You may have missed the thread where I discussed a special report made by the USCG. Their limited ability to inspect and oversee compliance by boat manufacturers has resulted in the manufacturers losing focus on abiding by the rules. Market demand for a cool pimped-out look has driven them to forget about the rulebook in some areas. In recent years, an unhealthy trend of poor adherence to regulations has been developing. The report discussed audit findings where numerous deficiencies were noted and correction notices were given to manufacturers. Unfortunately, the USCG must count on self-policing by manufacturers as they can't inspect every production plant. Just because a production plant built it doesn't mean it passes USCG muster, and they have a problem with this. The CG was clear that finding violations on in-production hulls was all too common. They are working on cooperative outreach efforts to make manufacturers more aware of regulations and bring attention to compliance and correction of bad designs. Compliance comes ahead of "cool" in the priority scheme.

That same USCG concern has bubbled down to the individual owner level as well. To that end, the CG has issued the following safety alert:

USCG Safety Alert

tell ya what, you spend the 50.00 on the rule book and let me read it. https://abyc.site-ym.com/store/ViewProduct.aspx?id=1445145

any org. that would implement rules that a fed. agency enforces does not have a right to charge for said rules or the fed. agency has no right to enforce said rules due to the restrictive nature of obtaining said rules.


as for the dam lights, go out and look at your dam pole lights and post a picture of the certification label on them, not one you stuck there.

man, you guys just don't get it sometimes, if my bow led's exceed the requirement as set by the cg yet they don't like the fact that I do not have a stinkin rating label on them then let them ticket me and I will meet them in court with video/pnotos/the rules as written and beat them over the head with their own stupidity.


I have been on and owned boats for over 50 yrs. and have yet to see ANY agency (leo/gw/cg) look at a dam nav light on or off the water and I have been inspected many many times and asked to be quite a few.


use the lights you want to use and quit trying to tell everyone esle wth to do with their stuff. JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ


cheby/ford/dodge same chit.

now tell me how I am not safer with this lighting than 2 skinny poles with 1157 bulbs in them.


the anchor lights can be seen at least 5 miles on a clear night and over 1/2 mile in fog, we tried it out with other boats observing me.

Do the LED strips not hinder your vision at night a little while your running?

Wow, do you read or just assume and post? ITS NOT THE BULBS IN QUESTION, ITS THE PLACEMENT OF THE BULBS!!

The all-around light must be at least one meter above the red/green sidelights. Any white light placed in the rubrail does not meet this requirement.

The all-around light is just that - one that can be viewed in all 360 degrees from the boat. Lighting placed in the left and right rubrail only does not meet this particular requirement, and is therefore a second reason why your lighting is not legal.

No other lighting can interfere with the ability to observe required lighting, including the red/green sidelights. I can't be sure of color in your photos. If you have white lights near the bow, those (or others) may emit bright glare making it difficult for others to see the red/green lighting. This interference would also be a violation.

The red/green lights must be visible through a 225 degree arc centered on the bow. I do not know if the placement of your red/green lights accomplishes this, but it is unlikely. It would have to be achieved only by the angle of the spot on the rubrail where they are placed. It is unlikely that any light (not just LED) with no blinder will spontaneously limit itself to a particular viewing angle when inserted into a rubrail.