I have them on my bass boats. I asked the local Game Warden (Shawn Smith) in Athens last week, what he thought. He said they are perfectly legal if visible from the front. Of course they are highly visible.....

He said their intention is to give directional location if seen. In other words, at night, if I see a red light on the right, and a green light on the left, I know that boat is pointed at me in my direction. I have done NO scientific studies, but just guessing, my LED navigational lights appear to be about 10-times more visible than the cheesy little pole light that the boats came with.

But since I asked the Game Warden and was told yes, I have zero worries.

I installed mine last night. Not knowing for sure if or what the requirements are for them I put my pole light in the mount. Then triangulated the approx. location where from one side I could only green (using the pole light as a guide)and the point where I only saw Red on the other. I then mounted them where they correspond accordingly. On my Nitro Z9 this ended up being 22" on each side from the center point of the bow. I mounted them just under the rub rail and spliced them into the Bow Light wires so I can still use the bow light if I have too.

The Anchor pole light in the back is a different story. By law it has to be visible from 360 deg. around the boat at all times. This means it has to be higher than the engine AND higher than any power pole. I was told someone on Conroe got a ticket because their light did not extend above the power pole and therefore was blocked at certain angles.

The back pole still has to be put in. They are referring to bow lights.

This topic came up before and someone that posted said he sent a communication to TPW and they responded to him that it is legal to exchange the bow pole for LED's.

From my understanding on the front led navigation lights. You can run them but you are also required to run your USCG approved pole light as well. I always run both on mine at all times and never had an issue. In you guys need some pm me or look for my post in the sale / trades threads. Subject is Led's for your boat and trailer.

This subject comes up several times a year. In 2012 I sent an E mail to the US Coast Guard on this very subject and got a response from the Head man himself.

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Cappel, Philip" <Philip.J.Cappel@uscg.mil>
To: papamark82@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, February 6, 2012 9:31 AM
Subject: FW: WEB QUEST






I am assuming that the BOW light you are referring to is a red and green combination light mounted on the bow. If this assumption is correct, there is no restriction on changing this combination light for individual red and green lights mounted on the rub rail as long as the lights are properly mounted and the overall white light remains one meter higher than the newly installed lights.



Phil Cappel

Chief, Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch (CG-54223)

Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, United States Coast Guard
Phone: (202) 372-1076 Fax: (202) 372-1908
E-mail: Philip.J.Cappel@uscg.mil

Web: www.uscgboating.org

I would think the stern light could be an led wrapped around the top of a power pole or talon, but just my opinion.