Navigation Light Rules

Recreational boats operating at night are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise.

Basic rules:

1. Sidelights are red (port) and green (starboard) and shine from dead ahead to 112.5° aft on either side.
2. Stern lights are white and shine aft and 67.5° forward on each side. (Thus, the sidelights and stern light create a full circle of light.)
3. All-round lights are white and shine through 360°.
4. 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 sidelights.
5. Sailboats under power are considered powerboats.
6. Sidelights may be combined into a single "bicolor" light.
7. Powerboats less than 20m (65.7') in length need to show sidelights, 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.
8. Sailing vessels less than 20m in length need to show sidelights 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.
9. Oar-driven vessels can show either the sailboat lights, or use the electric torch/lantern option.
10. 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.
11. 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.

    

    
    

Notes

1. Boats under power under 40' can substitute a single all-round light for separate stern and masthead lights 
2. Boats under 65'7" can substitute a single bi-color light for sidelights 
3. Sail boats under sail under 65'7" can substitute a tri-color light for separate sidelights and stern light.
4. See our Anchor Ball

Definitions

      All-Round Light: White (32pt/ 360°)
      Masthead Light: White (20pt/ 225°)
      Sidelights: Red (10pt/ 112.5°) & Green (10pt/ 112.5°)
      Stern Light: White (12pt/ 135°)

Boat Light Template

Navigation Light Switching for Vessels Under 20 Meters

The possible switch configurations for navigation lights vary greatly depending on the vessel size, type, and purpose. This article addresses the most common configurations for smaller vessels.
ABYC standards state that one switch, or position of a switch, will turn on all of the navigation lights required for the vessel while underway. Another switch, or position of a switch, will turn on the anchor light. This allows the use of either 2 switches or a 3 position switch with one off position.
The most common configurations of lights are:

1. A bicolor light with an all-round (360°) white light
2. A bicolor light with a 135° stern light and a 225° masthead light and a 360° anchor light
3. Two sidelights with an all-round (360°) white light
4. Two sidelights with a 135° stern light and a 225° masthead light and a 360° anchor light
5. A masthead tri-color light with a 225° masthead light and a 360° anchor light

these can be broken down into 3 combinations:

1. A bicolor or two sidelights and an all-round white light
2. A bicolor or two sidelights with a 135° stern light and a 225° masthead light and a 360° anchor light
3. A masthead tri-color light, a bicolor or two sidelights, a 135° stern light, a 225° masthead light, and a 360° anchor light



Combination	Navigation Lights	Anchor Light	Steaming Light	Figure #
A	DPST	SPST	*	1
A	DPDT	*	*	2
B (Power Boat)	SPST	SPST	*	3
B (Power Boat)	SPDT	*	*	4
B (Sailboat)	SPST	SPST	SPST	5
B (Sailboat)	DPDT	SPST	*	6
C	SPST	SPST	SPST	7
C	SPDT	SPST	*	8

*included in navigation lights switch
**includes navigation lights excluding masthead tri-color



SPST – Single Pole Single Throw
SPDT – Single Pole Double Throw (Center Off)
DPST – Double Pole Single Throw
DPDT – Double Pole Double Throw (Center Off)


The following illustrations use a bicolor, but two sidelights can be substituted for it in the diagram. All of the double throw switches are "Center Off".