White light on motor cover

M

mike Warichak

Member
I saw in the sneak box rebuild thread that someone put the white light directly on the motor cover. I had wanted to do this a couple years ago and asked the DNR (damn near russian) if I was able to.. He said 'only if you want a ticket'... He explained that it had to be set off to the side so the operators body doesn't block it's view from the front. I know the obvious question is 'well then what are the red/greens for' but in Wisconsin the DNR gives very very liberal interpetation to it's wardens. It isn't uncommon to get 3 of them together and not get any where near the same answer.

So while the light idea is great, I just want to put out there my experience and hope people check with their local guys to make sure they find it legal... I have no idea what other states are like regarding DNR regulations/enforcement...


Seasons coming up fast... Early goose--90days
 
in ND,

motorized boats under 26' the white light needs to be higher than the bow light. 1" or 2' it just has to be higher.

boats w/o motors "duck boats" do not require fixed lights, just accessibility to a white light of some sort.....(flashlight)


Does anyone know about duck boats in MN?
I know duck boats with or w/o motors do not need to be licensed if only used during duck season.
I have also been told, in MN, said duck boats do not need navigation lights prior to sunrise, just a lantern or flashlight. I could not find anything in the small book of regulations mn has on boating. Anyone know if that is true or correct?
 
Finally, Something I think I can help with! I spent six years as a boarding officer in the Coast Guard and this is something that was very much a FAQ. First and foremost anything that has to do with navigation ie, Nav lights, is a federal law not state to state. So everyone is supposed to be on the same page. There are a handfull of different regulations for different length vessels but I'm gonna assume that your boat is under 20 meters and obviously power driven. In your case you simply need a white light mounted as far back on the boat as practical that can be seen at a radius of 360 degrees. You also are required to have a red port light and a green starboard light mounted as far foward as practical, both of these lights must be seen at a radius of 112.5 degrees from abaft te beem meaning simply that you can only see it while on that side of the boat or see both while coming head on. This is what dictates right of way in a crossing situation and also aids in getting course and direction of other vessels. I think what the warden is getting at is that you would be blocking the 360 degree light with your body, which would be breaking the law. Lastly the white light must be higher than the front lights. We see lots of boats in Texas with this setup you are talking about and they are completly legal. You can referance the Coast Guard Navigation Rules and what you are looking for is in the Inland Rules, Annex 1, 33 CFR 84. Its on Page 133 if you have the book. And if you dont, West Marine and Boaters world both have it.
I hope this helps. John
 
Capt. John is of course 100% correct. Only thing wrong with the mounting shown in the pictures is the height is too short to not be blocked by the operators body. The same can be true for a lot of deck mounted stern lights (too short). I've never understood why people don't want or care that their navigation lights are clearly visible.

I've seen bow lights blocked with trolling motors, short stemmed stern lights blocked from almost every angle, Bow and stern lights buried under camo and grass. What gives? Personally I've used pvc to extend my stern light high enough that it is just slightly above my head when standing up in the boat. This way the stern light is never blinding my night vision. ( a common heard excuse)

Same thing goes for trailer lights, Keep'em bright and working and mount them where they can be seen. After all thats the only reason they are there, TO BE SEEN.

Sorry about the rant but it is one of my pet peeves.
 
I personally think that the motor mounted stearn light is a great idea. The 360 degree visibility is important but if you are oncoming and the stearn light is blocked by your body you will see the bow light. I've often seen hunters running without lights at all. A few years ago I was almost run down by a 20 footer running at top speed on the very dark Mullica River. My nav lights were on but his were not. I never saw him coming. Even after noticing me he never slowed down. The important thing is that they are used.................Turn those lights on guys!!!.......Kevin
 
The stern light has to be 1 meter hight than the bow lights per USCG. I don't know why you would want to put it on the motor caver, but ya can if ya want to.
 
Lastly the white light must be higher than the front lights. We see lots of boats in Texas with this setup you are talking about and they are completly legal. You can referance the Coast Guard Navigation Rules and what you are looking for is in the Inland Rules, Annex 1, 33 CFR 84.
Click to expand...


Thank you, you beat to it!!!

Could you imagine running a net, clam or crab boat with a pole mounted stern light? LOL

Many of us mount them on the engine cowlings due to the crap that we run through down here in the south.

Willow trees, airboat trails & cypress heads play He!! on pole mounted stern lights.

Like I said before, it's one less thing to worry about on the boat because it can't ripped off, it can't be left behind & it can't go over board.

It's always there!!!

If anyone has ever seen a stern light mounted on the engine cowling on & running @ night you'd see it would take three men & a boy to obstruct the beam.

Go what works for you but down here, they're on the cowlings.
 
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Yeah, you know this is where gov'mnt beaurocracy runs up against common sense and functionality. The reason that we must have an "all around light" and not a stern light is to differentiate a sailboat from power boat at night. Now it would be easy to put an all around light on a sailboat. But in a power boat it's a problem. It ought to be the other way around, stern lights for power boats, mast lights for boats under sail. Besides the issue of having something sticking up back there that you eventually cream with a paddle or pushpole, it ruins your night vision, important for running at 20-30 mph but not for 9 mph.

Ed.
 
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