Underwater Lights While Running at No Wake Speed

[Bucketlist]

Is it legal to run my blue color transom mounted underwater LED lights while driving the boat at no wake speed? I think i remember reading someone say underwater lights cannot be on while underway. Boatcop need your help

 

[HgH Vltg]

My understanding was, no lights on when underway.

 

[Yellowboat]

its not, you are only allowed running lights

 

[RiverDave]

Is it legal to run my blue color transom mounted underwater LED lights while driving the boat at no wake speed? I think i remember reading someone say underwater lights cannot be on while underway. Boatcop need your help

It's not going to be what you want to hear, but Blue Underwater lights are illegal under every circumstance..

RD

 

[Bucketlist]

Thanks for your replies. I was afraid of this. Wanted to look cool but not at the expense of being pulled over. Thanks.

Forgot to ask but I am assuming that i can light them up with engine off and floating?

 

[Waffles]

It's not going to be what you want to hear, but Blue Underwater lights are illegal under every circumstance..

RD

Is it any color light in general?

 

[Yellowboat]

Thanks for your replies. I was afraid of this. Wanted to look cool but not at the expense of being pulled over. Thanks.

Forgot to ask but I am assuming that i can light them up with engine off and floating?

yes, but you still have to display the correct mooring lights.

 

[RiverDave]

Thanks for your replies. I was afraid of this. Wanted to look cool but not at the expense of being pulled over. Thanks.

Forgot to ask but I am assuming that i can light them up with engine off and floating?

Nope.. You will get rolled for that too..

People are sticking these things on their boats and not knowing. If the cop really wanted to be a dick they can write you for impersonating! Blue lights are for Government vehicles only.

 

[77charger]

No go while underway may not get a ticket but it will get you a "safety stop".

 

[77charger]

Guess ill keep mine to the dock or tied to shore.LOL

 

[obnoxious001]

I am seeing a large number of boats running blue lights,, some with the entire sides lit up very brightly. Also seeing a few color changing lights, but think those are in the boats.

Lots of illegal stuff passing the house almost daily. Last night at 8:30 a boat was pulling a wake boarder,, no lights on the boat, right to where it was getting dark.

 

[AZRiverRunner]

I'm seeing them every weekend on the river, never see any cops at night. In my opinion, they enhance safety at night. There's no missing a boat with those lights on.

 

[RiverDave]

I'm seeing them every weekend on the river, never see any cops at night. In my opinion, they enhance safety at night. There's no missing a boat with those lights on.

I agree with the safety.. But the cops and CG aren't going too.

 

[hallett21]

I'm seeing them every weekend on the river, never see any cops at night. In my opinion, they enhance safety at night. There's no missing a boat with those lights on.

Aren't the cops hanging by RR and foxes at night these days?

 

[TPC]

I've enquired and been told underway they have to be off.
Nav lights only

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Been pulled over with ours before, now I know

 

[Long Way Home]

My understanding is that nothing except for the navigation lights may be on while underway, floating down the river is underway. When another boater sees of your navigation lights at night they can tell the direction of travel.
Boat Cop?
I ran into a guy with a pontoon that had blue led lights on the side just above the water line from the dealer when he purchased it, he had a shop remove his blue led lights and install red and green led's to match his navigation lights , I'm guessing the pontoon was about 25' and the lights where about 20' down the side. He had never been stop but also had never verified with the CC if this is legal.

Something like this , remove the blue and add the red and green.

 

[Bobby V]

Aren't the cops hanging by RR and foxes at night these days?

AZRR is up on the river in Needles.

 

[AZRiverRunner]

Aren't the cops hanging by RR and foxes at night these days?

Possibly,
Those places are on the Parker strip. I'm up on the Needles part of the river.

 

[twocents]

The LED underwater light thing is kind of a gray area but here's the best explanation I have been given by LEO: If the underwater LED light is visible by any approaching boat, then the light cannot be white, red, green or blue or display any color that could interfere with the interpretation of navigation lights. Truly underwater lights would likely not interfere or obscure required lighting but at no time may a boat display blue lights above or below the water. Some transom underwater lighting does cross the line because it's all you can see when approaching that boat from behind.

 

[obnoxious001]

I waved the Sheriff boat over to talk to me on my dock, just before sunset today to ask him a question about something else, and I asked him if the fancy blue lights were illegal,, he immediately replied "yes".

 

[BoatCop]

Thanks for your replies. I was afraid of this. Wanted to look cool but not at the expense of being pulled over. Thanks.

Forgot to ask but I am assuming that i can light them up with engine off and floating?

Floating or under power. Both are "underway" and proper Navigation lights only.

My understanding is that nothing except for the navigation lights may be on while underway, floating down the river is underway. When another boater sees of your navigation lights at night they can tell the direction of travel.
Boat Cop?
I ran into a guy with a pontoon that had blue led lights on the side just above the water line from the dealer when he purchased it, he had a shop remove his blue led lights and install red and green led's to match his navigation lights , I'm guessing the pontoon was about 25' and the lights where about 20' down the side. He had never been stop but also had never verified with the CC if this is legal.

