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After market lights on boats. #11217771 11/11/15 04:23 AM
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BThomas Offline OP
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Guys may want to be careful on pimping your boats with non factor lighting.

USCG just issued this safety alert on November 4, 2015

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg545/alerts/1015.pdf

The U.S. Coast Guard is concerned about the sale and
availability of unapproved recreational and commercial
vessel navigation lights. Purchasers of such lighting
should be aware replacement lighting may be improper for
its application due to the failure by manufacturers to meet
technical certification requirements. Furthermore, technical
advances in marine lighting, such as the use of Light
Emitting Diodes (LEDs), rope lighting, underwater lighting,
and other various types of decorative lighting, may violate
navigation light provisions of the Nautical Rules of the
Road.

The requirements for all navigation lights aboard vessels are prescribed in
Rules 20, 21, 22 and Annex I of the Rules of the Road, which is the Convention
on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (72 COLREGS) or
the Inland Navigation Rules (33 CFR Subchapter E).

Specifications for lights vary depending upon the type of vessel but regardless of the light source (i.e., in-
candescent filament or LED):



[*] Recreational vessel and uninspected commercial vessel navigation lights must meet American
Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) standard A-16, in accordance with specifications within
33 CFR 183.810 and 46 CFR 25.10-3, respectively.

[*] Commercial inspected vessels must be outfitted with navigation lights that meet or exceed Under-
writers Laboratories standard UL 1104, as stated in the specifications of
46 CFR 111.75 -17.

Some manufacturers are producing and distributing navigation lights that do not meet the certification
requirements indicated above. These lights are typically less expensive, making them a tempting choice
for uniformed consumers. Use of lights that do not provide the proper chromaticity, luminous intensity, or
cut-off angles could result in the issuance of a notice of violation or potentially cause an accident.
Recreational boaters should ensure each purchased navigation light contains the following information on the light or its packaging:

USCG Approval 33 CFR 183.810
MEETS ABYC A-16 or equivalent
TESTED BY (an approved laboratory)
Name of the light manufacturer
Number of Model
Visibility of the light in nautical miles
Date on which the light was type-tested
Identification and specification of the bulb used in the compliance test.
Inspections and Compliance Directorate
LEDs under rub rail surrounding vessel.
SAFETY ALERT 10-15

Boaters should be concerned about installing decorative lighting on their boats in various places,
including underwater, on the rubrail, or just above the waterline. Care must be taken that these lights:

* cannot be mistaken for navigation lights,
* do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of approved and properly placed navigation lights,and * do not interfere with the operators ability to maintain a proper lookout.

Such circumstances may represent a violation of Rule 20. Rule 20 specifies that only those lights prescribed, or those that dont interfere with those prescribed, may be used. Haphazard installation of additional lighting must be avoided. A violation can occur if the installation of additional lights can be construed as a light required by the Rules for another vessel. For instance, blue underwater LED lights can appear to be flashing if there is any wave action, giving the appearance of a flashing blue light only authorized to be used by law enforcement vessels per 33 CFR 88.05.

Rule 21 provides the definitions for the masthead
light, sidelights, sternlight, towing light, all-round
lights or task lights, and flashing or special flashing
lights. Task lights are those lights which place the
vessel in a special condition (e.g., all-round red over
white over red for a vessel with restricted
maneuverability).

Rule 22 provides for the intensity requirements of each light, per vessel size, so that they may be seen at a minimum range. Annex I of the Rules, specifies the vertical and horizontal spacing of each of the required lights both in relation to the vessel hull and with respect to other navigation lights. Compliance with the provisions of Annex I ensures the light is properly mounted for its intended purpose. The proper installation of any light is critical to it being U.S. Coast Guard Approved, as required by Annex I (COLREGs, paragraph 14 and Inland, 33 CFR 84.20). The Coast Guard strongly recommends that:

boaters avoid purchase and installation of any light that does not present the required certification
data, and retailers advise their customers to purchase certified navigation lights.

