Fishing Frenzy

When driving a watercraft in the ocean or a lake at night, you will need certain types of boat lights to help keep you safe. The U. S. Coast Guards requires that your vessel have at least two different types of fixtures to help alert other passerbys to your location and direction. You might also wish to purchase lights that are available to help you catch fish, if that is your goal.

The U. S. Coast Guard has certain specifications that it sets forth regarding the requirements for lighting on boats. The requirements to which a person must adhere depend upon the size of the vessel that he is navigating. Every vessel is required to have, at a minimum, red and green sidelight plus either a white sternlight or a white masthead light. The prominent differences are in the range of visibility that is required.

Sidelights are required on every boat and come in both red and green. The differing colors are to alert other vessels traveling at night to the specific sides of the boat. Red is meant to show the boat's port, or left, side. Green, however, shows the vessel's starboard, or right, side. This can help other ships to have a greater understanding of the location of the vessel and in which direction it is traveling.

A stern light is meant to attach to the rear of the boat. Every stern light is white, but the visibility, or brightness, differs. How much you are required to have depends on the length of your watercraft. By attaching this fixture, you help to show other ships where you are located and which direction you are traveling in.

A masthead light is required on any vessel that has a motor. If the engine is in operation, then the light must be on to alert other passing boats. This type of fixture is white and shines forward and also to both sides. Sailboats are not required to have a masthead light.

Vessels that are smaller in size may not be required to have both a stern and masthead light. Instead, they may simply possess an all-round white light that shines in every direction. If the sidelights are not lit in conjunction with this one, then it means the vessel is stationary and simply shows location. Otherwise, it will show both location and the movement.

You may also purchase lights to help you with your fishing, if that is your goal. These fixtures are small and green and can either be attached permanently to your vessel or can be separate and submerged in the water when needed. Fish can see blue and green colors. Green typically alerts them to the presence of food, such as shrimp or small bugs, since there is algae or other plant life in that location. Therefore, small green bulbs will attract fish to help a fisherman make a catch.

While driving a watercraft at night can be a lot of fun, it can also be very dangerous. For this reason, boat lights are very important as they help to alert other vessels to the existence and navigation of a vessel at night. The driver or owner of the craft must make sure to comply with all regulatory requirements.