There's no doubt that navigation lights are essential gear in any boat.

They help:

• Specify the size of your boat
• Show the direction in which your boat is sailing
• Alert other sailors of your presence to avoid collisions

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) mandates every boat to display navigation lights between sunrise and sunset, and during periods of restricted visibility, such as fog, storms, and heavy rain.

Therefore, it’s crucial to invest in quality boat navigation lights, preferably high-end LED navigation lights that won’t just stand the test of time but also save energy and improve your boat’s aesthetics.

If you’re in the market for quality boat navigation lights, make sure to ask these 5 simple questions before making a purchase.

1 - What Are the Different Types of Boat Navigation Lights?

There are 4 major types of boat navigation lights: masthead, sidelights, stern light, and all-round lights.

Every light serves a specific purpose:

• Masthead Light: A white light placed at your boat’s centerline. It must show an arc of 225° and be visible from 2 miles away.
• Sidelights: Red and green lights visible to an approaching boat from the side or head-on. They must show an arc of 112.5° and be always on, except when your boat is anchored for the night.
• Stern Light: A white light visible from behind or nearly behind your boat. It shows an arc of 135° from the centerline of the boat and 67.5° from each side.
• All-Round Lights: They shine in a complete circle of 360° and emit white, red, or green light. They’re intended to be seen from any point and used whether a boat stops or is moving.

All angles must be accurate and well-defined. Outside those angles, your boat lights won’t be seen by other sailors, which may result in collisions.

Fortunately, you don’t need to measure these angles. Apex Lighting offers boat navigation lights from reputable brands approved by the USCG and the COLREGs. Hence, they’re highly accurate and display over the correct angles of visibility.

Also Read: Types of Boat Lights & What You Need to Know Before Buying

2 - Which Navigation Lights Are Required on My Boat?

Your boat navigation lights will depend on:

• The length of your boat
• Whether you’re at anchor
• Whether your boat is being powered by an engine

Below is a summary of the basic boat navigation rules regarding lighting:

Powered and Sailing Boats Under 23 Feet (7 M)

All power boats under 7 meters with a maximum speed of 7 knots shall display an all-round white light, and if possible, sidelights. This also applies to sailing boats.

If no modern lights can be installed due to their design, sailors must have at hand an electric torch or a lantern displaying white light ready to exhibit in due time to prevent a collision.

Note: If a sailboat operates with a running engine, it’s considered a power boat and must follow the power boat navigation light rules.

Power Boats Under 39.4 Feet (12 M)

Power boats under 39 .4 feet must have the following boat navigation lights:

• 1 x red and green sidelights, each visible from a mile away
• 1 x white all-round light, visible from 2 miles away

Power Boats Between 39.4 Feet (12 M) and 65.6 Feet (20 M)

• 1 x white masthead light, visible from 2 miles away and positioned at least 8 feet above the gunnel
• 1 x white stern light, visible from 2 miles away
• A pair of red and green sidelights, each visible from a mile away

Sailboats Under 39.4 Feet (12 M)

• A pair of red and green sidelights, meeting the same requirements as those for a power boat
• 1 x white stern light, or a tri-color (white, red, green) masthead light

Sailboats up to 65.6 Feet (20 M)

• A pair of red and green sidelights, visible from 2 miles away
• 1 x white stern light, or a tri-color masthead light, visible from 2 miles away

All Boats Over 65.6 Feet (20 M)

• A pair of red and green sidelights, visible from 2 miles away
• 1 x white masthead light, visible from 6 miles away
• 1 x white stern light, visible from 3 miles away
• 1 x tricolor all-round light, visible from 3 miles away

All Boats at Anchor

At night, every boat at anchor must have a white all-round anchor light. Place it at the masthead or as high in the boat as practical for maximum visibility.

During the day, all boats at anchor must be displayed with a black anchor ball also visible from every direction.

Expert Tip: If your boat is large and has a very tall mast, display an extra navigation light closer to the waterline for increased safety. Boats approaching at night will likely fail to see the light on a mast 60 or 70 feet in the air when closer to your boat.

3 - Where Should the Navigation Lights Go on a Boat?

Oftentimes, deciding where the navigation lights go on your boat has already been decided for you.

Modern boats come with designated lighting locations. All you need to do is mimic the original placement to install your navigation lights.

However, some boats don’t have lights, electrical systems, or switch panels.

For such boats, use these placement tips for your boat navigation lights, as recommended by the COLREGs:

Similar to installing dock lights, navigation lights must only be handled by licensed and insured technicians who will install them per their manufacturers’ instructions to avoid any damages and malfunctions.

4 - What Distinguishes LED From Conventional Boat Navigation Lights?

When it comes to boat navigation lights, there are two key options:

• Conventional lights (incandescent bulbs): The old-fashioned bulbs that have been around since the 1800s. They emit light by heating a wire filament to a particular temperature, which then releases heat and light.
• LED (light emitting diodes): They have electrodes that allow the passage of electric currents and are made from a semi-conductive element wrapped in plastic. When the current passes through the element and electrodes, they emit light.

Compared to conventional lights, LED navigation lights are more energy-efficient because they produce less heat.

LED navigation lights can also handle up to 25,000 operating hours, compared to traditional incandescents’ 1,000 hours. This means that you can use an LED light in your boat for up to 5 years without needing to replace it.

Manufacturers like Apex, Hella Marine, and many more offer a wide range of internationally approved LED boat navigation lights that are safe for use and comply with the USCG navigation lights rules.

"The stern light from Hella is exactly the top quality one would expect…"  - Jeffery D, Verified Buyer

So, whether you’re buying a new set of navigation lights or replacing old ones, ensure they’re from such reputable brands for maximum safety.

Related Article: Bulb or LED Navigation Lights - Which Does It Better?

5 - Why Should I Choose LED Boat Navigation Lights?

The benefits of choosing LED boat navigation lights are endless.

Besides positively impacting the environment, LED lights have increased sea safety and reduced energy expenses.

If you’re a blue water sailor who enjoys sailing longer distances at a stretch, efficient energy consumption is crucial.

LED lights use at least 75% less energy than conventional light bulbs, and last 25 times longer. This makes them one of the most energy-efficient ways of lighting and illumination on the seas today.

Other benefits of investing in LED boat navigation lights:

• Extremely versatile, and operate perfectly even under severe weather conditions like extreme cold, snow, mist, and storms
• Durable and built with sturdy elements that can withstand regular use
• Brighten up immediately once powered on, unlike traditional light bulbs, which may take seconds or minutes to reach full brightness
• Shatterproof and can withstand multiple impacts that traditional bulbs won’t, like errant seagulls

Time to Upgrade to Quality Boat Navigation Lights

In your quest for boat navigation lights, efficiency should top your list. And nothing screams energy efficiency more than LED boat navigation lights.

Besides lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants, these spectacular lights are effortless to install, improve your boat’s aesthetics, and save you more money (on repairs and replacements) in the long run.

Apex Lighting is your top choice when it comes to boat lighting. We offer only the best LED boat navigation lights from reputable brands guaranteed to work efficiently.

"This is not my first purchase with Apex Lighting, and they continue to surpass all expectations with top quality products..." - Thomas M, Verified Buyer

Check out our entire collection of LED boat navigation lights to purchase your favorite options. Alternatively, visit our main product page to shop everything boat lights.

For any inquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts will get back to you in no time.

"All your products have been awesome and high quality. Service is good. Your company is very easy to deal with." - Verified Buyer, United States