When is a stern light required?

[tomatolord]

Re: When is a stern light required?

I always went if I was anchored I put on the stern light if under way all lights. On busy water ways at night<br /><br />Since your are drifting you are under way so you need all the lights on.<br /><br />Now if I am on a lake that is pretty quiet no other boats etc then i just leave the front lights on no rear light, but as soon as I get under power or I hear another boat coming I flip on the rear light<br /><br />seems to work for me

 

[rwidman]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Basically, Im wondering if I am required to have my light on in my 17foot boat in the bay if my engine is off and we are just floating. The reason Im asking is because Im not really sure what it means to be "moored"-- what does it mean?<br />

Regardless of the regulations, why would you want to take the chance of another boater not seeing you in the dark and colliding with your boat?<br /><br />Turn the lights on.

 

[vranasaurus]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Originally posted by monkeyboi:<br /> we always leave the stern light off while anchored and fishing, but turn it on when another boat approaches. the light attracts bugs and they become a nuisance. i know this is not by the book, but how bad is it?

I really have a problem with that. I just about ran over a boat because they failed to turn on their light. If it attracts bugs get a taller one. Mine is 54" and I don't have bug problems.<br /><br />Boats with no lights on at night is the number one thing that chaps my hide while on the water. I fish a lot at night and I see a lot of it. <br /><br />By doing it you are just asking for an accident.<br /><br />I would keep your light on all of the time. For your own safety.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Originally posted by Upinsmoke:<br /> The stern light is required whether you are moving or not. In fact, the way the switch is wired, its either stern light on (anchor) or both (navigation) or both off. If yours operates otherwise, its wrong.

I have a problem with this answer as it does not apply to big boats. On my big boat, the light above the windshield has 2 bulbs, with a shield in the middle. Also a stern light, only visible from the rear. Navigation lights are front bulb only on the windshield, and stern bulb on (and red/green). Anchor lights both bulbs on top, for 360 visibility. Basically a low stern white light is underway going away from you, and high white light is anchored (think a sailboat's light way up on the mast-same thing-parked)

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: When is a stern light required?

When anchored, moored, or otherwise stopped, a white light visible from any degree of approach that is on all the time (not switched on, seconds before someone hits you). When under power or moving, a red and green light visible from the front and sides and a white light visible from behind. If the stern light is also vissible from the front or sides that is also OK, as long as it is above the other lights when viewed from front or sides

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: When is a stern light required?

I can't believe that someone was asking if they can sit there in the dark and switch on a light if they hear a boat approaching.......you are either trying to get killed or at least trying to cause an accident. Let me know where you boat.....so I can avoid it !

 

[BillP]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Moored is when the anchor is down. One 360 white light if moored. Use running lights when not moored. <br /><br />I think you have to use common sense when deciding to keep lights off. I fish out of a kayak at night and use a flashlight (per regs) for the nav light. The water is maybe 12" deep around mangrove islands and shorelines. No powerboats go there at night...and few in daylight. You can hear them a far distance away too.

 

[beauff]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Me being a new boater I was wondering about this.<br />My boat has one three way switch. It is off or the running lights where on (navigation)or the anchor light(stern light)is on. not both at the same time.<br />Should I wire this so that both stern & navigation are on at the same time or leave it the way it is?

 

[travism]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Rewire it so that all lights can be on while underway.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: When is a stern light required?

If what Upinsmoke has posted is accurate, the regulations are not universal. This is taken from our Collision Regulations:<br />

<br />(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:<br /><br /> (i) a masthead light forward,<br /><br /> (ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 metres in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such light but may do so,<br /><br /> (iii) sidelights,<br /><br /> (iv) a sternlight.<br />...<br />(d) (i) A power-driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights.<br /><br />

So an all-around (white) light can subsitute for a 135 degree stern and masthead light on most power vessels. It should be as close to the centerline as practical unless it's one of those combo lights. I think most people get confused about the white lights:<br /><br />All around light - white light visible 360 degrees, on top a pole or mast.<br />Stern light - white light visible only from the back of the boat (135 degrees)<br />Masthead light - white light shining forward, located part way up a mast (not at the top!). Covers a 225 degree arc.

