New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
Saf - Department of Safety
Subtitle Saf-C - Commissioner, Department of Safety
Chapter Saf-C 400 - WATERCRAFT SAFETY RULES
Part Saf-C 403 - EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Section Saf-C 403.15 - Lights on all Motorboats

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules Saf-C 403.15

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) All motorboats, including boats propelled by outboard motors, shall while under way, carry lights with distances of visibility on clear nights shown as follows:

(1) For class A and I motorboats:
a. A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon; and

b. A combined light on the fore part of the vessel and lower than the white light aft, showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam of their respective sides; and

(2) For class II and III motorboats:
a. A bright white light in the fore part of the vessel as near the stem as practicable, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 20 points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light 10 points on each side of the vessel, namely, from straight ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on either side;

b. A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon, and higher than the white light forward;

c. On the starboard side, a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from straight ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on the starboard side;

d. On the port side, a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass, so fixed as to throw the light from straight ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on the port side; and

e. The side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens of sufficient height and so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

(b) Each motorboat shall carry only the combined light or separate side lights as appropriate to its class. Additionally, one white light at the stern so constructed that it shall show an unbroken light over an area of the horizon of 12 points of the compass so fixed as to show the light 6 points from right aft on each side of the vessel.

(c) When propelled by both sail and machinery a motorboat shall carry the lights required by this section for a motorboat propelled by machinery only.

(d) Every white light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least 2 miles. Every colored light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least one mile. The word "visible" in this paragraph, when applied to lights, means visible on a dark night with clear atmosphere.

(e) Any motorboat may carry and exhibit the lights required by the federal requirements for preventing collisions at sea, 1960, International Rules of the Road, federal act of September 24, 1963, 33 USC 1051 - 1053, 1061 - 1094, 77 Stat. 194-210, as amended, in lieu of the lights required by this section.

#2351, eff 4-25-83; ss by #3010, eff 5-2-85; ss by #4562, eff 1-3-89; ss by #5936, INTERIM, eff 1-3-95, EXPIRES, 5-3-95 (formerly Saf-C 403.17); ss by #6005, eff 3-24-95; ss by #6092, eff 9-19-95, EXPIRED: 9-19-03

New. #8107, EMERGENCY, eff 6-22-04, EXPIRES: 12-19-04; ss and moved by #8172, eff 9-21-04 (from Saf-C 403.14); ss by #10293, eff 3-20-13

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