[QUOTE=Jabbo;419293]Fellas I think that your lights only need to be on while you are underway...

Reply: Wrong....the law is at all times. Now, I don't always follow it, and just like others said, I may exceed the speed limit on the highway from time to time too.

[QUOTE=Jabbo;419293]Your bow lights have a red and green side, This allows other boaters to know which direction your boat is headed and on which side to pass.

Reply: True...

[QUOTE=Jabbo;419293]If you are fishing a bank (stationary) and your lights would indicate that a boater can pass on the right or left. You could be liable for their loss should they run aground etc..

Reply: Not true in a million years...

[QUOTE=Jabbo;419293]I know that sounds Dumb, but Maritime Law is much different than what a lot of us would think reasonable. I believe that if you are drift fishing your Stern light needs to be on which is reasonable but not your bow light. I know my boat's switch will allow operation of one or both.. That is the reason why.

Reply: Not true, but again, I do turn my lights off at night when fishing out of navigational areas. Usually I have a black light on and will flip my nav/anchor lights on as soon as I hear another boat. I'm sure that there is a reasonable chance that I'll get a ticket for it one day (similar to how I'm sure I'll get a ticket for speeding one day), but it is a choice I make and I practice safety as much as possible by turning them on when a boat is in earshot (which is a long way away)


[QUOTE=Jabbo;419293]As far as operation speed... The Government has not regulated a lot of our public waters and that's fine, but we as boaters need to know the laws and keep safe.

Reply: Agree...but you don't know the law. Now, you may consider me using the on/off method not being safe....we can agree to disagree.

[QUOTE=Jabbo;419293]If you can't see far enough in front of you to avoid an accident, or if you are going too fast for the conditions (Dark is a condition) this would be your fault regardless of whether that other person had lights on...

Reply: Agree that we are all responsible for our own craft, but the law would side with the guy doing the hitting...the guy without lights should have turned them on at some point. It's not that hard to figure out.