Texas Regs on Boat Lights?

[Gerald Barnes]

All you Texas night time boaters:<br /><br />Regulations are vague as to what lights must be used at night. <br /><br />I've got bow and stern running lights on 18'outboard. But what about when you are anchored looking at the stars or something? Do you need a light when not underway?

 

[PercussionMafia]

Re: Texas Regs on Boat Lights?

Anytime you are not anchored or tied to a dock, you are considered underway and show the lights of a vessel underway. You are underway AND MAKING way if you are being propelled by your vessels propulsion system (or sails on a sailboat). When making way, you show the same lights (bow and stern). Those are the rules for small craft. Larger vessels, tugs and fishing vessels have different rules and lights, but these are the ones you need to know.<br /><br />So in short, if you are underway but stopped (not anchored or tied up), you keep the same lights on (bow and stern) as you would when making way.<br /><br />Hope this makes sense. . .

 

[Richok]

Re: Texas Regs on Boat Lights?

Elk River, I think you said you were anchored. If this is the case. You only need your stern light(which is your anchor light) on. If your anchor isn't down and you are moving, drifting or what ever you must have running lights on. I contacted the Lake patrol division and ask for a regulations book. This gives a good description and pictorial for different sizes of boats. I am in Oklahoma but I run Texoma.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Texas Regs on Boat Lights?

Navigation light regulations are set by the Coast Guard not by the states. What ever applies in Texas also applies in the other 49. Anchored at night you must display 1 white light visible 360 degrees ( all around ).<br /><br />Buttanic

 

[Gerald Barnes]

Re: Texas Regs on Boat Lights?

Thanks for the info guys! We anchored out in Lake Ray Hubbard last night and watched the fireworks from east Dallas suburbs. Beautiful sights and pleasant evening with the family.<br /><br />The little 360 degree white stern light successfully warded off all the nightime crazies.

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: Texas Regs on Boat Lights?

Buttanic is right.<br />These are International Rules agreed to by all nations.<br />At anchor, 1 x 360 degree white light is all that is necessary, mounted as high as practicable above the deck of your boat for clear vision to all traffic.<br />Your boat should not have a stern light at all, your port / stbd nav lights and masthead 360 light are your running lights when making way for a power vessel of less than 12 meters LOA.<br />If you add a stern light to the picture you are indicating that your boat is a "Power driven vessel 12 to 50 meters LOA".<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Peter