This Safety Alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or
international safety, operational, or material requirement. This Alert has been developed by the U.S.
Coast Guards Headquarters Offices of Navigation Systems, Auxiliary and Boating Safety, and Investigations
and Casualty Analysis. For questions or concerns, please email cgnav@uscg.mil

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11217781 11/11/15 04:33 AM
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txmasterpo Offline
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I've never taken my bassboat to sea.....just saying


http://www.trccovers.com

"I am large, I contain multitudes."

Walt Whitman
Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11217787 11/11/15 04:36 AM
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BThomas Offline OP
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It's not just for sea vessels. just saying.

All boat manufactures must get approval when changing the location of lights.

Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: txmasterpo] #11217840 11/11/15 05:36 AM
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Falcon Native Offline
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Originally Posted By: txmasterpo
I've never taken my bassboat to sea.....just saying


Falcon Native

www.xcitebaits.com
Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11217844 11/11/15 05:41 AM
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Fritz423 Offline
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I ain't taking down my spinning disco ball for any John Law.


Wishin' I was fishin', and dreaming of beer
Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11217845 11/11/15 05:42 AM
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buton Offline
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Good info...but i still like my led lights... stir


Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11217919 11/11/15 12:15 PM
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Douglas J Offline
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thanks


#MFGA
Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: Falcon Native] #11217930 11/11/15 12:28 PM
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John175☮ Online Happy
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Originally Posted By: Falcon Native
Originally Posted By: txmasterpo
I've never taken my bassboat to sea.....just saying
IMO this notification/warning give the TPWD a green-light to start ticketing. Time will tell.


“Do not pray for easier lives. Pray to be stronger men.” -JFK
Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11217956 11/11/15 12:58 PM
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SteezMacQueen Online Happy
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You mean there is no "Pimp My Boat" shows allowed at the lake at 5am any longer? Lol.

I can't speak. I have blue deck lightning in my Nitro. LOTS OF IT TOO. I like it for after I launch, early in the morning, while waiting for take off in a tourney. It lights up the deck enough to check rods, reels, baits, find the net when allowed, find my kill switch, etc. I turn them off as soon as we take off. It makes it hard for me to see.

I bet between my four graphs and my deck lights that I could be seen from the space station. Lol.


Eat. Sleep. Fish.
Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11218036 11/11/15 01:44 PM
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JIM SR. Offline
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Good info, thanks.

Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11218101 11/11/15 02:17 PM
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BassSAT Offline
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Here we go with the Government making more rules,
I bet the guy's that make these rules don't
even own a boat...

Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BassSAT] #11218127 11/11/15 02:26 PM
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Txduckhunter Offline
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Originally Posted By: BassSAT
Here we go with the Government making more rules,
I bet the guy's that make these rules don't
even own a boat...


I didn't read this as a "more rule" situation. Looks more like a clarification of rules and a heads up that they may be cracking down on violations.

Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: SteezMacQueen] #11218156 11/11/15 02:36 PM
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etexbasser Offline
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Originally Posted By: SteezMacQueen
You mean there is no "Pimp My Boat" shows allowed at the lake at 5am any longer? Lol.

I can't speak. I have blue deck lightning in my Nitro. LOTS OF IT TOO. I like it for after I launch, early in the morning, while waiting for take off in a tourney. It lights up the deck enough to check rods, reels, baits, find the net when allowed, find my kill switch, etc. I turn them off as soon as we take off. It makes it hard for me to see.

I bet between my four graphs and my deck lights that I could be seen from the space station. Lol.


I wondered what that was I saw on google earth the other day!!!! hammer


Don Chumley
If I ain't fishing, I ain't happy.
But mostly I'm happy.
I love being retired, the check is in the mail.
Mt. 6:33
Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11218200 11/11/15 02:51 PM
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Re: After market lights on boats. [Re: BThomas] #11218344 11/11/15 03:55 PM
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Douglas J Offline
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I guess if your LED lights are not OEM they are not legal?


#MFGA
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