Boat Navigation Lights

If you sail or go boating at night you will need to have navigation lights that conform to US or international regulations. If stopped by the Coast Guard you will need to show them that these are working correctly.

These navigation lights to the right are a bit old, but they are not so outdated. The basic lamp has a housing with a bulb inside and a colored lens to give red, green or white light spread over an arc.

This basic design has been used for a long time, but what has changed is the technology. Light fixtures are smaller and more waterproof. Now we find LED clusters sealed into a very robust housing that are virtually bullet proof. The low current draw, maintenance free, long lasting, but expensive LEDs are small and bright.

If you are going to be afloat after sundown and before sunset then you will need Navigation lights. Rules for navigation lights depend on the type and size of boat. Boats are grouped into less than 12 meters(40 ft) in length. 12-50 meters in length and then over 50 meters.

Governing bodies include, for international rules, the IMO (Colregs) and in the US the Coast Guard. Rules are slightly different for inland waterways. See USCG regulations rule 20-29 govern lights

USCG Nav Light rules

For the full description of the US rules regarding navigation lights see USCG RULE 21 DEFINITIONS. The outline is shown below. Navigation lights for boats include, anchor light, masthead lights, and running lights; stern light, & bow lights.

The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in Section 8 so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges:

(a)    In vessels of 50 meters or more in length:

• a masthead light, 6 miles;
• a sidelight, 3 miles;
• a towing light, 3 miles;
• a white red, green or yellow all-round light, 3 miles.
• a special flashing light, 2 miles.

(b)     In vessels of 12 meters(40 ft) or more in length but less than 50 meters in length;

• a masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 meters, 3 miles;
• a sidelight, 2 miles;
• a sternlight, 2 miles;
• a towing light, 2 miles;
• a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
• a special flashing light, 2 miles.

(c)     In vessels of less than 12 meters (40 ft) in length:

• a masthead light, 2 miles;
• a sidelight, 1 miles;
• a towing light, 2 miles;
• a white red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.
• a special flashing light, 2 miles.

International Boat Navigation Light Rules

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea published by the IMO

Colors of the lights are also regulated. The USCG, ABYC and the COLREGS require navigation light colors to be within an acceptable wavelength.

An LED is a Light emitting diode: a semi conductor component that radiates light when charged with an electric current. In this process, light is produced by electronic reactions inside the semi conductor. This process is called electroluminescence.

Incandescent bulbs turn less than 20 percent of the power they burn into light, and 80 percent is dissipated into heat. LEDs are the polar opposite and turn 80 percent of the power into light, and just 20 percent into heat

LEDs are very energy efficient and consume little power, with up to 90% lower amperage draw than incandescent bulbs. The 90 % savings in power is most appreciated by sailboats who chances are will not be running the engine at night. Replacement of a few incandescent bulbs with LEDs reduces the load on your electrical system including your battery and alternator.

Changing navigation lights to LED will reduce power consumption and reduce the chance of having to replace the bulb. LED lights are solid state and so are far more robust and shockproof than the filament of an incandescent bulb.

	Pros	Low current draw
		Cool to touch
		Long lasting 50,000 hours
		Waterproof
		Solid state and shock resistant
		Voltage regulated (driver) the LED will still put out its light output will low voltage.
	Cons	Expensive

DRIVERS; LED lights require a DC to DC driver to regulate the current from the power source which can be between say 10VDC to 30VDC. Some drivers are external to the bulb while others are integral. Integral drivers work best. LEDs can be dimmed without changing color.

 

Upgrading to LED light fixtures

One of the features you find with LED navigation fixtures or housings, is that they are sealed and you cannot open them up. Since the life of the fitting is so long there is no need to replace the bulb.Bbeing sealed fittings they are completely watertight, or should be.

Upgrading to LED fixtures can give us a lot of benefits as seen above. Another of the benefits is the size. LED fixtures are smaller for the same range (i.e. 2 mile) than incandescent fixtures. The Lopolight fixture in the picture has been installed in the old incandescent housing.

LED navigation light fixtures include two basic types. They are sealed clusters of LEDs like the Lopolight or the more traditional design of a housing and lens combination with an internal bulb.

The most popular LED navigation lights currently on the market are the Lopolight, Orca green and Aqua Signal. There are more manufacturers, but these three are USCG certified.



   

This image shows a Hella series 41 steaming light next to the new port and starboard compact NaviLED® Navigation Lamps. This signifies the size difference, which makes mounting the fixtures a lot easier. Both are 2 mile USCG certified lights.


A series 41 tricolor light cost around $60 while the NaviLED equivalent cost around $600.

If you do any upgrading and are not into the expense of new fixtures then bulb replacement is an option. If you have the original fixtures in good shape and the lenses are clear then bulb replacement is an option.

If you replace just the bulbs there is no reason to change the fixture or wiring assuming they are in good condition. This will save a lot of money and can be the best bang for the buck.

Replacing an incandescent bulb with an LED is a big step forward. This may not give you the full effect of an LED fixture but it will be close. Just replacing the bulb may take the fitting out of its Coast Guard approval. Also LED fixtures have heat sinks to help the LED operate in high temperatures. An incandescent fixture will not have this feature.

LED lights are color specific, i.e. they are red, green or white. So when you replace a starboard running light bulb make sure you pick the green replacement. With incandescent lights the bulbs are just white as the lens gives the color.

Companies producing replacement bulbs include DR LED, their USCG and COLREGs certified Polar star is designed to replace Aqua signals series 40 bulb. The cost of one bulb is around $50 so this is much more than a regular incandescent bulb. The Polar star tri is shown above right.

Other companies specializing in LED replacement bulbs include Imtra.

 

Navigation Lights recognition

 

Your navigation lights help other boaters know what you are (40ft power boat for example), where you are and which direction you are moving. Now can you identify the other boats around you?

To help you remember try this mouse pad. While you are at work or at home this pad will be a constant reminder for these most common light configurations. Test your knowledge of navigation lights.

Another tool for help recognizing vessel lights and shapes are the Weems & Plath Light rules

Navigation Light Bulb types

Tungsten bulbs	Tungsten bulbs have been on boats fro ever. they offer a warm glow. Typically the tungsten bulb is a high current draw and put of a lot of heat. they do not last long but are cheap
Halogen Bulbs	Halogens are more efficient than the standard tungsten bulb and they last longer. they also put off a lot of heat if not hot.
Fluorescent bulbs	Fluorescent bulbs do not use as much energy and are not as hot, but they give off a cold light.
LED bulbs	LED bulbs have a low current draw and last a long time making them desirable onboard. LED ar becoming more in vogue as the light output is becoming brighter and more colorful.

 

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