My Marquis has the little Vav. lights on the sides located almost
midships, and nothing on the bow. I really think that's an odd
arrangement but so be it, and I would think that they should actually
be located on the bow so the length of the boat can be juddged at
night.

a couple questions. would it be better to remove them and go with a
bow Nav light? or is it legal to run both green/red on bow and sides
at the same time?

I'm opting for putting a Nav. llight on the bow myself.

"Tim" wrote in message
...
My Marquis has the little Vav. lights on the sides located almost
midships, and nothing on the bow. I really think that's an odd
arrangement but so be it, and I would think that they should actually
be located on the bow so the length of the boat can be juddged at
night.

a couple questions. would it be better to remove them and go with a
bow Nav light? or is it legal to run both green/red on bow and sides
at the same time?

I'm opting for putting a Nav. llight on the bow myself.


No expert here, but I'm betting that you can only have one set that's
operating at a time. You could check the rules and/or get in touch with the
Coast Guard.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rotr_online.htm

--
Nom=de=Plume

On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:34:34 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

My Marquis has the little Vav. lights on the sides located almost
midships, and nothing on the bow. I really think that's an odd
arrangement but so be it, and I would think that they should actually
be located on the bow so the length of the boat can be juddged at
night.

a couple questions. would it be better to remove them and go with a
bow Nav light? or is it legal to run both green/red on bow and sides
at the same time?

I'm opting for putting a Nav. llight on the bow myself.

Actually having them on the sides gives other boats a better picture
of what they are dealing with as long as your projected angles of
visibility are more or less correct. I'd leave them alone.

The best nav light of all is a tri color located as high up as you can
get it, easy for sailboats, much more difficult for power boats. It
is very important to be seen. Height and brightness are your friends
in that respect.

On Mar 20, 11:04*pm, wrote:
On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:34:34 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

My Marquis has the little Vav. lights on the sides located almost
midships, and nothing on the bow. I really think that's an odd
arrangement but so be it, and I would think that they should actually
be located on the bow so the length of the boat can be juddged at
night.

a couple questions. would it be better to remove them and go with a
bow Nav light? or is it legal to run both green/red on bow and sides
at the same time?

I'm opting for putting a Nav. llight on the bow myself.

Your existing lights are perfectly legal. Most ships have their nav
lights mounted on the superstructure.

I would imagine so, but to me it doesn't make sense to only be able to
judge half the boats length by having a 23' boat look like it's only
12.

"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Mar 20, 11:04 pm, wrote:
On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:34:34 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

My Marquis has the little Vav. lights on the sides located almost
midships, and nothing on the bow. I really think that's an odd
arrangement but so be it, and I would think that they should actually
be located on the bow so the length of the boat can be juddged at
night.

a couple questions. would it be better to remove them and go with a
bow Nav light? or is it legal to run both green/red on bow and sides
at the same time?

I'm opting for putting a Nav. llight on the bow myself.

Your existing lights are perfectly legal. Most ships have their nav
lights mounted on the superstructure.

I would imagine so, but to me it doesn't make sense to only be able to
judge half the boats length by having a 23' boat look like it's only
12.

The boat's length has nothing to do with it. It's a matter of knowing the
orientation of the boat, it's rough heading, and what you need to do (or not
do) to avoid a collision. Your nav lights are perfectly suited for that
purpose.

--Mike

In article ,
says...

On Mar 20, 11:04*pm, wrote:
On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:34:34 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

My Marquis has the little Vav. lights on the sides located almost
midships, and nothing on the bow. I really think that's an odd
arrangement but so be it, and I would think that they should actually
be located on the bow so the length of the boat can be juddged at
night.

a couple questions. would it be better to remove them and go with a
bow Nav light? or is it legal to run both green/red on bow and sides
at the same time?

I'm opting for putting a Nav. llight on the bow myself.

Your existing lights are perfectly legal. Most ships have their nav
lights mounted on the superstructure.

I would imagine so, but to me it doesn't make sense to only be able to
judge half the boats length by having a 23' boat look like it's only
12.

I don't think it's as easy to judge length at night, despite where the lights
are located.

Scotty

--
For a great time, go here first... http://tinyurl.com/ygqxs5v

On Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:01:38 -0400, I am Tosk
wrote:

I would imagine so, but to me it doesn't make sense to only be able to
judge half the boats length by having a 23' boat look like it's only
12.

I don't think it's as easy to judge length at night, despite where the lights
are located.

Judging length is actually not that important except with very large
boats like freighters, or tug boats pulling a barge. One of the best
things a small boat can do to improve its visibility is to install a
radar reflector mounted as high off the water as possible.

http://www.defender.com/ProductDisplay?id=82874

Mounting can be as simple as suspending from a boat hook held in a
fishing rod holder.

The nav rules read that the red & green lights are to be visible from
"dead ahead to 2 points abaft the port and starboard beam" . So your
lights quailfy and are legal. You didn't mention a white light, but
that is to be visible in a 32 point arc. Yours is probably over the
windshield or at the stern.

Happy boating, Norm (boy, do I miss it)

On Mar 21, 9:39*am, (N.L. Eckert) wrote:
The nav rules read that the red & green lights are to be visible from
"dead ahead to *2 points abaft the port and starboard beam" . *So your
lights quailfy and are legal. *You didn't mention a white light, but
that is to be visible *in a *32 point arc. Yours is probably over the
windshield or at the stern.

Happy boating, *Norm *(boy, do I miss it)

Thanks for all the great advice. I suppose I was concerned abotu using
Nav. lights on the bow instead of the sides, is because that's what
I'm used to seeing.

My 27' Chris Craft had a bow light, and this is the first boat I've
owned that they were on the sides.

the light on the aft is not suspended like what you would think on a
pole, but is in the middle of the stern. It kind of reminds you of a
back up light if anything else.

On Mar 21, 6:29*am, W1TEF wrote:
On Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:34:34 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

My Marquis has the little Vav. lights on the sides located almost
midships, and nothing on the bow. I really think that's an odd
arrangement but so be it, and I would think that they should actually
be located on the bow so the length of the boat can be juddged at
night.

a couple questions. would it be better to remove them and go with a
bow Nav light? or is it legal to run both green/red on bow and sides
at the same time?

I'm opting for putting a Nav. llight on the bow myself.

Two sets of nav. lights ain't legal.

As to positioning, they are fine where they are. *Nav lights aren't
used to judge length, but position and bearing.

Pick up a copy of the Inland/International navigation rules or read
them online - you can also download a copy in PDF format I believe.

http://www.amazon.com/Navigation-Rul.../dp/0939837498

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rotr_online.htm

Thanks for those links, Tom. I will be doing some studying. I suppose
the reason I'm asking all these questions about Nav. Lights is I want
to update my boat to better standards and make it as safe as I can.