Do it yourself Nav lights. Be aware.

I posted this in the Lounge as well, but I thought it should be posted here too.

There is a lot of talk on here about how folks are installing LED navagation lights on their boats. I personally think they are brighter and better than the original equipment and in fact, have them myself. BUT, consider the following..... These LED's are NOT USCG approved lights and therefore if you choose to use them as your nav lights, you are not running safety equipment that complies with the law. You may be held to answer for that at some point either in a ticket or worse....litigation derriving from a tragedy. I'm not trying to stir anything up at all, but we read on here all too often that someone was involved in some sort of accident or collision. I'd hate to see someone hung out to dry when they thought they were doing the right thing, or just look cool.
I just want to get the word out and make sure everyone is safe AND legal.

It is my understanding that if you are running both, your pole nav lights that are USCG approved nav lights and want to supplement that with LED's then you are ok.

Here is the law:
TITLE 33 - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS

CHAPTER I - COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SUBCHAPTER S - BOATING SAFETY
PART 183 - BOATS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT
subpart m - NAVIGATION LIGHTS

183.810 - Navigation light certification requirements.
(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, each navigation light must:
--(1) Meet the technical standards of the applicable Navigation Rules;
--(2) Be certified by a laboratory listed by the Coast Guard to the standards of ABYC A16 (incorporated by reference, see 183.5) or equivalent, although portable battery-powered lights need only meet the requirements of the standard applicable to them;
--(3) Bear a permanent and indelible label that is visible without removing or disassembling the light and that states the following:
---(i) USCG Approval 33 CFR 183.810.
---(ii) MEETS___. (Insert the identification name or number of the standard under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, to which the laboratory type-tested.)
---(iii) TESTED BY___. (Insert the name or registered certification-mark of the laboratory listed by the Coast Guard that tested the fixture to the standard under paragraph (a)(2) of this section.)
---(iv) Name of manufacturer.
---(v) Number of model.
---(vi) Visibility of the light in nautical miles.
---(vii) Date on which the light was type-tested.
---(viii) Identification and specifications of the bulb used in the compliance test.
(b) If a light is too small to attach the required label (1) Place the information from the label in or on the package that contains the light; and ---(2) Mark each light USCG followed by the certified range of visibility in nautical miles (nm), for example, USCG 2nm . Once installed, this mark must be visible without removing the light.

Holy crap!!!

How are they going to fit all that junk on the head of a small bow mounted post navigation light. Hell the only thing missing is the FDA nutrition guide for the fish you are going to fry up after catching them and the EPA warnings on gasoline & oil fumes (but I'm sure some carear politician will require that next).

Another case of goobers in DC thinking they rule the world and know better than anyone else.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by dward51 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Holy crap!!!

How are they going to fit all that junk on the head of a small bow mounted post navigation light. Hell the only thing missing is the FDA nutrition guide for the fish you are going to fry up after catching them and the EPA warnings on gasoline & oil fumes (but I'm sure some carear politician will require that next).

Another case of goobers in DC thinking they rule the world and know better than anyone else. </td></tr></table>

The last sub section (b)

(b) If a light is too small to attach the required label (1) Place the information from the label in or on the package that contains the light; and ---(2) Mark each light USCG followed by the certified range of visibility in nautical miles (nm), for example, USCG 2nm . Once installed, this mark must be visible without removing the light.

Man with all those rules I bet there has to be one on how to properly turn the lights on and off so that they can be viewed at all times. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/eyes.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/eyes.gif

I don't ever recall seeing these markings on the lights on any of my boats....ever. Alot of them were factory navigation lights as well. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/ohwell.gif

Question might be when was that rule adopted by DHS/USCG? It may be within the past year (has to be since 2001 as there was no Deparment of Homeland Security until after late 2001 and the 9/11 attacks). That being said, I looked an neither of my two boats factory lights have such a label or markings (they are the standard post type stowable nav lights with incandesent bulbs).

Back to the original issue of nav lights in rub rails, not quite sure how you can permanently stamp the rub rail with the USCG approval either. Assuming one could get a configuration approved there might be some sticker you could put in a compartment?

I think the problem with USCG approval for rub rail installs is each boat design is going to be a little different so how can the approve them all. With the fixed mount & removable pole nav lights, it is what it is. I could see where the USCG would be reluctant to approve rub rail mounts however.

I have seen a few boats with them installed locally and the brightness and overall visibility at a distance is 10x more than the standard post mount nav light. I've thought about putting a permanent LED approved deck mount nav light & the rub rail nav lights in my self. Guess I'm getting lazy in my old age and the idea of just flipping the switch plus the extra visibility (and coolness factor) seems attractive http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif

http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif

I use both the pole light and the bluewaters, I think the bluewaters are much better and thats why I use them. Do the coast gaurd laws apply to all waters? I have read the missouri state laws on nav lights and the bluewaters easily meet the requirements, I also had the Missouri water patrol look at mine and he assured me I would never recieve a ticket even without the pole light but I still use it to be on the safe side, I understand the labeling part but I just wonder where the coastgaurd rules end and the state laws take over, I mean does the coast gaurd control the ocean, the local lakes, the creek behind my house or what.

