navigation lights

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[left][font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#ff3333]Is your boat legal? Of course, you say...it is a brand new boat. Well you might want to think again after reading the following article. And remember, it is your responsibility, not the manufacturer's, to make sure your boat is in compliance with state and federal regulations.[/#ff3333][/font][/left]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]During factory and boat show inspections we have observed that many manufacturers of recreational boats do not have a good understanding of the navigation rules governing proper installation of navigation lights. The requirements are found in the Navigation Rules, International-Inland, and in Parts 81, 84 and 89 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations. The problem appears to be particularly prevalent for manufacturers located in the western States. Since most manufacturers routinely equip the boats they produce with navigation lights, navigation light installations are routinely inspected and discussed during factory visits and boat shows. [/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]One problem which has increased recently is the installation of flush mounted sidelights in the boat hulls, usually below the rub rail. Many manufacturers build boats using similar sidelight fixture installations. This is a dangerous trend which is likely to end up costing somebody a pile of money when a plaintiff's attorneys go after everyone who might have been for liable for a serious collision. [/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Sidelights which meet the rules are designed to cover an arc of the horizon, or sector, of 112.5 degrees. Intensities are required to attain a visible range of 1 mile for vessels less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) and 2 miles for vessels 12 meters or longer. These fixtures are designed for intensities to decrease and reach practical cutoff between 1 and 3 degrees outside their prescribed sector. Sidelight fixtures must be installed parallel with the fore and aft centerline of the vessel and arranged to show an unbroken light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam, a total sector arc of 112.5 degrees. [/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Sidelights that are installed in the contour of the bow without providing a mounting surface tooled to be parallel with the fore and aft centerline of the vessel are not in compliance with the Inland or International Navigation Rules. Depending on the breadth of the vessel near the bow and how far aft from the vessel's stem the lights are mounted, this shift can be more than 20 degrees in some cases. Installing the fixtures too far aft of the vessel's stem may result in the sidelights not being visible from a position dead ahead. [/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Another factor in proper installation of sidelights is that they must maintain their required minimum intensity in a vertical sector from 5 degrees above to 5 degrees below the horizontal. They must also maintain at least 60 percent of their minimum required intensity from 7.5 degrees above to 7.5 degrees below the horizontal. Installing flush mounted sidelights, designed to be mounted to a vertical surface in the hull contour, without providing a mounting surface tooled to be vertical, shifts the vertical coverage sector. This also results in a noncompliance with the Inland or International Navigation Rules. [/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Additionally, most of these flush mounted sidelights are installed below the vessel's rub rail. International Navigation Rules require that sidelights be installed above the uppermost continuous deck. Therefore this configuration would not be in compliance with International Navigation Rules. [/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]When separate red and green sidelight fixtures are used, the masthead or all-round white light, whichever configuration is installed, must be located as close as practical to the vessel's fore and aft centerline. For vessels less than 12 meters in length, the masthead or all-round light may be displaced from the fore and aft centerline providing that the sidelights are contained within a common fixture and mounted on the vessel's fore and aft centerline. The masthead or all-round light must be installed at least one meter (3.3 ft.) above the sidelights. [/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]This article was written by the Coast Guard Short Range Aids to Navigation Division (G-NSR) [/font]
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[center][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 4]Will You Be Seen In Time?
Check Your Navigation Lights[/size][/#ff0000][/font][/center] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Operating at night can present some special challenges. Not only is your depth perception lessened, bright lights on the shore can cast misleading reflections on the water and if you wear glasses, or worse yet bifocals, you simply don't see as well at night as you do during the day. It is not only important that you be able to identify other vessels operating in your proximity, it is equally important that other vessels see you.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Most recreational vessels are less than 30 feet in length and, according to the Rules of the Road, shall be equipped with navigation lights. These lights not only have a certain arc through which they can be seen but must be seen from a minimum distance. The following lighting requirements are for recreational vessels less than 12 meters in length. (approximately 39.4')[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080] [/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000]Light[/#ff0000][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000]Arc[/#ff0000][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000]Color[/#ff0000][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000]Visible
Range[/#ff0000][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Masthead Light[/#000080][/font] [center][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]225º[/#000080][/font][/center] [center][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]White[/#000080][/font][/center] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]2[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Starboard Sidelight[/#000080][/font] [center][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]112.5º[/#000080][/font][/center] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Green[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]1[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Port Sidelight[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]112.5º[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Red[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]1[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Sternlight[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]135º[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]White[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]2[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]
The arc of the lights and color allows you to determine the direction a vessel is moving. How good are your lights? You should test them to see how visible you might be at night. Whether on a trailer or at the marina, switch on your lights and see how well they can be seen. Walk away from the boat or row away, if you are at anchor or at a mooring, and see how visible the lights are as you move further away. How easy are they to see against the background of lights on shore?[/#000080][/font] [center][/center] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Does your stern light shine dead astern over the required 135º arc or does it shine to one side or up or down. Can it be seen from the required 2 miles and why is that important? As an example, let's say that your stern light for some reason can only be seen for 1/2 mile. You are underway at 8 knots and a large ship is approaching at 15 knots. The ship is only 4 minutes away from collision with you. By the time the ship "might" see you, identify the light and decide on the reaction that should be taken, it is too late. A ship traveling at 15 knots may take miles to stop.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Look at the stern light again, as you move from the stern toward the bow, does the stern light "disappear" as the sidelight "appears"? The stern light should disappear and sidelight appear at 22.5º abaft the beam. If you don't see the green starboard sidelight or the red port sidelight when the stern light disappears there is a problem with the arc of one or all these lights. This means that if another boat were approaching you at the angle where no lights are seen there is increase risk of collision.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]If both the sternlight and sidelights are seen brightly at the same time you still have a problem. A vessel approaching won't know whether they are overtaking or crossing and whether they should give-way or stand-on.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]You should also check to make sure that your masthead light disappears at the same time each sidelight disappears and they both disappear when the stern light appears.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Check your sidelights from dead ahead. You should see both red and green. However, by moving toward one side just 1-3º you should then see only one light. If you still see two lights, an approaching vessel won't be able to tell which direction your are going.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]It is very important to be seen from a distance but also for an approaching vessel to be able to determine your direction of travel. [/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]When boating at night remember the following: "When two lights you see ahead, turn your helm and show your red". [/#000080][/font]
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