Boat Navigation Light Requirements: Rules by Vessel Size & Type

by: Tom Burden

Reviewed and updated: June 2026

Whether you're heading out after sunset or caught out past dark, having the right navigation lights isn't just the law — it's what keeps you and other boaters safe. This guide covers exactly which lights your boat is required to display, broken down by vessel size and type, plus the most common installation mistakes to avoid.

Boat Navigation Light Types
Basic Rules and Definitions
Navigation Lights Requirements Based on Vessel Size & Type
Common Navigation Light Installation Mistakes
Replacing Damaged Lights
Portable Lights for Dinghies, Canoes and Kayaks
FAQ

Vessel Type & Size	Required Lights
Powerboat under 12m (39.4')	Sidelights + all-round white light (substitutes for masthead + stern)
Powerboat 12m–50m	Sidelights + masthead light + stern light
Sailboat under sail, under 7m	Flashlight or lantern acceptable (if lights not practicable)
Sailboat under sail, 7m–20m	Sidelights + stern light (or tricolor light)
Sailboat under sail, over 20m	Sidelights + masthead light + stern light
Sailboat under power (any size)	Same as powerboat rules + daytime steaming cone
Rowboat / Kayak / Canoe	Flashlight or lantern to prevent collision (portable bi-color recommended)
Vessel at anchor (night)	All-round white light visible 2nm
Vessel at anchor (day)	Black anchor ball

Boat Navigation Light Types

Sidelights

Port sidelights are red, starboard sidelights are green and both shine from dead ahead to 112.5° aft on either side.

Sidelights are the most important lights for collision avoidance because their color tells another vessel which side of you they're looking at, and by extension, which way you're heading. If another boater sees your red light, they're looking at your port side; if they see green, they're looking at your starboard side. This is why the rules of the road give way to the vessel that sees a red light — they're crossing in front of a boat that has the right of way. A sidelight with a cracked or faded lens, or one painted over during a hull repaint, can shift the apparent color enough to cause a dangerous misread at a distance. Sidelights must be mounted at the same height on each side, low enough to stay below the masthead light but high enough to be visible over the bow rail and any forward-mounted gear. The most common sidelight failure on recreational boats is a fixture that has worked loose from vibration and rotated slightly, narrowing the effective viewing arc on one side without the boat owner noticing until another vessel reports not seeing it.

Stern Lights

Stern lights are white and shine aft and 67.5° forward on each side. (Thus, the sidelights and stern light create a full circle of light.)

The stern light exists so that a vessel overtaking you from behind — the most common nighttime collision scenario on busy waterways — can identify your heading and position before getting close enough for it to matter. Combined with the two sidelights, the three fixtures create unbroken 360° coverage around the vessel with no gaps: anyone approaching from any angle sees one of the three lights. On most outboard boats, the stern light is mounted on a removable pole at the transom, which is also the single most frequently damaged navigation light on recreational vessels. It gets used as a handhold climbing aboard from a swim platform, snapped off backing into a dock, or knocked loose by a wake while underway. Because it sits at the same height as outboard motors and swim ladders, check it specifically before any nighttime trip rather than assuming it survived the last time you hauled the boat.

All-Round Lights

All-round lights are white and shine through 360°.

An all-round white light serves two different legal purposes depending on context, which is a common source of confusion. Underway, on a powerboat under 12 meters, a single all-round white light can substitute for separate masthead and stern lights — this is the configuration most small runabouts and center consoles actually use, since it's simpler and cheaper to install than three separate fixtures. At anchor, that same type of light (or a dedicated anchor light) becomes the sole required light, since masthead and sidelights are not displayed while anchored. The practical implication: if your boat's underway all-round light is wired to the same switch as your running lights, it will illegally stay on while sidelights are also lit at anchor unless you have a separate anchor light circuit. Many boat owners discover this wiring issue only after being asked about it by a marina neighbor or a boarding officer, since the light "working" doesn't mean it's wired to the correct switch for the correct situation.

Masthead Lights

Masthead lights are white and shine from 112.5° on the port side through dead ahead to 112.5° on the starboard side for a total of 225° forward. They must be above the sidelights.