Something like this , remove the blue and add the red and green.

View attachment 491872

That would be illegal, as the lights arc more that the proscribed 112.5 degrees back from the bow. They are also required to be from a single light source, ie bulb. Strip lights are lot legal for navigation lights.

Navigation lights tell more that just a boat is there. They can tell how big the boat is, which direction it's going, who has the "right of way" (You or them), if the boat is fishing or trawling, if the lines/nets are out more than 100 yards, if the boat is towing, if it's a dredge, and which side the equipment is on, if it's a sail boat, a submarine and dozens of other configurations.

You might just see lights. Those of us who know what were doing see a much bigger picture. When other lights are introduced, or white/spot lights used it throws the whole system out of whack and can cause confusion and collisions.

If you are moored or anchored out of and away from a main channel, go nuts with whatever lights you want. But as soon as you leave the dock, or hoist anchor, only proper nav lights are allowed.

 

[AZRiverRunner]

Glad to hear that anything goes if you're not under way. We like to float in the evening, better to be seen than get ran over.

 

[Classic Daycruiser]

Blue lights interrupted the Havasu turtles breeding abilities.:hmm

 

[Wakebrdr94]

Floating or under power. Both are "underway" and proper Navigation lights only.



That would be illegal, as the lights arc more that the proscribed 112.5 degrees back from the bow. They are also required to be from a single light source, ie bulb. Strip lights are lot legal for navigation lights.

Navigation lights tell more that just a boat is there. They can tell how big the boat is, which direction it's going, who has the "right of way" (You or them), if the boat is fishing or trawling, if the lines/nets are out more than 100 yards, if the boat is towing, if it's a dredge, and which side the equipment is on, if it's a sail boat, a submarine and dozens of other configurations.

You might just see lights. Those of us who know what were doing see a much bigger picture. When other lights are introduced, or white/spot lights used it throws the whole system out of whack and can cause confusion and collisions.

If you are moored or anchored out of and away from a main channel, go nuts with whatever lights you want. But as soon as you leave the dock, or hoist anchor, only proper nav lights are allowed.

So I was stopped in Parker last year by LEO on the water for having my blue underwater lights on. Guy was cool and just said to turn them off. When I asked the rule, I was told while underway, I had to have my my bow (red/green) light on along with my white nav light. If I was floating and the boat was not turned on I was ok to have any lights, including tower speakers and underwater. He told me that all that was required while floating was the top white nav light, and not the bow (red/green) as I was not traveling underpower in a particular direction. Is there a specific code you can refer to for clarification? Techniqually an oncoming vessel would never see my speaker lighting as they are rear facing, but I wouldn't use them while under way.

 

[sirbob]

I get the info in boatcops answer and it makes sense to me - thank you.

However here is one I did not get...

I was going through the channel heading from Thomson Bay to London Bridge.

It was right at sunset so I was heading into the glare of the sun.

The channel was packed and had a lot of swimmers that were wading out behind their boats.

I turned on the docking lights I have on the front of my boat that light the water immediately in front of my bow so I could better see if a swimmer was in my path while idling through the channel.

An on coming LEO boat crossed into my right of way / literally / just in front of me to get my attention (a quick wave or flash of his lights would have done) I had to immediately slam into reverse to keep from colliding with the LEO boat.

He told me to turn off my docking lights.

I did - and continued through the channel blinded by the glare hoping I would not run anyone over because I could not see directly in front of my bow.

 

[BoatCop]

Glad to hear that anything goes if you're not under way. We like to float in the evening, better to be seen than get ran over.

Floating is the same as moving through the water. If you are not moored, aground or anchored you are UNDERWAY.

So I was stopped in Parker last year by LEO on the water for having my blue underwater lights on. Guy was cool and just said to turn them off. When I asked the rule, I was told while underway, I had to have my my bow (red/green) light on along with my white nav light. If I was floating and the boat was not turned on I was ok to have any lights, including tower speakers and underwater. He told me that all that was required while floating was the top white nav light, and not the bow (red/green) as I was not traveling underpower in a particular direction. Is there a specific code you can refer to for clarification? Techniqually an oncoming vessel would never see my speaker lighting as they are rear facing, but I wouldn't use them while under way.

He was wrong. Proper navigation lights are required when UNDERWAY from sunset to sunrise (and in periods of reduced visibility). Floating or drifting or moving through the water is all the same thing.

The single all around white light is required when ANCHORED.

 

[bocco]

Floating or under power. Both are "underway" and proper Navigation lights only.

So then if a houseboat or large cabin cruiser were driving across the lake at night and had interior lights on would that be illegal?

 

[BoatCop]

So then if a houseboat or large cabin cruiser were driving across the lake at night and had interior lights on would that be illegal?

Only if the lights interfered with or could be mistaken for any navigation light required by the COLREGS.


