I disagree strongly!!! No one need to use running lights or continuous spotlights. Lights are great to show the bank while fishing or docking/loading but on the open water they cause more problems.
1st dont be on water you dont know after dark.
2nd there are 3 color lights on your boat for a reason coming around a corner seeing white lights one should assume that you are behind a vessel not coming up on VERY DANGEROUS with other lights on you cannot distingush red or green
3 dont be on water you dont know after dark
4 light travels like on rainy roads at night/with a lot of glare and blinds on coming boaters.
5 dont be on water you dont know after dark
6 Take a boating class and learn the hows and whys instead of assuming the laws should not apply to you because you are smarter than the many who do know and made them
7 for gods sake dont turn off your correct lights after dark