Who knows the "Real" answer to this

[Capt.Ken]

while displaying two white lights astern may give you peace of mind by showing more light, you may be displaying the configuration for a boat towing another. Also an all around white light with the forward green and red is acceptable. While only a green and red forward and a white stern light is required on boats less than 50 meters, a forward white masthead light is allowed but not required.
Too many cabin/deck lights will diminish your reds and greens which will make it difficult to determine stand on or give way.
Personally I find that bright shore lights can cause problems with depth perception, and night vision, especially on very cloudy nights when the horizon is tough to determine.

[Merrymeeting]

There was a Captain Bonehead passing the other night with his "headlights" on (DOCKING lights). It was a pontoon boat and with the placement of the lights, the red and green ones were totally invisible given the glare from the other lights.

[Phantom]

Okay -

First off, I have had someone already PM me that they have the EXACT same light configuration and checked with MP.

As long as my "under deck" (below the swim platform) water lights are "white (not blue as currently factory installed) MP would accept that as a legitimate "Stern/Anchor light".

...... and let's not get picky on nautical terminology as earlier in this thread.
"Stern/Anchor light" projects only rearward & does not negate or replace the necessary Aft 360 degree "white" light.

To head off all the future comments of like/ dislike, Legal/ Illegal .... As the person who PM'd me only has this info as verbal (phone call) -- I have sent an email off to MP myself asking the question (in writing). When I (if I ) get a response .... good, bad or indifferent ... I will post.

To the boneheads that run Pontoons with the docking lights always on -- there is just no excuse --- most times (I have learnt from my small lake here in MA) they don't even realize they are on. PAY ATTENTION !




A Happy & (and most importantly) Safe 4th holiday to all
(unfortunately we're stuck in MA for the weekend)


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[Capt.Ken]

I think there is a confusion of terms.
A "stern light" is a light displayed at 135 degrees abaft the beam, or, off the back of the boat. It is required to be displayed while running, in conjunction with the red and green forward lights.
An anchor light is a 360 degree white light which is to be displayed while at anchor.
Red and green running lights are not to be displayed while at anchor.
It is acceptable but not required (only 135 degree rear white light is required) to display a 360 degree white light with the red and green running lights while running.
Diplaying two white lights astern is the configuration for towing.
Theres no way a light mounted below your swim platform could be considered an anchor light because it doesnt display 360 degrees. But if it displays at 135 degrees or more it could possibly used as a stern light.
White led lights displayed off the front and sides of your boat and lower than the red and green running lights will just cause confusion.
Blue lights are for the marine police only.

[Phantom]

Probably should have done this in the first place .... but the Forum is typically very reliable.

Sent an email off to MP and within one day received a courteous reply.

Short version is .... NO lights (interior or exterior) are permissible while underway other than the required navigation lights -- white 360 deg (rear) / Green - Red (bow)


That now brings this Thread to a close !
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[Rich]

Unless the name on your boat is the "Mount Washington"

[Lakeboater]

Yeah, why is that about the Mount?

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by Lakeboater

Yeah, why is that about the Mount?

Larger vessels need a different configuration than small craft. Working, commercial vessels also have some exemptions due to their functional needs. Any book on boating will have a variety of illustrations to depict the appropriate lights to be displayed for each vessel type. Even some you may never see on lake Winnipesaukee.

(EG: How can you tell the difference between a speed boat and a US submarine on a dark moonless night? )

The important thing is to know what your boat needs and what you are likely to see on your local waters. That being said I think the MP telling people their interior lights are a violation are exceeding the legislative intent of the new lighting laws.