Safety in the dark or in limited visibility depends on how well your boat is equipped with navigation lights. Many small boat owners flout the rules, setting up lights “as it turns out” or guided only by aesthetics, which in an emergency can lead to a collision or a fine from the inspector GIMS. Navigation lights are not just decor, but the main way of communication between the captains on the water, allowing you to determine the type of vessel, its size and direction of movement.
Right. boat-lighting The International Rules for Preventing Collisions (IPPC-72) and the Inland Waterway Code regulate installation errors such as the wrong angle of the glow sector or the placing of lights too close together can confuse other crews. In this article, we will discuss the technical nuances of the installation, the requirements for height and viewing angles, and also consider common mistakes that boat owners make when equipping their boats and boats themselves.
Before you can get to the drill and wires, you need to be clear about what kind of lights are required for your type of vessel. For small mechanical vessels less than 12 meters long, the rules are simplified, but remain strict on visibility and sectors. Ignoring these rules makes your boat an uncontrollable object in the eyes of other captains, especially in fog or night fishing conditions when the count goes for seconds.
Types of navigation lights and their purpose
The navigation lighting system consists of several elements, each of which carries a specific information load. red (left side) and green They should be visible from the forward direction to 22.5 degrees behind the diametrically opposite side, which means that the sector of glow of each side light is 112.5 degrees, and if you see only the red light of the other vessel, it is passing to your left and you are the "interference to the right".
The second key element is lampThis is a white light located in the diametrical plane of the vessel, which shines in a sector of 225 degrees (from left to right through the bow). On boats less than 12 meters in length, it is allowed to combine the side and masthead lights into one fire-fireHowever, for full swimming and compliance with the etiquette of the water motor, a separate installation is preferable, since it gives more accurate information to others about the dimensions and course of your boat.
The third element is feed-fireIt's a white light in the stern, shining in a 135 degree sector (right to left through the stern) that shows other boats that you're moving forward and indicates your stern. For small craft, the stern light is often combined with the top one in the same hull, but spaced in height, or use a combination of three-cap lights.
⚠️ NOTE: It is strictly forbidden to use LED tapes or household lights as navigation lights, they do not have the necessary sector screens and can shine in the wrong direction, creating a false impression of your course.
Installation requirements of GIMS and WFPS-72
The installation of navigation lights must be carried out in strict accordance with the geometric parameters prescribed in the regulations. appearanceThe lights must be visible at a distance of at least 2 miles (for boats less than 12 m). However, the distance is not important, but the correctness of the sectors. The light should not be blocked by the elements of the boat's design: awnings, linear posts, superstructures or even passenger figures.
The height of the installation is also critical: the top light should be located above the stern. If a combined lamp is used, it is installed in the bow. For vessels less than 12 meters long, the top light can be shifted from the diametric plane by no more than 1 meter, but it is preferable to install it strictly in the center, which ensures symmetry for oncoming boats.
The distance between the lights should prevent them from mixing. For example, if the lights are installed too wide or have a poor shielding, the oncoming captain can see both red and green lights at the same time, which will make it difficult to determine your exact course. The rules require that the angle between the red and green lights in the nose projection does not create "dead zones" or, conversely, double glow in the sector right up the nose.
☑️ Verification of compliance of lamps with the rules
Schemes of placement on different types of buildings
The choice of installation site depends on the architecture of your vessel. On open boats, PVC or aluminum "Kazankas" options are few: boards and transoms. Here it is important to protect the wires and the lamps themselves from mechanical damage and water. On boats with a chopping or cockpit, additional surfaces for installation, but also more potential obstacles to light.
Low-side boats often use removable side lights racks that are placed in special nests (ducks) before going out in daylight or when visibility deteriorates, which ensures that the hull contours are not disturbed during high-speed traffic and fishing. Top-of-the-line fire on such vessels is often mounted on a removable mast or on the windbreaker rack, if the design allows it to be raised to a sufficient height.
On boats with a hard top or roof awning, the masthead light is installed at the highest point. It is important to make sure that the awning does not block the aft light if it is installed below. In such cases, the aft light is raised on a special bar or integrated into the aft arch design.
The following is a table with recommended installation sites for different types of small craft:
| Type of vessel | Top fire | Airborne lights | Stern fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC boat (inflatable) | Removable nose rack | inflatable tubes (special anchorages) | On the transom or removable rack |
| aluminum boat | On the bow bulkhead or mast | On boards (mortified or invoice) | On the transom plate |
| chopping-boat | Downtown on the roof. | Fingers or sides | At the back of the chopping or gaffele |
| Sailing-engine | At the top of the mast (top) | On boards (often removable) | At the stern (above the waterline) |
Nuances of installation on boats with outboard motor
When installing a high-power outboard motor, vibration can destroy contacts in the lights fixed directly on the transom. It is recommended to use shock absorbing gaskets or to move the aft light higher, on a separate bar.
