What lights should be on when boating at night?

What lights should be on when boating at night?

The required lights are: Red and green sidelights visible from a distance of at least two miles away—or if less than 39.4 feet (12 meters) long, at least one mile away—on a dark, clear night. An all-round white light (if vessel is less than 39.4 feet long) or both a masthead light and a sternlight.

When boating at night what does a single white light tell you?

Powerboat A: When only a white light is visible, you may be overtaking another vessel. Give way to either side.

What does a red and green light indicate at night?

Sidelights: These red and green lights are called sidelights (also called combination lights) because they are visible to another vessel approaching from the side or head-on. The red light indicates a vessel’s port (left) side; the green indicates a vessel’s starboard (right) side.

What are you going to do when the vessel is in hours of darkness?

During hours of darkness, navigation lights MUST be displayed. Navigation lights help you determine whether an approaching vessel is operating under power or sail, and its direction. Remember these quick rules for reference when encountering other vessels in darkness.

What do green and white lights mean on a boat at night?

When you are in a power-driven pleasure craft and you see a red, a green, and a white light, you are approaching another power-driven vessel head-on and both vessels must give way.

What color light should a kayaker display at night?

white light
The minimum requirement for kayaks and canoes (whether paddling or adrift) conforms with U.S. Coast Guard Rules for a “vessel under oars” requiring “an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.”

What color are the running lights on a boat?

In general, all navigation light systems include red and green sidelights, which indicate the port and starboard side of your boat, as well as one or more white lights.

What should a kayaker display at night?

Rowboats (kayakers and canoers) at night When underway, the operator shall, from sunset to sunrise, display, if practical, sidelights and a sternlight, but if the operator cannot, he/she must have at hand, a flashlight or lighted lantern emitting a white light which must be lit in enough time to prevent a collision.

What should the stand-on vessel do?

Stand-on vessel: The vessel that must maintain its course and speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action. If you must take action, do not turn toward the give-way vessel or cross in front of it.

What vessels have yellow lights?

When commercial vessels are towing or pushing a barge, they display one or more yellow lights in place of a sternlight. There may be an unlit space of several hundred yards between the lights displayed on the bow and stern of the composite formed by the commercial vessel and its barge(s).

Why is a ships bridge dark at night?

The officers and staff working on the bridge are exposed to natural daylight during the day but are also in need of night vision light fittings when the vessels are operating in hours of darkness. This means there is high requirement for special features for light fittings installed in the bridge.

What should a stand-on vessel do?

What are the colors of the navigation lights?

Navigation Lights. By understanding the characteristics of Nav lights, you can determine an appropriate course of action as you approach another vessel. On any vessel, navigation lights have a specific color, (white, red, green, yellow, blue), arc of illumination, range of visibility, and location, as required by law and regulations.

What kind of lights do boats need at night?

A powerboat anchored at night must display an all-around white light. Rowboats (kayakers and canoers) at night Navigation lights are also required for human-powered vessels (canoe, kayak) or for a sailing pleasure craft of less than 7 metres in length not under power.

Why do you need navigation lights at night?

You are required to display the appropriate lights at night or during times of reduced visibility. Navigation lights are used to prevent collisions at night or in times of reduced visibility, and are an essential tool in keeping you and your vessel safe. Nav lights allow you to see other nearby vessels, and allow other vessels to see you.