Running the boat at night

Ran across one of these yesterday on a charger boat. Thought it was cool. I'm curious how well it works.Night vision for boats

3500 bucks. They like those things. I watched the videos. Pretty cool, I'd like to see it in person.

dont care if its 10k it still wont show those floaters right under the waters surface. But still cool!

A spot light works great and is a hell of a lot cheaper

I've used night vision units on the water at night, they work pretty dang good because of light reflection off the water. A strong spotlight works if it is mounted under the gunwale so it shines flat ahead. But that isn't a legal light according to so Water Patrol officers.

I've heard of guys getting hit hard on pickwick and Wilson running lights. One guy pulled his ticket out. They got him for a spot light and his anchor light not being 24inchs above the cowling. It was mounted on top of the motor.

Pretty damn stupid giving a man a ticket for using a spotlight to see what he is running at. We ran GW boats with permanently mounted aircraft landing lights mounted under the bow, you could see a cigarette pack on the water at 100 yards. Marine police were just looking for a ticket to write when this started in the 80's.

So you cant run headlights on a boat at night? I dont understand?? Any white illumination light? And i thought the white stern light just had to be "unobstructed" above the motor?

Yeah, I'd like to see the actual regulation posted. I have a 7850 lumen LED light mounted on my bow and my stern light only clears the motor by about 6"

No other lights that may be mistaken for required navigation lights may be exhibited.

The all-round white light (or the masthead light) must be at least one meter (3.3 ft.) higher than the sidelights

Copied from there web site. I have been warned while running docking lights before.

I don't think they'll be mistaking my LED spot light for navigation lights, but that would most likely be a judgement call on their part. I'm gonna run keep running it. My stern light is only 36" tall, so that's cutting it real close on that part of the regs.

Tow boats run the rivers with a brazillion horsepower swiveling beacon that would blind the sun but we can't use headlights on our boats? That's insane.

There’s a pontoon boat on Jordan that has head
Ights. Looks like a 65 Buick on the water at night.

Bet my old astroglass looked like a pinto! ^^

I think elkhunter needs one of those

It’s illegal. He can be ticketed.

So no forward facing headlights? But you're allowed to run a boat at night? They're saying i'm just supposed to assume nothing is floating on the water and God is gonna protect me? Several times back in the day my headlights saved my lower unit because I was able to see floating debris in time to avoid. What is reasoning for no headlights?

Guess we can't gator hunt anymore?

Got stopped many years back for this at Riverfest in Gadsden. WP said that the approaching boats cannot see your running lights if you have docking/running lights on at the same level. I said ok and wen on my way but it really makes not sense if you observe the rules and pass on right like you are supposed to. However, had one person make the argument that how do I know you are coming at me of going away from me if the lights are on? I can see his point, but kind of useless to me.

Yeah, I know. Surprised it hasn't happened and stopped him.

Neither regs or law mentions anything about forward facing headlights being illegal. Cant be mistaken for a mast or stern light so as long as it doesnt obstruct running lights, I dont see a problem.

If you have forward facing lights. Who ever you meet can not see you lights. It's that simple. Just like folks that thinks it's cool to run a light bar on there truck. You can't see headlights from being blinded by light bar.

Just let the ole WP catch you running docking lights or blue strip lights down the side at night and see how much of a problem it will be.

Run forward facing lights on all our boats in Mobile delta for years, never had any Marine Police question it. Yall just got some mean water patrols.

Sir, that is an understatement up here now!