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Bow Lights and CG #11624681 05/25/16 08:00 AM
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papamark Offline OP
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When I was getting ready to put mine on I sent an e mail to the USCG and this is there response






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

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Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: papamark] #11624685 05/25/16 08:13 AM
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nate king Offline
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they still need to be visible at 112.5 degrees. But what is your question here?


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Originally Posted By: Anchorman
I'm thinking Nate is probably right.
Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: papamark] #11624687 05/25/16 08:16 AM
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nate king Offline
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Powerboats-Separate or combination red and green sidelights, 112.5, visible 1 n.m., placed above hull at least 1 meter (3.3') below masthead light. Masthead: white, 225, visible 2 n.m., at least 1 meter above side lights. White stern light, 135, visible 2 n.m. OR, one all-round (360) white light (should also have sidelights).


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Originally Posted By: Anchorman
I'm thinking Nate is probably right.
Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: papamark] #11624692 05/25/16 08:22 AM
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?


If it was easy, everyone would do it
Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: papamark] #11625002 05/25/16 01:41 PM
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GW's on Austin have ticketed several boats with rail lights.


Okie by birth, Texan by choice.
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Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: T Bird] #11625041 05/25/16 01:57 PM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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Originally Posted By: T Bird
GW's on Austin have ticketed several boats with rail lights.


But it is only happening in Austin and if I'm not mistaken, it is one lake in particular. Ticketing doesn't mean that it is illegal, just that yhey believe it is

Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: papamark] #11625061 05/25/16 02:04 PM
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Bass72 Offline
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Game Wardens have not given any tickets on Lake Austin as far as I know. The Game Wardens on Austin have been awesome. APD has issued the tickets for lights. I was one of those that got a ticket from APD and went to court. They chose not to go before the judge ( I really wanted to go before the judge) and APD dropped my ticket. My lights were legal since I was at anchor. The officer said he will continue to give tickets to the boaters with LED. Turn on a disco light and light it up if you are at anchor. If running the lake use the CG approved lighting.



I would stick with only bow light that has the CG approved sticker on it. CG approved means that it meets all current nav rule regulations...

Please stay safe out there...Summer time means new boaters out there that don't know the rules


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Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: papamark] #11625120 05/25/16 02:20 PM
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Do you really think that manufacturers would be installing the lights in the rub rail if it weren't USCG approved? If the USCG says the lights are in compliance with their regs, then the State of Texas will too. Austin PD needs to understand the law before they try and enforce something that doesn't exist.


"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out" - Zachary Troy Schrah - a young man with vision far beyond his years.
Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: papamark] #11625590 05/25/16 05:08 PM
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beermill Offline
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Any rule or law that says the white light in the rear has to be on the starboard side?


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Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: fouzman] #11625635 05/25/16 05:21 PM
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Bass72 Offline
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Yes I do. The Gobee light is a light sold and even looks to be coast guard approved. It is not Coast Guard approved.


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Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: beermill] #11625731 05/25/16 05:54 PM
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Flippin-Out Offline
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Originally Posted By: beermill
Any rule or law that says the white light in the rear has to be on the starboard side?


No, there is not. There are some requirements as to location, but they are not specific to the starboard corner of the stern. I think that's a preferred location for manufacturers due to the location of wiring on the boat.

Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: fouzman] #11625761 05/25/16 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted By: fouzman
Do you really think that manufacturers would be installing the lights in the rub rail if it weren't USCG approved? If the USCG says the lights are in compliance with their regs, then the State of Texas will too. Austin PD needs to understand the law before they try and enforce something that doesn't exist.


Yes, boat manufacturers have installed lighting that is not in compliance with USCG regulations. The USCG audits routinely find manufacturers non-compliant. They say it's all too common. They are working on awareness programs as there are not enough inspectors to cover all manufacturing operations. Lighting one of THE most chronic issues the USCG has with manufacturers per a report that analyzed manufacturer plant audit data. In many cases, the issue was placement and visibility. A fixture that could be acceptable when installed in one way may not meet regulation when installed another way. For instance, some recessed fixtures were recessed too deeply to allow the proper arc of viewing angle. An LED strip placed on the side of a boat might be visible too far beyond 112.5 degrees as another example. (The CG allows a 5 degree swag in the point where the light disappears from view.)

Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: nate king] #11625786 05/25/16 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted By: nate king
they still need to be visible at 112.5 degrees. But what is your question here?


Exactly....must be visible TO 112.5 degrees, and just as importantly, NOT BEYOND 112.5 degrees. (Disclaimer: The USCG tech rules seem to indicate that in actual measurement, a lighting system can go past 112.5 degrees as long as visibility goes to zero in no more than 5 additional degrees.)

Placement of LED strip lights in a rubrail and getting them to meet the 0 to 112.5 degree rule with no type of blinder would seem very problematic. I suspect many are NOT correctly visible over the required arc, and only that arc.

Last edited by Flippin-Out; 05/25/16 06:12 PM.
Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: Flippin-Out] #11625794 05/25/16 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: Flippin-Out
Originally Posted By: fouzman
Do you really think that manufacturers would be installing the lights in the rub rail if it weren't USCG approved? If the USCG says the lights are in compliance with their regs, then the State of Texas will too. Austin PD needs to understand the law before they try and enforce something that doesn't exist.


Yes, boat manufacturers have installed lighting that is not in compliance with USCG regulations. The USCG audits routinely find manufacturers non-compliant. They say it's all too common. They are working on awareness programs as there are not enough inspectors to cover all manufacturing operations. Lighting one of THE most chronic issues the USCG has with manufacturers per a report that analyzed manufacturer plant audit data. In many cases, the issue was placement and visibility. A fixture that could be acceptable when installed in one way may not meet regulation when installed another way. For instance, some recessed fixtures were recessed too deeply to allow the proper arc of viewing angle. An LED strip placed on the side of a boat might be visible too far beyond 112.5 degrees as another example. (The CG allows a 5 degree swag in the point where the light disappears from view.)


I'm sure there have been instances of that flippin-out, but how widespread? I can't imagine the thousands of late model Skeeters, Basscats, Rangers etc. are not in compliance.


"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out" - Zachary Troy Schrah - a young man with vision far beyond his years.
Re: Bow Lights and CG [Re: papamark] #11625864 05/25/16 06:49 PM
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Don't try this [censored] on lake Austin, they will give you a ticket, just because they can. There rule is if it was not factory installed then it is not legit. Every other lake that I have been to, no issues. I have even been stopped by a few game wardens and they welcome the visibiltiy that these LEDS put off, because it allows you to be seen. Which is what is the most important thing, to be seen.

Last edited by SkeeterDon; 05/25/16 06:50 PM.

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