Boaters need to take extr care once operating in ~ night or throughout periods of restricted visibility, such together darkness, fog or heavy rain.

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If friend hear a sound signal during minimal visibility, you should reduce your speed in bespeak to continue safely. Make sure you keep the engine all set for immediate action in case one more boat or peril comes v the fog or darkness and puts your boat at instant risk of collision.


If you fulfill a vessel and see a green, red and white light, you are approaching another power-driven ship head-on. In this situation neither vessel has the right-of-way. Both operators have to take early and substantial action to steer well clear that the various other vessel. Both operator should minimize their speed and also steer to starboard.


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If you meet a vessel and see a green and also red light yet no masthead (white) light, climate you space approaching a sail-driven vessel. You room the give-way craft and must yield right-of-way come the cruising vessel.


If a green and also a white light room visible, then one more craft is approaching friend from the harbor (left) side. In this situation, you room the stand-on craft and should maintain your speed and also course. The various other craft need to take early and also substantial activity to steer well clear of her craft.

If a red and also a white light are visible, then one more craft is approaching girlfriend from the starboard (right) side. In this instance you space the give-way craft and also must productivity right-of-way. You have to take early and also substantial activity to steer fine clear the the other craft. Alleviate your speed, readjust direction and also pass at a safe distance behind the other boat.

Safe Boating Tip: A simple way to decipher powerboat navigation lights is to remember: If you view a green LIGHT you can ‘GO’: another boat is pull close from your port side.

If you watch a RED irradiate you must ‘STOP’: one more boat is draw close from her starboard side.


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Navigation Lights

Power-driven watercrafts must exhibition a forward masthead light, sidelights and a sternlight.

Many tiny boats (such as bow riders and runabouts) commonly have a white irradiate affixed to the top of a irradiate pole that deserve to be put at the stern the the craft. When underway, this all-round light functions as a merged masthead and sternlight, and must be visible in all directions, mounted greater than the watercraft structure, cockpit or any type of other obstruction.


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What walk a White irradiate Indicate?

If you see a white irradiate on its very own it indicates that you execute NOT have actually the right-of-way. The white light will certainly be identifying among the complying with three things:

1) You are approaching one more craft native behind

If only a white irradiate is visible, you might be approaching another craft native behind. You space the give-way-craft and have to take early and substantial activity to steer well clear by altering your course and passing at a safe street on the starboard (right) or harbor (left) side.

2) You space approaching a non-powered craft

If you are approaching a non-powered craft, you space the give-way craft and should yield the ideal of way. You should take early and substantial action to stay fine clear and pass at a safe speed and also distance.

Remember that if you’re operation a non-powered craft at night, girlfriend are forced to have an electrical torch all set for use, flashlight or lighted lantern reflecting a white light (this rule uses if the watercraft cannot it is in equipped v standard navigation lights).

3) You are approaching one anchored craft at night

If you space approaching an anchored craft, the anchored craft will certainly be exhibiting an all-round white light to suggest to various other boaters the their craft is in ~ anchor.

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Remember: anchored watercrafts should never display their green and red sidelights as these lamp will show to various other boaters the your craft is underway.