Light bars on boats Illegal?

**Roverlord off road spares** · 27th January 2018, 11:16 AM

Seems light bars fitted to the front of the bow of a boat is illegal, so a boater found out the other day. Vic water police pinged him. Although I don't have the full specific details ,but he claims it is illegal to fit them.
Night time boating navigation is by the use of lights, you need to be able to see channel markers and other boat traffic and dark conditions allow you to see the lighting. It determines what other boat trafiic is doing, whether it is approaching or anchored etc ( Well in theory, lots don't use their nav lights according to regs or sit in the dark anchored in stealth mode - Dangerous)
Some channel markers have no lights so navigating through them requires a light shone on them to ensure you don't run into them. ( for those that don't have mapping and a GPS, although one should not reply on them alone)
So I was thinking you can have a search light on a boat, so what is wrong with having a light bar to momentarily flashing it on to check a buoyage. I can see the annoyance if it was used as headlights and left on all the time blinding other boaters who rely on the darkness to see navigation markers.

**rangieman** · 27th January 2018, 11:31 AM

Sounds like another loop hole that has created another form of revenue raising

Why not send the police marine board or what ever the thieving dogs call them selves a email on the exact legal requirements on forward facing lighting.

**rangieman** · 27th January 2018, 11:42 AM

Here the Marine Safety Act 2010
Good Luck

Victorian Law Today Act

**trout1105** · 27th January 2018, 12:00 PM

Spotlights and lightbars on boats are not the problem.
As on cars and trucks if these are going to affect another road/water user they need to be turned off.
Personally I think that the use of a lightbar enhances the safety of a boat for night navigation But their misuse Can be hazardous to other boaters.
I don't think that the use of a lightbar/spotlight should be prohibited on a boat But their use should be policed so that other boaters are not adversely affected by them.

**Lotz-A-Landies** · 27th January 2018, 04:38 PM

Up here on Oxford Street we had a Maude Boat and there were lights on her in every direction!

I don't think she ever got a ticket off the Police water or otherwise.

**Homestar** · 27th January 2018, 04:48 PM

While correct and careful use of a lightbar on a boat could be ok, how many spankers out there would just leave them on blaring away if they were allowed to or use them in any number of situations where it's not required or dangerous? A searchlight is all that is needed for navigation at night - it's not like you're doing 100KPH approaching a dock or the bank like in a car is it? A poorly used lightbar would be a huge hazard to navigation and annoyance to other boaters - correct decision IMO. Nip this in the bud before everyone thinks it's ok to have one, absolutely no need.

**Roverlord off road spares** · 28th January 2018, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by Homestar

While correct and careful use of a lightbar on a boat could be ok, how many spankers out there would just leave them on blaring away if they were allowed to or use them in any number of situations where it's not required or dangerous? A searchlight is all that is needed for navigation at night - it's not like you're doing 100KPH approaching a dock or the bank like in a car is it? A poorly used lightbar would be a huge hazard to navigation and annoyance to other boaters - correct decision IMO. Nip this in the bud before everyone thinks it's ok to have one, absolutely no need.

Agree,

**CraigE** · 28th January 2018, 02:33 AM

But yet the water Police can cruise around with their brighter than the sun search lights on at you and not turn them off on approach or even when alongside.
I suppose it should depend on the brightness too eg I cant see the issue with say a 30w light but a 200w might be a bit different.

**jx2mad** · 28th January 2018, 11:14 AM

As an aside I recently saw a fairly large boat which had red and green glowsticks taped to the bow rails

**Roverlord off road spares** · 28th January 2018, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by CraigE

But yet the water Police can cruise around with their brighter than the sun search lights on at you and not turn them off on approach or even when alongside.
I suppose it should depend on the brightness too eg I cant see the issue with say a 30w light but a 200w might be a bit different.

Probably leave the lights on so they can see contraband, undersized fish, excessive bag limits being thrown overboard as they approach.
I wish there was more water police presence out there though, I can tell you many boats are out there at night that don't display any lights at all, anchored and fishing in stealth mode, I don't speed at night as it's hard to see in Port Phillip bay due to city back lights. I there have been occasions where I am traveling in the dark and at the last minute a boat that is anchored in front of me will turn on a light. They are accidents waiting to happen. I feel these days you need to buy a radar to see these morons.

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