Your Canadian Boating License – The boating lights you need to know to pass the test

  • “Mast Light” means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of a pleasure craft that shows an uninterrupted light over an arc to the horizon of 225 degrees and mounted so that it shows the light from forward to 22.5 degrees behind the beam on either side of the pleasure craft.
  • “Sidelight” means a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5° and so constant as to show light from forward to 22.5° aft of the beam on their own side.
  • “Sternlight” means a white light placed almost practicably at the stern showing an uninterrupted light over an arc in the horizon at an angle of 135° and so constant as to show the light 67.5° from the starboard aft on each side of the pleasure craft.
  • “Global light” means light that exhibits uninterrupted light over a 360-degree arc of the horizon.
  • The operator of a mast-powered pleasure craft shall, from sunset to sunrise, display the forward mast light, side lights, and stern light.
  • The operator of a powered vehicle less than 12 meters in length can project, from sunset to sunrise, an all-over white light and side lights in place of the fore and fore masthead light and stern light.
  • The operator of a sailing vessel in operation shall, from sunset to sunrise, display side lights and a stern light.
  • The operator of a pleasure sailing boat of less than 20 meters in length may display, from sunset to sunrise, in place of side lights and a stern light, a side light and aft light in a single lantern carried on or near the top of the mast.
  • The operator of a pleasure sailing boat of less than 7 meters running shall, from sunset to sunrise, display, if practicable, a side and tail light, but if the operator cannot do so, he shall have ready at hand a lighted electric lamp or lantern displaying a white light which shall be displayed in sufficient time to prevent collision.
  • The operator of a pleasure boat under oars may display, from sunset to sunrise, side lights and a taillight, but if the operator is not so, he must have at hand a lighted electric lamp or lantern displaying a white light which must be shown in sufficient time to prevent collision.
  • The operator of a pleasure craft of less than 50 meters in length at anchor must display, from sunset to sunrise, an all-round white light in the fore part.

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