Technical requirements for lamps and wiring
The choice of equipment is not only a matter of design, but also of reliability. LEDs (LEDs) LEDs are preferred because of their low power consumption, vibration resistance and instantaneous full brightness, but it is important to choose models with the appropriate color temperature that meets the standards (red and green should be pure spectral colors, not orange or turquoise).
The wiring must be done by a sea cable marked with UL Or similar ultraviolet, salt water, oil, or similar, and conventional car wiring on water breaks down quickly, oxidizes the contacts, causing the lights to fail at the wrong time, and all the connections must be sealed with adhesive-coated heat shrinkage or special sea terminals.
To control the lights, a separate panel with signed switches must be provided; the circuit must allow the lights to be switched on independently (e.g., only anchor or only running), this is required by the rules for various navigation situations. Use of simple car keys without IP67 moisture protection and above is unacceptable.
⚠️ Warning: When laying wires, avoid sharp edges of metal. In the passageway through bulkheads, be sure to use grommets, otherwise the vibration will overrun the insulation, which will lead to short circuit and fire.
Use copper tips to end wires and coat them with contact lubrication, which will prevent electrochemical corrosion, which occurs on the boat at times faster than in the car.
Typical errors in the installation of navigation lighting
One of the most common mistakes is to set the lights too low: if water splashes or a wave block the light, the boat becomes invisible. The minimum height above the water for lights on boats up to 12 meters is not strictly regulated, but common sense and rules require that they be placed so that they are not flooded with off-shore water and are visible from other boats on the horizon.
The second mistake is the misdirection of sectors. Often homemade light-light screens are made carelessly, and the lights hit sideways or backwards, creating a light. The counter captain, seeing a blurred spot of light, will not be able to understand where you are going. Use certified shades with clearly cropped sectors or install quality metal screens.
The third problem is that there's no redundancy, and many boats have a single light on their mast, and if it burns out a lamp or burns out an LED controller board, the boat is completely without lights, and it's better to have separate power chains and, if possible, duplicate lights, even if they're just handheld lights ready to be put into ducks.
They also often forget about anchor-fireIt's a white circular light that is displayed when the boat is anchored, and it must be visible from all sides (360 degrees). Many captains forget to raise it at night, and a boat that sleeps at anchor becomes an invisible target for fast boats.
Cheap Chinese lanterns can have the wrong spectrum of glow, which is formally a violation of the rules and can be regarded by the inspector as the absence of navigation lights.
Maintenance and check-up
The marine environment is aggressive, and navigation lights require regular maintenance. Before each daylight departure, if you plan to sail at night, you should conduct a visual inspection. Check the integrity of the glass (plains), no cracks and clouds. Plastics turn yellow over time under the action of UV radiation, which reduces the brightness of the glow.
Once a season, remove the fixtures, clean the contacts of oxides and check the tightness of the housings. Even the fixtures with IP68 protection lose their seal properties over time. Lubricate the threaded connections with silicone grease, but keep it out of the optical elements.
You can do a sector check at home, in a dark room, and you can set the boat up on a flat surface, you can turn on the lights, and with a transporter or visual evaluation, make sure that you don't see red light on the right of the nose, and the green light on the left, and the top light should not shine in the stern, and the stern light on the nose.
Do I need to register the installed lights in GIMS?
Navigation lights as equipment do not require separate registration or entry on the boat's ticket, if they meet the standards. However, when passing a survey of the vessel, the inspector will check their availability, performance and correct installation. If the lights do not comply with the rules (for example, flashing, which is prohibited, or have incorrect sectors), you will be issued a malfunction order.
Can I use battery lights?
The regulations allow ready-to-use lights to be used as a temporary measure or for small vessels where stationary lights are not possible. However, such lights must be displayed well in advance to avoid collision and their light must not be mixed with other lights of the vessel.
What to do if the navigation light goes out while driving?
According to the rules, if the navigation light is extinguished, immediate measures must be taken to restore or replace it, if this is not possible, other available lighting means (lanterns) must be displayed and, if possible, an audible signal should be given to warn other vessels, and driving without lights in the dark is prohibited and extremely dangerous.
Is it necessary to have an audible signal along with the lights?
Yes, for small craft longer than 7 metres (or 12 metres depending on the specific rules of the pool), the presence of an audible signal device (whistle, horn or roar) is mandatory on a par with lights. In fog or in limited visibility, audible signals are the main means of preventing collisions.
Proper installation and maintenance of running lights is a sign of the boatmaster's professionalism, not only a matter of complying with the law and avoiding fines, but also showing respect for other traffic participants and taking care of your own safety. Remember that there are no brakes on the water, and the person who saw you before will live.
Regularly checking the seals and cleanliness of the lamps prolongs the life of the lights and ensures their visibility at a critical moment.