Legal for flood lights on boat?

[homerun]

Is is legal to have and use flood lights(car lights) mounted on front of boat?

[Jordan]

yes

[toodeep]

but not a pontoon during contraband days got a ticket a few years back

[Dranrab]

From the inland Navigation Rules.

PART C - LIGHTS AND SHAPES Rule 20 - Application

(a) Rules in this part shall be complied with in all weathers.

(b) The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights which cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out.

(c) The lights prescribed by these Rules shall, if carried, also be exhibited from sunrise to sunset in restricted visibility and may be exhibited in all other circumstances when it is deemed necessary.

(d) The Rules concerning shapes shall be complied with by day.

(e) The lights and shapes specified in these Rules shall comply with the provisions of Annex I [to these Regulations | of these Rules].

Pay particular attention to B. It is likely that the flood lights would keep other boaters from seeing your red and green sidelights. In that case NO is the answer. If they obscure your ability to see other boats, then NO is the answer.

Why do you need or want flood lights on the front of your boat?

[Gerald]

[quote
Why do you need or want flood lights on the front of your boat?[/quote]

To see logs and stumps while running.

[keakar]

they would be legal to use off and on but not continuously as mentioned above because they block people from seeing your navigation lights as well as seeing where they are going. so in short, not with oncoming traffic and not left on all the time. use it as you would use a portable spot like, turn it on for a few seconds at a time but keep it off until you need it, you cant leave them on as headlights.

also they don't work because the water acts as a mirror and reflects the light up and across the water straight in front of you rather then shine into it so you would need to mount then at a 45* angle downward to light up whats in the water