The masthead light's name is a holdover from sailing vessel terminology and causes confusion on powerboats, since it has nothing to do with a mast — the requirement is simply that it sits higher than the sidelights and is visible to vessels ahead of and to the sides of you. On a sailboat, it's typically mounted partway up the mast or on a forward pulpit; on a powerboat using the full three-light configuration instead of a single all-round light, it's usually mounted on a short pole at the bow or on the windshield frame. The visibility range requirement scales with vessel length: boats under 12 meters need only 2nm visibility, but vessels between 12 and 20 meters need the masthead light visible for 3nm, and larger vessels up to 50 meters need 5nm. This matters because a masthead light rated for the wrong distance — often an LED retrofit bulb swapped in without checking its candela rating against the required range — can be installed, working, and still non-compliant if it can't actually be seen at the legally required distance for your boat's size.

Basic Boat Navigation Light Rules

Recreational boats operating at night are required to display lights between sunset and sunrise
The lights you're required to have are based on the length and type of your boat
Sailboats under power are considered powerboats.
Sailboats with sails up during the day, but are also under power, must fly a black "steaming cone," with its point downward, where it can be seen. When under power they must follow the rules of the road for powerboats.

In this video, Chuck Hawley walks through the most common navigation light configurations boat owners ask about, including which lights can be legally combined into a single fixture, when a tricolor or bi-color light is an acceptable substitute for separate sidelights and stern light, and how to decide which setup makes sense for a given boat size and rig.

Navigation Lights Requirements Based on Vessel Size & Type

Navigation light requirements vary depending on a few key factors

Boat length
Boat type
Boat operation conditions

The graphic below gives a visual overview of boat light rules and we'll walk through specific light regulations as well.

Navigation Light Rules graphic comparing sailboats, boats at anchor and powerboats

Powerboats and Sailboats When Under Power

The basic rule is that side lights, a masthead light and a stern light are required. Permissible variations to this rule appear below. NOTE: Sailboats operating under engine power are considered power-driven and must follow the “Under Power” rules.

Powerboats that are less than 12m (39.4') may substitute a single all-round light for separate stern and masthead lights.
Powerboats and sailboats under power that are less than 20m (65.7') can substitute a single bi-color light for sidelights.

Sailboats When Under Sail

The basic rule is that sidelights and a stern light are required. Permissible variations to this rule appear below.

Sailboats less than 20m (65.7') can substitute a tricolor light for separate sidelights and stern light—or a bi-color light and a stern light may be substituted.
Sailboats less than 7m (23') shall, if practicable, exhibit lights as explained above. An acceptable substitute is to keep ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern (flashlight) that shows a white light that shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.
During the day, sailboats that are under power with their sails hoisted are required to display a motoring cone with its apex pointed down.

Oar-Driven and Paddled Vessels (Rowboats, Kayaks, Canoes)

Rowed or paddled vessels may exhibit the lights for a sailboat. An acceptable substitute is to keep ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern (flashlight) that shows a white light that shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

Vessels at Anchor

When anchored at night outside a designated anchorage, an all-round light visible for at least 2nm is required.
During the day, when anchored outside a designated anchorage, a black anchor ball must be displayed.

Minimum Visibility Range

Boats less than 12m (39.4'), sidelights must be visible for at least 1nm. All other lights must be visible for at least 2nm.
Boats less than 20m (65.7'), a masthead light must be visible for 3nm. All other lights must be visible for 2nm.
Boat over 20m (65.7') and less than 50m (164') must display a masthead light visible for 5nm. All other lights must be visible for 2nm.

Other Requirements—For Boats Greater Than 20m (65.7')

A copy of the Navigation Rules and Regulations must be kept on board at all times. See our selection of books.

Common Navigation Light Installation Mistakes

If your next weekend project is repairing broken navigation lights or upgrading to LEDs, watch this video first. Chuck Hawley points out some common mistakes boat owners make when installing navigation lights that will make your lights less visible and in some cases not compliant with USCG regulations.

