light laws

[SgtMaj]

So the coast guard says I have to have navigation lights, with the red/green up front and the all around white in the back.

My question is, would it be legal to add more white lights up front? Here's the deal, I was thinking about adding a couple of "underwater lights" through-hull on the front that would actually be out of the water and would act similar to headlights on a car (in fact, if I could find the right style, and they were sealed well enough, I might be tempted to use car headlights for it). Would that be legal?

I know I'm crazy for even thinking of doing that, but I've had a couple friends lose their motors and transoms to logs floating in the water here. Plus, I like having a light shining in the water if I'm fishing after dark to attract bait fish (which attract game fish).

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: light laws

There are/were boats made with them. They were called docking lights.
Was made out front, 1 on each side and shined straight forward.

 

[Bondo]

Re: light laws

Ayuh,..........

But they're Only for Docking........

With a Bright white light shining ahead of your boat,......
You'll see Less than running with No lights........

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: light laws

agreed, if you look at bigger boats and ships, you see a spot light, and i do believe there is a law not to have head lights, as another boat cannot tell your direction. that is the purpose of the red/green light.

slow down, run for the conditions.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: light laws

here's the rules: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rules/Rule22.htm

 

[BillP]

Re: light laws

Unless there are USCG exceptions to your area, headlights and spotlights are legal thoughout US inland waters.

bp

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: light laws

Well that's good enough for me, I'll nix that off my list.

Thanks for the info everyone.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: light laws

I like having a light shining in the water if I'm fishing after dark to attract bait fish (which attract game fish).

Use a crappie light.
Works well for that purpose.

 

[DJ]

Re: light laws

Ayuh,..........

But they're Only for Docking........

With a Bright white light shining ahead of your boat,......
You'll see Less than running with No lights........

Absolutely correct.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: light laws

you also blind a on coming boat.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: light laws

And there is NO WAY you should be going fast enough, at night, to do enough damage to lose a motor. Night speeds might be BARELY plaining speed, if not slower...
- Scott

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: light laws

most night time boating accidents, include alcohol, or drugs, and bad judgement. all you really need is a hand held rechargeable spotlight.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: light laws

Just out of curiosity, what if it wasn't white, but was another color, such as blue, or purple? Probably not, right?

 

[brussell]

Re: light laws

dark is best and here you dont have to have your white light on unless stopped I think...I use a spotlight to light up the channel markers though....

 

[ddennis]

Re: light laws

dark is best and here you dont have to have your white light on unless stopped I think...I use a spotlight to light up the channel markers though....

I was doing the same thing at barely planing speed earlier this year here in Ga at lake Oconnee...dang sherrif stopped me to "make sure I wasnt lost"...and while he was at it he kindly searched my boat. Never asked for a fishing license. Said it "was unusual" to boat with a spotlight. I typically do a 180 degree sweep of the spot light about every 20-30 seconds to make sure my path is clear and I am on course (before I had my Humminbird with GPS and Navionics Chip).... Where I am originally from (Northeast Louisiana) you NEVER boat without a light on AT ALL TIMES...simply too many cypress stumps and gators that you can hit!

 

[brussell]

Re: light laws

My uncle used to run 55 mph at night using only nav lights and a depth finder...........

 

[45Auto]

Re: light laws

My uncle used to run 55 mph at night using only nav lights and a depth finder...........

Why did he stop doing it?​