I just got off the lake at dark tonight and I was checked by the Game Warden. I came in at dark with my LED lights on. I have the normal red/green strips on the front and a LED white light wrapped in a 360 around my Talon on the starboard side.

I was informed that LED lights are not LEGAL. I ask how can they not be. His reply they are not Coast Guard approved. Each light has to be a solid light not a series of lights.

I thought well I know another GW and I will text him for a second opinion. He answer was the same. He said that is the rules of the Coast Guard and they enforce it that way.

So for all of you guys like myself that have LED strips or thinking of getting some LED Nav Lights, better do a solid light strips not a series of lights in a strip.

Our game wardens on Fork have an interesting take on many things. I wonder how many of the Pros that fished the TTBC were advised that their lights were not legal?

Did you get a ticket,..? What lake, and thanks for the heads up.

No ticket just a warning. Welsh. The second GW I texted was at Fork.

i thought some of the newer boats are coming with LEDs in the front. I found an alert addressing DIY type LED installs

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

The led lighting is legal as long as it is coast guard approved. We went around and around in circles with the issue down here in Austin.

Many of us put a bypass switch on the aftermarket lights. The positioning of many of the afternarket lights does not follow the coast guard rules in regard degrees from bow and visability.

If you search the TTZ forum on the topic you can read more than you ever wanted on the issue.

yep. New boats are being sold with non conforming lighting. I have one. And I can't imagine what my smart [censored] would say if I was confronted by a game warden about them. I'm sure I would talk myself into several citations.

I read the alert,..the concern seems to be with replacement lights,..
mine are not replacement, they are enhancement, my poles still work.
Happy Holidays

There is no way boat companies are selling boats with non-conforming, illegal nav lights.

They would have such an insane law-suit on their hands.

Looks like USCG is in the back pockets of the billion dollar traditional light producing companies. Follow the money...

you sir, TD, are very correct. its political hogwash. the aftermarket ones are brighter and can be seen better. hogwash, I say! You nailed it. follow the money

I don't get the whole led nav lights in the rub rail. Just put the little poles in and go fishing. Now you have a cut up rubrail that is gonna have to be repaired.

Won't be long and boats will need an annual inspection like motor vehicles. Lights will be the least of the problems. Haha

The USCG ruling is not just for color and visibility. The angle of visibility also helps you determine not only the direction another boat is moving. It also gives you an approximate position of the other boat to help you make ROW decisions. I agree with toadrustler. . Stick in the pole and hit the water. There's nothing to gain by going down the lake looking like a Christmas tree except blinding or confusing another boater on the water. But then a lot of guys aren't worried about that as long as they are "blingier" than the rest.