The light list volumes are available as a free download or in bound books for purchase at your local marine and charting supplier. A former coast guard light station built 34 miles off north carolinas coast is being put up for auction by the charlotte man who turned it into the worlds strangest bed and breakfast. Uscg issues alert on uncertified nav lights practical sailor. The first step in determining if your vessel is compliant with lighting regulations is to consult a copy of uscg comdtinst m16672. Have a courtesy vessel safety check at your boat both the u. The united states coast guard sets minimum standards for recreational vessels and associated safety equipment. The hailing port must include a place and a state, territory, or possession of in the united states. In the alert, the coast guard said light specifications vary depending on the type of vessel. With over 250 store locations, 100,000 products in stock, and knowledgeable associates, trust west marine for your boating, sailing, fishing, or paddling needs. No led lights for your bass boat bass angler magazine.
So when it comes to lights you will follow the pleasure boat light configuration according to your length. It maintains the same format and provides additional and updated content. The term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with search and rescue functions and lacking any law enforcement powers. Motorboats 4065 feet long must use lights shown in figure 1 or 2. According to the uscg, theres a growing number of navigation lights.
A mast head light, stern light, and running lights on the port and starboard are the most common for the size boats ive seen out there. State and local agencies may have additional rules or more restrictive versions of the federal ones. A few years ago the coast guard changed the rules on navigation lights. In short, dont worry, this study guide will not point you in. On may 24, 1999, with the publication of the interim final rule in the federal register 64 fr 28054, the coast guard revised the rules for of practice, procedure, and evidence for administrative proceedings by consolidating the rules for suspension and revocation and class ii administrative civil penalties in 33 cfr part 20. Prior to the current rule, navigation lights on recreational boats had to meet the requirements of the navigation rules but did not have to be certified by the light manufacturer. 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. In addition, uscg regulations and industry standards require navigational lighting aboard vessels to adhere to abyc standard a16 in. Aquasignal portable lights require 4 aa batteries and are for use on. Rowing sailboats and powerboats under 7m and under 7 knots can su bstitute a white lantern in place of the required. List of equipment of the united states coast guard wikipedia.
The inland rules in this book replace the old inland rules, western rivers rules, great lakes rules, their respective pilot rules and interpretive rules, and parts of the motorboat act of 1940. These are the minimum standards any seafarer should meet. The coast guard requirements for all boats on the water should be considered a beginning point when equipping your boat for the sea. Subchapter m regulations united states coast guard. Navigation regulations found in title 33 of the code of federal regulations are contained in this handbook. For some categories of equipment and materials, coast guard approvals may be. Coast guard auxiliary national atoncu study guide 5 3 g. Sailboats under sail must have navigation lights shown in figures 4, 5, or 6. Gnab6 phone 2021 2670981 united states coast guard foreword this pamphlet, safety standards for backyard boat builders, comtdpub p16761. Pier protection cells, planks, or coatings missing, steel sheathing protruding, cell damage. These are the same questions you will encounter in your uscg licensing exam. The vessel must have the official number permanently affixed in blocktype arabic numerals of not less than 3 inches in height, preceded by the letters no.
Seasources merchant mariner exam question downloads. The united states coast guard sets minimum standards for. Over the last 10 years we have collected over 20,000 questions released directly by the united states coast guard. A coast guard or coastguard, is a maritime security organization of a particular country. Three handheld or floating orange smoke signals and one electric distress light. Learn what type of navigation lighting is required on boats. United states coast guard requirements for recreational. A 360degree white allaround masthead light with twomile visibility normally fulfills this requirement for most pleasure boats, but familiarize yourself with and follow the rule. Lights which may be displayed for public safety activities are clearly defined in annex v of the inland navigation rules 33 cfr 88. Coast guard auxiliary and the united states power squadrons have certified vessel examiners who will perform a free vessel safety check vsc at your boat, at a time of mutual convenience.
Of transportation united states coast guard staff symbol. Motorboats less than 40 feet long must have navigation lights shown in figures 1, 2, or 3. Not all coast guard approvals are listed in this database. The coast guard has contracted with private companies for a nationwide recreational boat factory visit program rbfv. Rule 35l the following vessels shall not be required to sound signals as prescribed in paragraph g of this rule when anchored in a special anchorage area designated by the coast guard. Navigation lights that claim to comply with the navigation rules may meet the vertical visibility requirements for a power driven vessel, but they. Three combinations daynight red flares that can be handheld, meteor, or.
Legal status of blue accent lighting and noncompliant navigation. Us coast guard is promoting boat safety with inspections. Coast guard minimum equipment requirements vary with the size of your boat, type of propulsion, whether operated at night or in periods of reduced visibility, and, in some cases, the body of water on which it is used. The coast guard has signed a multiyear contract for 180 response boat medium rbm boats that were delivered starting in 2008 to replace the 41. This database contains searchable listings of equipment and materials approved or certified by the us coast guard for use on commercial vessels and recreational boats. Coast guard is concerned about the sale and availability of unapproved recreational and commercial vessel navigation lights. Rules of the road quick reference united states coast guard. Sailboats under power are considered powerboats and must follow under power rules. Its up to wardens to enforce uscg regulations whether boats are. West marine is committed to outfitting your life on the water. When it comes to being anchored all you need is an all around white light. Yet, the prudent skipper will go a great deal further to equip himself and his craft with equipment designed to provide for the safety of the crew. Navigation light rules boat parts, sailing, kayaks. Us coast guard fulfilling their duty serving under us code jurisdiction.
