Re: Placement of navigation light on pontoon boat
Just saw the thread and thought I'd add two cents worth. The statement about the white anchor light being visible for 360 degrees is per coast guard rules. HOWEVER, most watercraft provide a two or three foot light pole for the white light to mount on the boat. When the anchor light is on, and a normal person is setting in the craft, the body breaks the visibility of the light. I always set the white light at a distance of 6 1/2 to 7 foot above the deck. I have always thought money is better in my wallet than it is in the local wildlife/conservation, lake patrol headquarters. I don't trust them varmits.
Also, the navigation lights are to be visible to the front of the vehicle and, I believe 135 degrees to each side. (total of 270 degrees), The logic for this is that the navigation lights should not be seen from the rear of the vessel, only from the front. If I have read the regulations correctly, no other lights are to be visible from a vessel during periods of reduced visibility. This means no hard wired/mounted spot lights to aid in night operations, no pretty red, green, blue etc. lights inside the boat which may confuse the operator of another vessel. Additional lights may be used in docking.
The coast guard does not enforece these regulations, they may assist in moving a vessel operating in an unsafe condition the the nearst shore...overloaded boats, intoxicated operators, etc. Most states have accepted the coast guard rules for interland waterways as state legislation. The state and federal goverment can issue citations for violations of the rules.
Think what I have attempted to state is correct. I am sure that if I have erred, others with more knowledge will set all of us straight.