Navigation lights are required on any boat that is on the waters between sunset and sunrise.  Many people assume their boats come with navigation lights and all of the proper equipment. 

A showroom boat may have lights and other things that your boat doesn’t come with.  It is entirely up to you to make sure your boat has all of the proper lighting fixed on your boat.

Low Visibility

When visibility is restricted or you are operating at night you are required to have navigation lights and they are mandatory to be displayed.  When there is another vessel the lights will let the oncoming boat know which vessel is the stand on or give way vessel. 

If a boat is approaching from your starboard side, this is known as your danger zone.  It will show its red port light.  The boat will see your green ‘go’ light and you will have the right of way.  If the boat is not a power driven boat or does not have any lights they will have the right away at all times.

If visibility is really bad you are require to use sound and warning signals every two minutes.  A speed motor boat should use a prolonged blast every two minutes.  If you are stopped then you should blast two prolonged blasts every two minutes.

Visibility is extremely important.  You don’t want to come across a situation where you are upon a large freighter or cruise ship and it is too late to get out of the way.  Heavy fog and situations like this occur and when they do, you need to know how to read the lights. 

Large vessels cannot move out of your way even if they do see you coming.  This is because they are too big.  Don’t ever think that a big boat will move. A small speed boat can maneuver better and faster.  Listen for sound warning signals when you are in your speed boat at night time and when there is poor visibility.