 

[ebsworj]

Re: When is a stern light required?

It's madness i tell you! Everyone just keep your lights on all the time and I promise to not hit you. LOL

 

[Silvertip]

Re: When is a stern light required?

It's not madness. Read the regs. There are vessel height, width and length issues to consider. We here in the midwest run boats that have a stern light on a relatively long standard. It's a 360 light. The NAV lights are either two separate fixtures (red and green) and would be used on a pontoon boat where width and visibility issues come into play, but most boats use the single divided red/green fixture. Fact is, underway you must display NAV and STERN lights. At anchor the 360 stern or masthead light must be on. Thanks for keeping that stern light on at night -- bugs or not.

 

[jtexas]

Re: When is a stern light required?

The boats you see on the lakes here are pretty much like upinsmoke described - the 360º white functions as your anchor light and stern running light - and the red/green bow nav light. <br /><br />Sailboats and the few really big cruisers have the rear-facing white running light and separate 360º anchor light.<br /><br />And yes, the red/green must be on if you're not anchored whether the motor's running or not, and yes, the white's gotta be on all the time.<br /><br />I know some night-fishermen who use a flashlight with a styrofoam cup taped over the top to save cranking battery amps. or deal with the bug problem by hanging a lantern from a pole in a rod holder to put it some distance from the boat.<br /><br />What if you are tied to something? Common sense tells me to leave it on if I'm tied to a bridge piling or a solitary stump in open water...guess it's not required by regs?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Rules for Navigation. See Part C for lights and shapes. These are International and Inland rules.

 

[beauff]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Well I ghess I got my answer. I will be rewiring. Thanks for all the input it was a big help.

 

[QC]

Re: When is a stern light required?

FWIW, just to make this as messy as possible. I have owned three boats. All what we call "customs". Basically little builders that build them the way you want them. While I have never told them how I wanted my lights built, none of them has had a three way switch. All three lights on, or all three off. Also all three had/have 360* stern.<br /><br />Man, a lot of threes in that paragraph . . .

 

[beauff]

Re: When is a stern light required?

If I push it up its nav light.<br />If I push it down its anchor light.<br />This will change.<br /> http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Beauff/Citation Caribbean/P7030014.jpg

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Originally posted by QC:<br />none of them has had a three way switch. All three lights on, or all three off. Also all three had/have 360* stern.

This set-up is within the rules for vessels under 12 meters, with only one problem,,,,At anchor you need to be able to turn off the bow, red/green running lights. Leaving the white 360* light on. <br /><br />Under 12 meters<br />

<br />When running this set-up the red and green light must be a single unit and mounted centerline at the bow. NO seperated side lights.

 

[Realgun]

Re: When is a stern light required?

So if I pull up the boat on the beach and it gets dark do I go and light the 360 light? Or just leave it alone?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: When is a stern light required?

Originally posted by beauff:<br /> Me being a new boater I was wondering about this.<br />My boat has one three way switch. It is off or the running lights where on (navigation)or the anchor light(stern light)is on. not both at the same time.<br />Should I wire this so that both stern & navigation are on at the same time or leave it the way it is?

Can you post a pic of the light arrangement on your boat? It matters how they are arranged as to how they operate, or identify from choices below.<br /><br />Do yo have;<br /><br />Running Lights...Red and Green combined in a single unit center line on the bow<br /><br />Running Lights...Red and Green Seperated with the red on starboard side and the green on port side<br /><br />Masthead Light...Mounted on windshield (white)<br /><br />Masthead Light...Mounted on rear port gunnel(white)<br /><br />Stern Light...Mounted flush in rear center of transon (white)<br /><br />No matter how your lights are set up it takes a three position switch to operate the lights. Difference being whether you are at anchor or navagating.