can check out rules on navigational light here including brightness rules. 2nm is what you need basically under 40 feet on boat length.
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent
I think you mis-read that.
Under 12m only required to have 1 mile sidelights/bow lights.
(c) In vessels of less than 12 meters in length:
(i) a masthead light, 2 miles;
(ii) a sidelight, 1 miles;
(iii) a towing light, 2 miles;
(iv) a white red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
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Now as to the question posed by the OP, installing light on a boat made after a certain date;
There is indeed a law that pertains to boats made after Nov 1, 2002. Lights installed on these boats
need to be certified.
Also, it appears to only apply to manufacturers, dealers, and importers.
http://law.justia.com/cfr/title33/33-2.0.1.8.44.html#33:2.0.1.8.44.13.227.3
Shown below are key points from the link.
? 183.801 Applicability.
top
This subpart applies to recreational vessel manufacturers, distributors, and dealers installing such equipment in new recreational vessels constructed after November 1, 2002.
? 183.810 Navigation light certification requirements.
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(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, each navigation light must—
(1) Meet the technical standards of the applicable Navigation Rules;
(2) Be certified by a laboratory listed by the Coast Guard to the standards of ABYC A–16 (incorporated by reference, see ?183.5) or equivalent, although portable battery-powered lights need only meet the requirements of the standard applicable to them; and
(3) Bear a permanent and indelible label that is visible without removing or disassembling the light and that states the following:
(i) “USCG Approval 33 CFR 183.810.”
(vi) Visibility of the light in nautical miles.
(b) If a light is too small to attach the required label—
(1) Place the information from the label in or on the package that contains the light; and
(2) Mark each light “USCG” followed by the certified range of visibility in nautical miles (nm), for example, “USCG 2nm”. Once installed, this mark must be visible without removing the light.
There, now we know.