Those looking for a comprehensive 100 ton masters license practice test will especially appreciate the depth of questions available. Government printing office, and are available in any boating supply store. Coast guard safety requirements for boats 1626 feet. Uscg navigation lights requirements boating magazine. United states coast guard electrical requirements for. That said, for the same price i would purchase and have purchased the full navigation rules and regulations handbook, us coast guard with the rules, explanations and data. The white masthead light must cover 225 degrees, be 1 meter above the sidelights and be visible for 2 nautical miles. Recreational vessels and vessels carrying 6 or less passengers for hire may be covered by manufacturer standards. Crewmembers from coast guard stations charleston and georgetown secure 45foot response boats during hurricane dorian preparations in charleston, south carolina, sept. Legal regulations on kayak, canoe, and sup lighting yakgear.
Find information and links of the uscg boating saftey partners and other related resources that are important to boating safely and responsibly. Raynor maritime services navigation rules practice test. Boats carrying passengers for hire have additional equipment requirements. So, if you have this gear and follow these rules you should be legal under uscg regulations. Readers should not use this document as a compliance guideline and check the prime source the regulations. Coast guard approved, as required by annex i colregs, paragraph 14 and inland, 33 cfr 84. Occasionally, provisions were added to cope with the increasing complexities of water transportation. Under california state law, every child under years of age must wear a u.
Under inland navigation rules, a highintensity white light flashing at. Vessels may only be identified as either a state registered vessel or a federally documented vessel not both. The proper installation of any light is critical to it being u. One orange distress flag and one electric distress light. Many of the old navigation rules were originally enacted in the last century. The basics of marine radio use to use your vhf, turn it on and pick a channel, set the squelch to the point where you dont hear any white noise, and begin talking. Not coast guard certified, but meets lighting requirements for boats under 12 meters 39. Coast guard has just released the 2015 light lists in pdf format for all volumes except volume v volume v is only published in even years. When you save as many lives and patrol as much coastline as the uscg you learn a thing or two about navigation. Boat documentation requirements display of vessel registration numbers and documented vessel name and hailing port. The following gear is required by the united states coast guard uscg. When a vessel becomes federally documented, the state registration numbers and letters must be removed.
It has found that some sold for navigation purposes dont meet regulations, and other aesthetic lighting products such as led ropes and underwater lights may go against the light provisions of the. The inland rules have specific requirements as to anchor lights. Free 2015 coast guard light list boating safety tips. Every boat owner should have a copy, but it is mandatory that a copy be kept aboard all vessels over 12 meters 39. Remember, on a sup board youre about the most vulnerable person on the water.
Uscg minimum equipment requirements for recreational. Difference between navigation lights on power driven. Larger boats are required to use lights with a higher visibility range and cannot combine sidelights into a single bicolor light. The following items are often causes for the issuance of citations by u. This paper is a summary of the coast guard regulations for electrical systems on recreational boats and those carrying less than 6 passengers for hire. Updated to lnm and ntm 718 paradise cay version paperback september 18, 2014.
Eventually, the navigation rules for united states inland waterways became. While we expect coast guard regulations and the laws in place to get a little more developed for kayaks, canoes, and sups in the future, all we can do for now is stay as safe as possible while, at a minimum. Coast guard photo by petty officer 2nd class michael himes. That rule is quoted below, as is the uscg site reference. For larger boats, the sidelights must be visible for 2 nautical miles and the masthead light for 3 nautical miles. Coast guardapproved life jacket while the boat is underway unless every child under age is restrained by a harness tethered to the sailboat. The international regulations for preventing collisions at sea 1972 colregs are published by the international maritime organization imo, and set out, among other things, the rules of the road or navigation rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at.
This video is about boarded by the coast guard and big seas. Good basic list of the rules and probably sufficient for a uscg inspection. Coast guard specifications, standards, and regulations for performance, construction, or. Massachusetts boating laws massachusetts marine trades.
Safe speed quick reference abbreviated guide to navigation rules of the road based on the navigation rules international inland commandant instruction m16672. However, the us coast guard wants boaters to know that some of the new lights arent up to snuff and could increase the chances of a collision. The white stern light must cover 5 degrees and be visible for 2 nautical miles, or you can substitute one 360degree allaround white light. Compliance with the provisions of annex i ensures the light is properly mounted for its intended purpose. Monitor channel 16 when you are not actively in conversation with someone else. To meet these standards, required equipment must be u. Pile or dolphin cluster broken off, leaning into channel, debris protruding from cluster, or top of cluster wrapped with other than wire cable. Rules of the road navigation rules international inland 72 colregs this handbook supersedes commandant instruction m16672.
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