The most common mistake Chuck covers is mounting height — a masthead or all-round light mounted too low gets blocked by the boat's own structure, cabin top, or crew standing on deck, cutting the visibility arc well below the required range. He also flags incorrect lens color (using a clear lens where a colored lens is required, or vice versa), loose or corroded wiring connections at the base of pole lights that cause intermittent failure, and mounting a bi-color or tricolor light slightly off-center, which throws off the precise angle boundaries between the red, green, and white sectors. Each of these issues can leave a light technically installed but legally non-compliant.

Replacing Damaged Lights

Pole lights are often damaged if they are improperly used as a handle when getting in the boat. Chuck Hawley discusses some options for replacement with mounting options to fit any boat. We also carry a variety of navigation lights accessories including replacement lenses, mounts and clips for many popular light manufacturers.

Chuck walks through the two most common replacement scenarios: a snapped or cracked pole light, and a fixed masthead or stern light with a failed bulb or corroded socket. For pole lights, he recommends checking the base mount type before ordering a replacement, since bases vary between bayonet-style, threaded, and bolt-down mounts, and an exact match avoids redrilling the deck. For fixed lights, he shows how to test whether the issue is the bulb, the socket, or the wiring before assuming the entire fixture needs replacement — often a corroded socket or a blown fuse is the real cause, not a failed light.

Portable Navigation Lights for Dinghies, Canoes and Kayaks

While smaller boats are allowed to use a flashlight or spotlight for collision avoidance, an inexpensive, portable bi-color light will keep you safer on the water. Chuck Hawley discusses some options.

Chuck compares clip-on bow lights, battery-powered all-round lanterns, and combination bi-color lights designed specifically for kayaks and small dinghies. The main tradeoff he highlights is visibility versus convenience: a simple white lantern satisfies the minimum legal requirement and is easiest to stow, but a dedicated bi-color light gives other boaters the same directional information — which side of you they're looking at — that larger vessels provide with sidelights, which matters most in narrow channels or crowded anchorages after dark.

Navigation Lights FAQ

Navigation lights are required for boats operating at night, between sunset and sunrise, to ensure visibility and avoid collisions.

Common types include sidelights (red and green), stern lights (white), masthead lights, and all-round lights. Each has specific visibility and placement requirements.

Powerboats need sidelights, a masthead light, and a stern light. Boats under 12m (39.4 feet) can substitute a single all-round light for separate masthead and stern lights.

Sailboats under sail need sidelights and a stern light. Sailboats under 20m can use a tricolor light or a combination of a bi-color light and stern light.

The light configurations themselves are nearly identical between the U.S. Inland Navigation Rules and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). The practical differences that matter most to recreational boaters are in sound signals and the specific rules for vessels meeting or crossing in narrow channels, which differ slightly between the two rule sets. U.S. Inland Rules apply on most lakes, rivers, and waters inside the demarcation lines published on NOAA nautical charts. International rules apply outside those lines, generally offshore. If you boat exclusively on inland lakes and rivers, Inland Rules govern you; if you regularly head offshore, you should be familiar with both.

Yes, sailboats under power are considered powerboats and must display the same lights as powerboats, including a masthead light. You also need to fly a black "steaming cone" during the day.

Small, non-motorized vessels may use a flashlight or lantern, but a portable bi-color light is recommended for better visibility.

The most frequent mistakes are mounting lights too low so the boat's own structure blocks the required visibility arc, using the wrong lens color, loose or corroded wiring connections at the base of pole lights, and bi-color or tricolor lights mounted slightly off-center so the red, green, and white sectors don't line up correctly.

Before replacing a pole light, check the base mount type — bayonet, threaded, or bolt-down — so the replacement fits without redrilling the deck. For a fixed light that isn't working, test the bulb, socket, and wiring individually before replacing the whole fixture, since a corroded socket or blown fuse is a common and inexpensive fix.

Yes, when anchored at night outside a designated anchorage, you must display an all-round white light. During the day, display a black anchor ball.

We're Here to Help!

West Marine offers everything you need for safe and enjoyable boating. Whether you're upgrading to LED lights, replacing damaged equipment, or outfitting a small vessel, our experts can help you find the perfect navigation lighting solutions. Let us assist you in making your time on the water worry-free! Click on our handy store locator to find a West Marine store near you.

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