COLREGS = Navigation Rules

 

[HgH Vltg]

I think the long and short of it is, leave the fast and the furious lights on the Mitsubishi, and RX7's.

 

[Scott E]

I think the long and short of it is, leave the fast and the furious lights on the Mitsubishi, and RX7's.

:skull:champagne:

 

[TOBTEK]

Cuff me. I'm a LED criminal.

 

[shueman]

I think the long and short of it is, leave the fast and the furious lights on the Mitsubishi, and RX7's.

Pretty fkn simple for sure ...

 

[Magic34]

Nope.. You will get rolled for that too..

People are sticking these things on their boats and not knowing. If the cop really wanted to be a dick they can write you for impersonating! Blue lights are for Government vehicles only.

The navy is all blue lights, they run them 24/7 on all the patrol boats.

 

[rrrr]

Nope.. You will get rolled for that too..

People are sticking these things on their boats and not knowing. If the cop really wanted to be a dick they can write you for impersonating! Blue lights are for Government vehicles only.

The cops can be extreme dicks about this stuff.

In 1997 when my then 16 year old son bought his first car, a '94 Honda Civic, he wanted to bling it up a little. He bought some cheap dressup stuff, one being windshield washer nozzles that had a tiny blue LED.

I helped him with the wiring, fusing and switch, it actually presented a nice little basic electrical installation that the kid could learn from. About an hour after he completed the work and hit the streets, he was pulled over and cited for illegally displaying blue lights.

I read the statute he was cited for, it said something about display of blue or red lights, mounted on the vehicle, etc.

The law was obviously written to prevent LEO impersonators, not to fuck with a teenager displaying a couple of 6 watt blue bulbs. The cop was just being an ass.

My son did well in court. He argued with the judge about the intent of the law, and ended up getting 30 days deferred adjudication.

 

[Magic34]

Breaking the law.... they look so cool when on plane too. Only did it outside the marina, not in the bay where I could get nailed for them.

 

[Orange Juice]

Blue lights interrupted the Havasu turtles breeding abilities.:hmm

I’ve heard the breeding population of turtles migrate through the channel every September.

 

[Javajoe]

One thing I did learn last weekend is you can drive a boat with a beer in your hand in Havasu and that there is no open container law either which I kinda figured was legal anyway. Just don’t change seats while underway though

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I guess if this is going to be a PSA thread it should be mentioned that the docking lights can’t be on unless you’re, get this, docking.

Some people seem to think they are headlights. I’ve seen more than a few people have them on like they are driving a car. Idling around, on plane, docking lights on. Turn them off people!

 

[farmo83]

I honestly don't get this. You would think they would want something as visible as can be, I guess this is not the case.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I honestly don't get this. You would think they would want something as visible as can be, I guess this is not the case.

They are. Navigation lights have to be visible up to a certain distance per Coast Guard regulations.

Maybe if people didn’t have all the other lights on they wouldn’t have fucked up their night vision and could then see the nav lights they should be looking for.

What next, mount a search light on every pile of rocks impeding navigation?

 

[farmo83]

I've been out at night plenty of times and seen navigation lights and they work as intended.

I've also been out at night and seen boats that ignore the light laws with everything turned on and they were 10x more visible to me and everyone else around. It didn't impair my night vision nor impeade my ability to determine which way the boat was going.

 

[mash on it]

Why does The USS Riverside (Laughlin) have a full color (jumbovision) on both sides of it? And Courtesy lights all over?

Yeah, at night. Can't miss it. Doesn't seem like there's an USCG standards or regulations at all?

Always wondered that.

Dan'l

 

[Kachina26]

I'm seeing them every weekend on the river, never see any cops at night. In my opinion, they enhance safety at night. There's no missing a boat with those lights on.

But if you're relying on their nav light colors to tell which way they're traveling, it's the opposite of safe. Yeah, I can see them, but that's about it.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Fishing was previously mentioned. Per the Colregs - ‘Fishing’ means using nets, trawls or lines which restrict your ability to maneuver. It does not include typical fishing with a rod and reel. Having a couple lines out fishing, day or night, does not count.

 

[Big B Hova]

What about a disco light?

 

[BoatCop]

What about a disco light?

Strobe lights or other flashing lights, are a recognized as a Distress Signal (strobe lights on rescue suits, PFDs, life rafts, etc). As such, they're only permitted for distress/emergency situations.

 

[Big B Hova]

Strobe lights or other flashing lights, are a recognized as a Distress Signal (strobe lights on rescue suits, PFDs, life rafts, etc). As such, they're only permitted for distress/emergency situations.

I see.

 

[rrrr]

But if you're relying on their nav light colors to tell which way they're traveling, it's the opposite of safe. Yeah, I can see them, but that's about it.

Really? I can tell the direction a boat with nav lights is traveling in a second.

 

[Kachina26]

Really? I can tell the direction a boat with nav lights is traveling in a second.

Me too, that’s why it irritates me when they’re drowned out by giant blue lights down the sides of the pontoons as has become so popular.