Navigation lights on PVC boat: choice, installation and safety

getting on the water at night or in conditions of limited visibility requires from the boatmaster not only excellent training, but also proper technical equipment of the boat. Navigation lights on PVC boat It is a mandatory element, which is dictated by the rules of navigation on inland waterways and safety requirements. The lack of a working light alarm system makes your vessel invisible to other participants in the movement, which dramatically increases the risk of collision with high-speed boats or barges.

Inflatable boat owners often face a dilemma: how to combine the lightness and flexibility of a polyvinyl chloride design with the need for rigid attachment of electrical equipment. running lights Not only will they protect you from a GIMS penalty, but they will also allow you to move comfortably around the water area after sunset, and in this article we will analyze all the nuances of choosing lamps, how they are installed on the soft side and electrical connection schemes.

Ignoring the rules of installation of lighting devices can lead to an emergency situation when you simply do not notice in the dark. According to the rules, the white top light should be visible 360 degrees and illuminate the sector in 225 degrees, and the side lights - 112.5 degrees each. Understanding these technical requirements is the first step to competent equipment of your boat.

GIMS requirements and light installation rules

Before you go to the store for LED tapes or ready-made plafonds, you need to clearly master the rules. Rules of navigation on the inland waterways of the Russian Federation (PVDP) The colour, sector of view and height of small craft signal lights are strictly regulated, and breach of these standards is equivalent to operating a technically defective vessel.

small craft, which are the majority of the PVC boats with an engine, it is mandatory to have one top white light and two side lights (red left and green right) The top light should be located on a mast or a special rack at a height of at least 1 meter above the deck level (or the heads of passengers if they are seated) to block the sides and be visible from all directions.

⚠️ Warning: The installation of a top-of-the-line light below the eye level of seated passengers is prohibited, as their heads will block the viewing sector, making the boat invisible to the oncoming vessel.

The main requirement is a clear separation of the color sectors, red light should be visible only from the left side, green light should be visible from the right side, and the use of homemade lights with “lights” or the wrong angle of scattering can be disorienting to other boatmasters, who by color and location of the lights determine the direction of your movement.

Choosing the type of lamps for inflatable boats

The marine lighting market offers many solutions, but not all are suitable for PVC boats: weight, mounting and power consumption are the main criteria. Heavy metal plafonds designed for rigid boats can disrupt the balance of a light inflatable boat.

The most popular solution today is LED (LED).LED) Navigation lights: They consume minimal current, which is critical when using small batteries, and LED cells are not heated very much, eliminating the risk of PVC material melting by accidental touch or close installation.

• 🔦 Removable mast lights: These are a lantern on a flexible or rigid leg that is inserted into a special cup (holder) mounted on a boat, which is ideal for transportation.

• 🔋 Battery-powered autonomous lights: They don't require a connection to the onboard network, but they have limited life and lower brightness. They're suitable for short-term outputs.

• 💡 Built-in LED panels: mounted directly in the transom or special areas, require sealed soldering of wires and reliable insulation.

When choosing, you should also pay attention to the Protection rating of the case. IP67 or IP68 The numbers indicate the device's ability to withstand total immersion and splashes. IP44 water will not live long - moisture quickly oxidize contacts and disable electronics.

Installation materials and tools

You can't get navigation lights to work properly without the right tools, because you're working with electricity and water, you can't save on consumables, you're going to need a kit to make reliable and sealed connections.

The basis of the wiring should be specialized cable It's a multi-core copper structure and insulation that's resistant to ultraviolet and salt water, and the normal household wire in these conditions will crack quickly and lose its properties. Use only tinted terminals and glue-coated heat shrink tubes to connect the wires.

List of necessary tools and materials:

• 🔧 Tool: knife for cleaning insulation, soldering iron with temperature adjustment, construction hair dryer (for shrinkage), drill or screwdriver.
• 🧪 Sealants: polyurethane or silicone sealant for PVC (necessarily with adhesion to polyvinyl chloride), isolate.
• ⚡ Electric: fuse (automatic) on 5-10A, terminal pad or connectors Quick Connect for a quick mast removal.

Special attention is paid to the mounting. To install a glass under the mast on a soft side or trawler, transition plates of textolite or aluminum are often used, which are glued to PVC or screwed to a wooden transom. Direct drilling of the cylinder without strengthening the attachment site is unacceptable.

Step-by-step instructions for installing a top-of-the-line fire

Installation of the top light is the most important step, as this light source is the main identifier of your vessel in the dark. The process begins with choosing the place of installation of the holder (glass), the optimal location - on the diametrical axis of the boat, closer to the nose or on the transom, if the mast design allows you to carry the lantern high enough and forward.

If you're putting a mast on a transom, make sure it doesn't interfere with the engine. Inflatable boats often use removable designs, where you attach a plaza on a transom that has a carbon or aluminum tube inserted with a flashlight at the end, and then you put the wiring along the side inside the boat or on the outside of the transmolant in a protective corrugated tube.

Sequence of action:

1. Mark the place of installation of the glass or platform.
2. If the mount is through (through a transom), drill the hole and treat the edges with a sealant.
3. Lay the cable from the battery installation site to the fire installation point.
4. Connect the wires to the contacts of the flashlight, observing the polarity (usually red - plus, black - minus).
5. Seal the place of entry of the wire into the case of the lamp and the place of fastening of the glass.

⚠️ Attention: The cable should not have sagging hinges that can be caught by clothing or gear. All wires should be tightly secured by clamps or clips.

Connection scheme and electrical safety

The electrical circuit of navigation lights should be simple, reliable and protected. The main threat to the onboard network of the boat is a short circuit, which can lead to fire or failure of the battery.

The fuse is mounted on the plus wire as close as possible to the battery (no more than 15-20 cm from the terminal), which ensures that if the wire is damaged anywhere in the circuit, the current will be cut off at the source.

Example of a simple connection scheme:

[Battery +] -- -- [Fuse] -- -- [Mass switch] -- -- [Lights switch] -- -- [Top light]
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[Battery] -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For control of lights it is convenient to use a moisture-protected switchboard with illumination or a separate one switcherIf you use a combined motor control panel, you can integrate switching lights there, but that requires more sophisticated electrical work.