Which lights for bass boat?

[th365thli]

I am entertaining the idea of night fishing and I was curious what navigation lights do you guys use? I believe in California you need a bicolor bow light and a white aft light, with specific angle and visibility requirements. 

[A-Jay]

Light requirements usually depend on vessels size.

You can find out here ~ 

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/pages/28702/files/DBW_ABCs_of_Boating_2017.pdf#ReqEquip

Equiptment requirements begin on page 24

 

A-Jay

[Further North]

I run this on the bow: https://www.cabelas.com/product/Golight-reg-Gobee-Stanchion-Mount-Light/701634.uts

 

...standard white-light-on-a-post on the stern.

 

Why the Gobee?  It only takes one floating log, unnoticed hazzard, or cooler that fell off a pontoon to ruin your whole week...or longer.

[WRB]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Light requirements usually depend on vessels size.

You can find out here ~ 

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/pages/28702/files/DBW_ABCs_of_Boating_2017.pdf#ReqEquip

Equiptment requirements begin on page 24

 

A-Jay

Very informative link AJ

California is finally requiring boater operating cards phased in by age.

Tom

[Catt]

For running at night 

Brinkmann Max Million III

3,000,000 CP

 

At night one person operates the boat one handles the Q-beam!

[WRB]

Navigation lights are a universal federal requirement. Each state may have specific inland waterway regulations, none conflict with federal US Coast Guard requirements.

Most bass anglers have their own individual lightning systems from flood lights to underwater lights and everything inbetween.

White light draws bugs and takes longer to recover night vision. The stern white nav light and bow red/green lights must stay on in most California lakes when operating a boat at night and fishing. 

At a minimum you need nav lights. You should have a bright spot light to aid navigation, remember not to shine bright lights directly on other boaters as it blinds them. A cap clip on LED light is handy to locate stuff and retie lures. A landing net with a flash light attached is helpful. If you cast to shore targets your depth perception is very poor at night and some type of lumination is helpful. 

Black lights are popular to aid in seeing some types of fluorescent lines, I don't like them. Underwater lights can be usufull to indirectly add lighting.

Extra flash lights, batteries, anchor is handy, extra clothing, water and food.

Keep your tackle simple and extra rod stowed, do not fish alone and let someone know where you are going. Be familiar where you are going to fish.

Good luck,

Tom

 

[Further North]

36 minutes ago, Catt said:

For running at night 

Brinkmann Max Million III

3,000,000 CP

 

At night one person operates the boat one handles the Q-beam!

What if you fish by yourself?

[Catt]

40 minutes ago, Further North said:

What if you fish by yourself?

 

Not a problem ?

 

The issues I have with mounted lights.

Usually not strong enough, our boat lanes are marked with buoys every 150-200 yards apart & not always in straight line. With 3,000,000 CP I can pick up 3 sometimes 4 buoys at once.

 

Second they're to low to the water, ideally the higher up the better, with Max Million III I can hold it above my head giving me better visibility.

 

Thirdly, speed!

 

I can go from directly in front of to boat to directly behind in less than a second.

[th365thli]

Thanks for all the helpful links. I researched the California requirements before hand. I was more so looking for which brand or model of lights you guys like. There's a ton of options out there, not all of them are coast guard approved. 

17 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Not a problem ?

 

The issues I have with mounted lights.

Usually not strong enough, our boat lanes are marked with buoys every 150-200 yards apart & not always in straight line. With 3,000,000 CP I can pick up 3 sometimes 4 buoys at once.

 

Second they're to low to the water, ideally the higher up the better, with Max Million III I can hold it above my head giving me better visibility.

 

Thirdly, speed!

 

I can go from directly in front of to boat to directly behind in less than a second.

Catt, do you guys need stern lights as well? If so, what stern light do you use? 

[Catt]

44 minutes ago, th365thli said:

Catt, do you guys need stern lights as well? If so, what stern light do you use? 

 

Marine Raider™ LED All-Round 48" Stern Light

[th365thli]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Marine Raider™ LED All-Round 48" Stern Light

Thanks,

 

Turns out the spotlight you linked isn't bi-color, so the search is still on. 

[Catt]

2 minutes ago, th365thli said:

Thanks,

 

Turns out the spotlight you linked isn't bi-color, so the search is still on. 

 

Ya q-beam?

 

Why on earth ya want "bi-color"?

[th365thli]

Just now, Catt said:

 

Ya q-beam?

 

Why on earth ya want "bi-color"?

Because it's California law.

 

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/pages/28702/files/abcfulldoc.pdf

 

"Power Driven Vessels: A recreational motor-powered vessel underway is required to display a masthead light forward, red and green sidelights, and a sternlight, as indicated in Figure 1. A recreational powerboat under 39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) may instead display a 360o all-round sternlight and combination red and green sidelights (see Figure 2)."

[Catt]

@th365thli you're talking navigation lights while I'm talking q-beam spotlight.

[th365thli]

Sorry, misunderstanding, however I specifically mentioned in the OP about California requirements including bi-color and angle, even if I didn't specifically say "navigation" lights. I updated the OP to specify navigation lights. 

[Further North]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

Not a problem ?

 

The issues I have with mounted lights.

Usually not strong enough, our boat lanes are marked with buoys every 150-200 yards apart & not always in straight line. With 3,000,000 CP I can pick up 3 sometimes 4 buoys at once.

 

Second they're to low to the water, ideally the higher up the better, with Max Million III I can hold it above my head giving me better visibility.

 

Thirdly, speed!

 

I can go from directly in front of to boat to directly behind in less than a second.

The Gobee is like a set of headlights, you'd easily see enough buoys...if I can see a floating log...

 

It's high enough for me, probably about level with my eyes.

 

...I don't much care what's behind me ?

 

If I need to look back there, I've got a rechargeable 1500 lumen flashlight that gets 'er done.

 

I had Brinkmann lights for years (there's one floating 'round the garage as I type this), they also get it done...but I need one hand on the throttle, one on the wheel...and I don't have prehensile toes.

[WRB]

Perko makes a 12" storable bow bi-color (red/green) pole light and 36"-48" storable transum pole light. West Marine, BPS/Cabela's also have several models. 

Tom