Running w/ Underwater lights on? (2024)

Is it illegal to run with Underwater lights on?

We have been running w/ underwater lights for about ten years. Really like the look of the wake lit up while underway. Last year a Coast Guard Auxiliary stopped me and said, that I was required to turn them off immediately and they are illegal. Being the stubborn sweed I stopped a Coast Guard Boat and they told me that I was running wads OK ( two white lights 18" below the water line). Now this weekend a Coast Guard Boat Stopped me and said, we had to shut them down as he explained in general terms. Under water lights hinder and confuse proper navigation lights.

What is your take?

I aggree with the CG - I can't believe that one of them actually said no problem. Probably not what you wanted to hear but the laws are pretty strick on the lights that are to be on while on the water so you can "read" the other boats direction and what-not.

http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/content/general/4_2_b.php

LK

Coast Guard Just Confirmed! They take issue w/ underwater lights while running in close proximity to other vessels. They said, in rivers or heavily traveled waterways others could be miss guided and not be able to determine our direction when underway. We can use them underway near our dock and while docking if they are used as an aid to us.

Of coarse we can use them while moored or at anchor.

Escapade said:

Coast Guard Just Confirmed! They take issue w/ underwater lights while running in close proximity to other vessels. They said, in rivers or heavily traveled waterways others could be miss guided and not be able to determine our direction when underway. We can use them underway near our dock and while docking if they are used as an aid to us.

Of coarse we can use them while moored or at anchor.

Click to expand...

That follows along with the rules regarding docking lights, then. Same thing - only allowed when docking, etc.

Air O'Nautical said:

Colored underwater lights are for at anchor or tied to a dock!
Please turn them off underway because, it's confusing to other boats trying to navigate at night.

Click to expand...

Totally Agree!! Just this past Saturday we went out for a night cruise. We were in the Moseley Channel heading into Lake Erie from Sandusky Bay just barely on plane to enjoy the ride. At that time a large yacht overtook us. He was haulin a$$ right at Cedar Point in the same channel. It is fairly tight in that area so he was close when he passed. All rules of the road were in place for a uneventful overtaking. However it was then that I found myself staring directly at his stern. He had super bright white lights burning. The guy was moving such that the lights were no longer under water and I could actually see the fixtures themselves. Destroyed my night vision while trying to find the one unlit buoy in that channel. Radar saved me as I couldn't hardly see ahead until the guy got far enough into the distance, let alone search for visual confirmation of that red nun. My opinion, leave them off when the engines are on.

Lake Erie Boater said:

Totally Agree!! Just this past Saturday we went out for a night cruise. We were in the Moseley Channel heading into Lake Erie from Sandusky Bay just barely on plane to enjoy the ride. At that time a large yacht overtook us. He was haulin a$$ right at Cedar Point in the same channel. It is fairly tight in that area so he was close when he passed. All rules of the road were in place for a uneventful overtaking. However it was then that I found myself staring directly at his stern. He had super bright white lights burning. The guy was moving such that the lights were no longer under water and I could actually see the fixtures themselves. Destroyed my night vision while trying to find the one unlit buoy in that channel. Radar saved me as I couldn't hardly see ahead until the guy got far enough into the distance, let alone search for visual confirmation of that red nun. My opinion, leave them off when the engines are on.

Click to expand...

You make a very good point here! I always considered the impact of a side or angled view in determining direction but never how lights affect the boats behind the operator. If I ever add those lights I will leave them off underway.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Todd

Lake Erie Boater said:

Totally Agree!! Just this past Saturday we went out for a night cruise. We were in the Moseley Channel heading into Lake Erie from Sandusky Bay just barely on plane to enjoy the ride. At that time a large yacht overtook us. He was haulin a$$ right at Cedar Point in the same channel. It is fairly tight in that area so he was close when he passed. All rules of the road were in place for a uneventful overtaking. However it was then that I found myself staring directly at his stern. He had super bright white lights burning. The guy was moving such that the lights were no longer under water and I could actually see the fixtures themselves. Destroyed my night vision while trying to find the one unlit buoy in that channel. Radar saved me as I couldn't hardly see ahead until the guy got far enough into the distance, let alone search for visual confirmation of that red nun. My opinion, leave them off when the engines are on.

Click to expand...

I think we're dealing with 2, possibly 3 issues here:

1. The ridiculous and unsafe behavior of the weenies who blind other boaters at night in an effort to look "cool"

2. USCG and CGA members who don't know the law. How is it that they have funding to put teen-agers at the helm of incredibly well-equipped 900 HP RIBs, but can't manage to educate them first?

3. The laws themselves. Underwater lights and decorative LED's are commonplace now. Heck, I can turn my co*ckpit so blue at night that I'm pretty sure I can draw bugs from Saskatchewan and be seen from the space station. I wouldn't run them at night, but clearly others do. I'm not sure the law books have properly addressed the implications of this.

RollerCoastr said:

3. The laws themselves. Underwater lights and decorative LED's are commonplace now. Heck, I can turn my co*ckpit so blue at night that I'm pretty sure I can draw bugs from Saskatchewan and be seen from the space station. I wouldn't run them at night, but clearly others do. I'm not sure the law books have properly addressed the implications of this.

Click to expand...

Actually, if I'm remembering the way the law is written, I believe it may already address thes add-on lights. I think the verbage is simply something like "no other lights than navigation lights"? Again... Just working from memory... Which may not be working!

play dough said:

We deal with a similar situation every morning. Fishermen with all arrangements of spreader lights aimed aft. They all run with them on. It doesn't present much of an issue except in the close quarters of a channel and then it's a hazard. The USCG and all other officials seem to ignore the practice.

Click to expand...

+1. We see this behavior all over new jersey with little if any enforcement by USCG. Amazingly, it often very experienced mariners who leave their spreader lights on!

sfergson727 said:

It's not a factor of being able to read the navigational lights, it's a factor of seeing them. In the best cases, nav lights are hard to pick out in less than ideal conditions, factor in noise from other lights, lights on shore, etc. it becomes damn near impossible. The navigation lights get lost in the clutter.

Click to expand...

So the more lights on the boat, more likely they shore lights won't interfere??? At night I thing I fear is the guy with no lights....

sfergson727 said:

No, you misunderstand. The more lights on a boat, the harder it is to pick up the navigation lights on that boat. Shoreline lights just add to the confusion.

Operating a boat at night with no lights requires a whole different kind of stupid.

Here is an example, let's say a boat is using additional light on the boat (be it underwater lighting, or co*ckpit lighting), we have a lot of things on the boat that reflect that light. Thus to another craft, it could appear to have multiple light sources that could be misinterpreted.

Click to expand...

Red over white = Fishing at night
White over Red = Pilot ahead

Under Water Lights = Drinking at night