Lights on the Water: Be Seen, Be Safe, and Avoid Confusion
Why Navigation Lights Matter
For many of us, some of the most enjoyable moments on Smith Mountain Lake come during the evening hours. Whether you’re heading home after fireworks, an evening fishing trip, or simply enjoying a sunset cruise, visibility changes quickly after dark.
Navigation lights are more than a legal requirement, they are a critical safety tool. Unlike automobiles, boats do not travel in marked lanes, and distances can be difficult to judge on the water at night. Proper navigation lights help other boaters determine your position, direction of travel, and whether they are approaching your port (left) side, starboard (right) side, or stern. They are equally important during periods of reduced visibility caused by rain, fog, or haze.
Simply put, navigation lights help prevent collisions by communicating information that may not otherwise be visible. When every boater displays the correct lights, everyone on the lake can make safer decisions.
Required Navigation Lights
Federal and Virginia law requires recreational boats that are underway to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility. The specific lighting configuration depends on the type and size of the vessel, but most recreational powerboats must display red and green bow or sidelights along with an elevated white all-around light. Sailboats and unpowered vessels have separate requirements depending on their size and mode of operation.
The important takeaway for most boaters is straightforward: make sure your required navigation lights are installed correctly, functioning properly, and visible before leaving the dock. Burned-out bulbs, damaged fixtures, or lights obscured by equipment can make your boat difficult for others to identify and avoid. A quick pre-departure light check can help ensure that you remain visible to everyone sharing the lake after dark.
When More Light Is Not Better
A common misconception is that additional lighting automatically improves safety. But some lights can create confusion or impair the ability of other boaters to interpret your vessel’s position and movement.
Virginia regulations specifically state that no other lights should be displayed if they impair the visibility of required navigation lights or interfere with the visibility of approaching vessels. Decorative LED strip lighting, bright floodlights, docking lights, spotlights, and other non-navigation lighting can create problems when used while underway by obscuring the required red, green, and white navigation lights that other boaters rely on.
Docking lights are a good example. They can be useful when maneuvering into a slip or approaching a dock at low speed, but they are not intended to serve as “headlights” while cruising around the lake. These lights reduce your own night vision as well as that of other boaters, making safe navigation more difficult. The goal is not to make your boat as bright as possible; the goal is to make your boat and its motion clearly identifiable.
Shoreline and Dock Lighting
Appropriate lighting on docks and shorelines can improve safety for property owners and visitors, but it should be designed with boaters in mind. Lights positioned near the water should not resemble navigation lights or aids to navigation. Red and green lights placed at the end of a dock, for example, could be mistaken for a vessel underway or for channel markers. Likewise, flashing lights or unusual color combinations may create confusion for boaters trying to navigate after dark.
When installing shoreline lighting, consider how it will appear from the water at night. Aim lights downward when possible, minimize glare, and avoid arrangements that could be mistaken for a moving vessel or navigational marker.
A well-lit dock can enhance safety and enjoyment along the shoreline. The key is ensuring that the lighting helps boaters rather than adding uncertainty to an already challenging nighttime environment.
