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How to choose LED navigation lights
Navigation lights are how a boat tells everyone else what it is, where it is headed and which side they are seeing. They are not decoration: at night or in poor visibility, they are the only thing that lets another skipper read your course and avoid a collision.
Switching to LED is one of the best electrical upgrades you can make. They draw about a tenth of the current, rarely burn out and handle vibration better. But not just any LED will do: it must meet the required light sectors, color and visible range.
Which lights your boat needs
The international collision regulations (COLREGs) set out which lights each vessel must show. In US inland waters the Inland Navigation Rules apply and differ slightly in places, so check with the US Coast Guard for your waters. The table below covers the most common recreational cases, but the exact requirements depend on length, speed and propulsion.
| Boat type | Typical lights |
|---|---|
| Power under 23 ft (7 m), up to 7 knots | All-round white light and, if practicable, sidelights |
| Power, 23 to 39 ft (7 to 12 m) | Sidelights (red and green) and all-round white, or masthead and stern |
| Power over 39 ft (12 m) | Sidelights, masthead and stern light |
| Sail under 65 ft (20 m) | Sidelights and stern light, or a tricolor at the masthead |
| At anchor | All-round white light where it can be seen best |
When a sailboat runs its engine it counts as a power-driven vessel and must show a masthead light, not the tricolor. Review the exceptions, for example for small day-use boats in certain areas, before deciding what to install.
Types of lights and what they do
- Sidelights: red to port and green to starboard. Each covers a 112.5 degree sector. They can be separate or a combined bi-color bow light.
- Stern light: white, facing aft, with a 135 degree sector.
- Masthead light: white, facing forward, 225 degree sector. Under power only.
- All-round light: white, 360 degrees. Serves as an anchor light and as a single light on small boats.
- Tricolor: combines sidelights and stern light in one fixture at the top of a sailboat's mast.
Minimum visible range
On boats under 39 ft (12 m), the masthead light should be visible at 2 nautical miles, sidelights at 1 mile, and the stern and all-round lights at 2 miles. For 39 to 65 ft (12 to 20 m), the masthead light rises to 3 miles and sidelights to 2. Check these figures in the listing: a cheap light without a stated range may fall short.
Certification and quality
For registered boats, lights should comply with the applicable rules and normally carry the relevant marine equipment approval. In the US, look for lights marked as meeting USCG requirements for your boat's size. Generic, low-cost, uncertified lights are suitable only for limited uses such as kayaks, tenders or as a backup.
- Look for UV-resistant ABS housing or 316 stainless steel.
- Check the ingress rating: IP65 or better on deck, IP67 in exposed spots.
- Choose 12 V, or dual 12/24 V if your boat uses it.
Installation and maintenance
Mount sidelights symmetrically with nothing blocking their sector, at a height that will not blind the helmsman. Use tinned marine wire and seal connections with heat-shrink terminals. Protect the circuit with a fuse and a switch panel that lets you turn each light on separately.
- Check connectors every winter and rinse off salt with fresh water.
- Always carry a spare light or a waterproof emergency flashlight.
- Test the circuit at the start of the season with the boat at the dock.
For complementary sound signals, see our selection of marine horns and the backup waterproof flashlight.
Common mistakes when buying
- Buying automotive or decorative lights that do not meet sector and color requirements.
- Swapping only the bulb for an LED in a fixture designed for incandescent: it can change color and sector.
- Mounting the bi-color light misaligned so the red sector is visible on the starboard side.
- Not checking that the light is visible from the intended angle and distance.
Warning: badly installed lights or lights of insufficient range leave you nearly invisible at night. If in doubt, install a certified unit and do not skimp on the anchor light.
Our team compares spec sheets, verified reviews and real-world criteria but does not physically test products. Use the models above as a starting point and always confirm colors, sectors, range and approvals on the listing.
Frequently asked questions
What navigation lights does a boat under 23 feet need?
If it is power-driven and not exceeding 7 knots, it can show one all-round white light and sidelights if practicable. A faster boat needs sidelights (red to port, green to starboard) plus an all-round white light, or masthead and stern lights.
What lights does a sailboat show under sail?
Sidelights and a stern light. On sailboats under 65 feet these can be combined into a single tricolor at the masthead. Under engine, it must show a masthead light and not use the tricolor.
What light do I show at anchor?
An all-round white light placed where it is most visible. Some small boats anchored outside traffic areas may be exempt, but showing one at night is always wise.
Can I replace incandescent bulbs with LED?
Technically yes, but an LED bulb in a fixture designed for incandescent can change the certified color or sector. The right approach is to replace the whole fixture with an LED unit designed and approved for that use.