Transom light??

[jet]

Lets throw some ideas around about the platform light. What is the transom light for?? Light on the platform or for other boats to see you?? I feel a led conversion coming on or a total replacement coming on. I think I would rather get rid of that light all together and add a strip of led light or something?? You have any ideas floating around up there??

[dusty2221]

I replaced mine with red leds.

[jzelt]

Regulation would be for other boats to see you. I like the fact it shines light on the platform making it easier to see back there.

[jet]

Dusty, is that strip lighting or a festoon bulb? And what do yall think about the game warden liking these?? Leave the white light in there and add a 2nd light or do you think they care??

[wotan2525]

Stern light is only required if your mast-light is not viewable from the back.

[haugy]

Stern light is only required if your mast-light is not viewable from the back.

False.

Seeing the stern light and the anchor light lets other boats know which direction you are heading. Two white lights, one high and one low lets me know I'm coming up on the stern of a boat. Many large vessels only have one colored light on each side. So if you only see the green, and the anchor light........is it coming to your port side? Or leaving? Having the stern light allows you to know which direction it's heading.

Leave ALL navigation lights alone. Always make sure they are functioning.

[Jetlink]

So if you only see the green, and the anchor light........is it coming to your port side? Or leaving?

Oh, I know this one...I am approaching it on my starboard side with the boat slightly ahead of me and crossing right to left...that was easy...

[wotan2525]

False.

Seeing the stern light and the anchor light lets other boats know which direction you are heading. Two white lights, one high and one low lets me know I'm coming up on the stern of a boat. Many large vessels only have one colored light on each side. So if you only see the green, and the anchor light........is it coming to your port side? Or leaving? Having the stern light allows you to know which direction it's heading.

Leave ALL navigation lights alone. Always make sure they are functioning.

Stern lights AND mast-head lights are only REQUIRED on vessels over 12M. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...on-Light-Rules

Not disagreeing that it may be safer, but plenty of smaller power boats eschew the stern light for a high 360degree masthead light.

[ngavdba]

False.

Seeing the stern light and the anchor light lets other boats know which direction you are heading. Two white lights, one high and one low lets me know I'm coming up on the stern of a boat. Many large vessels only have one colored light on each side. So if you only see the green, and the anchor light........is it coming to your port side? Or leaving? Having the stern light allows you to know which direction it's heading.

Leave ALL navigation lights alone. Always make sure they are functioning.

In a perfect world this is fine. I only have one mast light and it meets compliance. I know because I got pulled over last year because it was not on at the official time of sunset.
I've always understood it is an either or if you have two and want both on. I now have two white transom LED lights which should do the job of letting someone know which direction I'm heading if I decide to use them.
Problem I find nowadays is they put the hull lights on these boats for whatever reason and most people think they are fine to run at night as you go down the lake. Drives me nuts that people are so stupid and use those instead of their nav lights while I'm blinded as they come at me, but I'm the one who gets pulled over for non compliance.