I think it applies to "navigable waters".

Your post got me thinking so I contacted the local Inland Fisheries office concerning lighting requirements and my legality with Bluewaters. According to them there is not USCG requirement for inland waters in the state, folks might want to take a look at local law books and see if it's legal or not.

This is from the Maine boating law book

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Navigational Lights

Every watercraft in all weathers operating on inland waters from sunset to sunrise shall carry and exhibit the following lights when underway and during such time no other lights which may be mistaken for those prescribed shall be exhibited. Every white light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least two (2) miles. Every colored light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least one (1) mile. The word “Visible” in this subsection, when applied to lights, shall mean visible on a dark night with clear atmosphere.
1. Motorboats of Classes A and 1:

a. A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon.

b. A combined light in the fore part of the vessel and lower than the white light aft, showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam of their respective sides.

2. Motorboats of Classes 2 and 3:

a. A bright white light in the fore part of the vessel as near the stem as practicable, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty (20) points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light ten (10) points on each side of the vessel; namely, from the right ahead to two (2) points abaft the beam on either side.

b. A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon and higher than the white light forward.

c. On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten (10) points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two (2) points abaft the beam on the star board side. On the port side a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten (10) points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two (2) points abaft the beam on the port side. The said side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens of sufficient height so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

</td></tr></table>

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by DIXIEDOG &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Your post got me thinking so I contacted the local Inland Fisheries office concerning lighting requirements and my legality with Bluewaters. According to them there is not USCG requirement for inland waters in the state, folks might want to take a look at local law books and see if it's legal or not.

This is from the Maine boating law book

Navigational Lights
Every watercraft in all weathers operating on inland waters from sunset to sunrise shall carry and exhibit the following lights when underway and during such time no other lights which may be mistaken for those prescribed shall be exhibited. Every white light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least two (2) miles. Every colored light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least one (1) mile. The word “Visible” in this subsection, when applied to lights, shall mean visible on a dark night with clear atmosphere.
1. Motorboats of Classes A and 1:

a. A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon.

b. A combined light in the fore part of the vessel and lower than the white light aft, showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to <u>throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam</u> of their respective sides.
2. Motorboats of Classes 2 and 3:

a. A bright white light in the fore part of the vessel as near the stem as practicable, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of twenty (20) points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light ten (10) points on each side of the vessel; namely, from the right ahead to two (2) points abaft the beam on either side.

b. A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon and higher than the white light forward.

c. On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten (10) points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two (2) points abaft the beam on the star board side. On the port side a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of ten (10) points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to two (2) points abaft the beam on the port side. The said side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens of sufficient height so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.</td></tr></table>

Hey Dixie, thanks for that info. Good to know all we can about this especially when it comes to being legal and liability.

But when you read the requirement I highlighted in bold and underlined, it does in fact have specific requirements even for the Maine book.
The underlined section above states "throw the light from right ahead to two points abaft the beam of their respective sides". I had to do some research to find out what some of it meant, but here is what I found....
In nautical language, a "compass point" is 11.25 degrees. Broken down, it is based on the following. 360 degrees on a compass. 1/2 that and you get 180 degrees. 1/2 that and you have 90 degrees eg N, S, E, W. 1/2 that and you get 22.5 degrees. 1/2 that and you get "one compass point" or also called "a point" which is 11.25 degrees.
Also in nautical language, the "beam" is the widest point of the vessel.
"Abaft" is a nautical term for a point that is behind a given part of a boat or ship.

To translate all that now, means 90 degrees from center (at the widest point of the vessel) the light must be visible 2 compass points beyond that. That is 90 + 11.25 +11.25 = 112.5 degrees. That is specific.

I agree that according to that section it just states "red" and "green".

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by iwillkechu &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">


To translate all that now, means 90 degrees from center (at the widest point of the vessel) the light must be visible 2 compass points beyond that. That is 90 + 11.25 +11.25 = 112.5 degrees. That is specific.

I agree that according to that section it just states "red" and "green". </td></tr></table>

It's good to be cautious about what you do for sure, at least for Maine it is easy enough to get Bluewater LEDs hooked up to meet these requirements. If people are concerned about whether or not the Bluewaters would meet the requirements for their state the Inland Fisheries and wildlife department is probably the best place to get the info.... If you go in tidal waters that's a whole other ballgame and I wouldn't risk not meeting USCG requirements but for regular inland waters states can set up their own rules.