How long can I keep the Nav lights on without draining the battery

[CaptOchs]

Re: How long can I keep the Nav lights on without draining the battery

My jet boat was wired with a two pos switch. I rewired the entire dash and now have the anchor and Nav lights correctly wired.

Also, I have some underwater LED's on the transom that look pretty darn sweet!!

That is really cool. Are the LEDs something you bought or did you make that yourself?

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: How long can I keep the Nav lights on without draining the battery

I don't understand what you are saying. If you aren't anchored or moored, you have to be moving unless you found some enigma of the Earth where no wind or current exists and allows your boat to remain stationary on the water. In motion means moving, whether under engine power or not. I didn't say he could drift without any NAV lights.

Haulnazz, You and I are in agreement, and I'm sure the OP understands as well. But people do come here who have no clue at all what the rules are and might read "not in motion" as sitting on a calm still night out on a lake with no drift as reason enough to turn off the nav lights. I'm clarifying the issue for that aspect.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: How long can I keep the Nav lights on without draining the battery

Haulnazz, You and I are in agreement, and I'm sure the OP understands as well. But people do come here who have no clue at all what the rules are and might read "not in motion" as sitting on a calm still night out on a lake with no drift as reason enough to turn off the nav lights. I'm clarifying the issue for that aspect.

It's all good.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How long can I keep the Nav lights on without draining the battery

I don't know that I'd insist on a second battery on a 19' boat. All depends on your use and need for back-up, but it can be overkill; excess weight, excess money spent, space taken up, effort and cost rigging a 2 way battery switch correctly, something else to go wrong. I wouldn't have 2 on a boat 17' or less; I like having 2 on a 21', you are on the fence. If you have nothing but the bilge pump and nav lights, don't bother.

But carry jumper cables.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How long can I keep the Nav lights on without draining the battery

Andy'sDelight is correct. If you are just drifting and not anchored, you are considered moving and you need all your nav lights on.

For a rough calc of the current, if each bulb is around 5 watts, 3 bulbs would be drawing 15W or around 1.2A. You could easily leave them on quite a few hours without problems.