Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Navigation Lights

Navigation Lights (625 ILCS 45/4-2 and 45/4-8)

Vessel operators must make sure that their vessels are equipped with the proper navigation lights and use the lights during these conditions:

When away from the dock between sunset and sunrise
During periods of restricted visibility, such as fog or heavy rain

The different types of navigation lights are described in “Night Navigation” in Chapter 3. Don’t exhibit any other lights that may be mistaken for required navigation lights. Note: Blue or red flashing lights are restricted to law enforcement and emergency vessels only.

Figure 1: Navigation lights on power-driven vessels less than 20 meters

The federal requirements listed below for navigation lights differ depending on the type and size of your vessel. Illinois law requires boaters to comply with all federal lighting requirements. For requirements of larger vessels, see the U.S. Coast Guard’s U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation Rules.

Power-Driven Vessels Less Than 20 Meters Long When Underway

Vessels less than 20 meters (65.6 ft.) long must exhibit lights as shown in Figure 1. Remember, power-driven vessels include sailboats operating under power. The required lights are:

Red and green sidelights visible from a distance of at least two miles—or if less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) long, at least one mile—on a dark, clear night.
An all-round white light or both a masthead light and a sternlight. These lights must be visible from a distance of at least two miles on a dark, clear night. The all-round white light (or the masthead light) must be at least one meter (3.3 ft.) higher than the sidelights.

Unpowered Vessels When Underway

Unpowered vessels are sailboats or those that are paddled, poled, or rowed.

Navigation lights for unpowered vessels less than 20 meters long

Vessels less than 20 meters (65.6 ft.) long must exhibit the lights as shown in Figure 2:

Red and green sidelights visible from a distance of at least two miles—or if less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) long, at least one mile—on a dark, clear night
A sternlight visible from a distance of at least two miles.

Figure 3: Navigation lights on unpowered vessels less than 7 meters

Vessels less than 7 meters (23 ft.) long should:

If practical, exhibit the same lights as required for unpowered vessels less than 20 meters (65.6 ft.) in length.
If not practical, shine a white light from a lantern or flashlight as shown in Figure 3.

All Vessels When Not Underway

Between sunset and sunrise, all vessels are required to display a white light visible for one mile from all directions whenever they are anchored away from a dock or moored in an area other than a designated mooring area.

All-round white light