Interesting Navigation Light Mod

[spoggy]

It was mentioned that this is a legal modification. I wonder how far thy are visible?

http://www.bbcboards.net/boat-traile...on-lights.html

[Destroyer]

(From the same post)
A friend of mine got this from the coast guard

I am assuming that the BOW light you are referring to is a red and green combination light mounted on the bow. If this assumption is correct, there is no restriction on changing this combination light for individual red and green lights mounted on the rub rail as long as the lights are properly mounted and the overall white light remains one meter higher than the newly installed lights.

Phil Cappel
Chief, Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch (CG-54223)
Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, United States Coast Guard
Phone: (202) 372-1076 Fax: (202) 372-1908

As far as visibility goes, LED's typically burn brighter than incandescent lights, so I would think they would be able to be seen farther.

[Destroyer]

Recreational boats operating at night are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise. Recent changes to the Inland Navigation Rules make them nearly identical to the International Rules, so here is a description of the International Rules to simplify the rules.

Basic rules:

Side lights are red (port) and green (starboard) and shine from dead ahead to 112.5° aft on either side.
Stern lights are white and shine aft and 67.5° forward on each side. (Thus, the side lights and stern light create a full circle of light.)
All-round lights are white and shine through 360°.
Masthead lights are white and shine from 112.5° on the port side through dead ahead to 112.5° on the starboard side. They must be above the side lights.
Sailboats under power are considered powerboats.
Side lights may be combined into a single "bicolor" light.
Powerboats less than 20m (65.5') in length need to show side lights, a stern light and a masthead light. Power vessels less than 12m may show a single all-round light in lieu of the separate masthead and stern lights.
Sailing vessels less than 20m in length need to show side lights and a stern light. These may be combined into a bicolor light and stern light, or a single tricolor light at the top of the mast. Sailing vessels under 7m must have an electric torch or lantern available for collision avoidance.
Oar-driven vessels can show either the sailboat lights, or use the electric torch/lantern option.
When anchored outside a special anchorage, power and sail vessels under 20m must display an all-round light. Vessels under 7m are exempt, unless anchored in a narrow channel or anchorage, or where other vessels usually navigate.
Sailboats with sails up during the day, but which are also under power, must fly a black "steaming cone," with its point downward, where it can be seen. When under power they must follow the rules of the road for powerboats.

[lathehand]

I like em but I think they would take some getting use to seeing on the water

[SkunkBoat]

It's not likely that they display the proper angle coverage.

When I bought my boat the PO had the R/G bow lites mounted both facing forward instead of 0 to 112.5. That must have confused the crap out of other boaters.

Now I have LED nav lights up on my hardtop. The white all-around isn't quite a meter higher. But, its at least 11 ft over the water line and unobstructed which is way better than those ridiculous gunnel mount plug-ins that blind you (when they actually work)

[bradford]

Originally Posted by SkunkBoat

But, its at least 11 ft over the water line and unobstructed which is way better than those ridiculous gunnel mount plug-ins that blind you (when they actually work)

No kidding! I always hook mine up to separate switches so I can turn off the all around light. I run a separate switch for instrument lights too so I can turn everything on or off individually.