lighting regulations and power poles

[bob o]

since the power pole is the tallest point on your boat should your anchor light me mounted on the top if it? i don't have a power pole just wondering.

[dartag]

Talons have a pretty blue light the top.   Looked at a bunch of photos and didn't see a light on any of them.  Good question though.

[Manxfishing]

By law
the white 360 view light just needs to be higher then the side lights (red/green)
there's nothing about the highest point on the boat

https://www.boat-ed.com/michigan/studyGuide/Lights-Required-for-Power-Driven-Vessels-When-Underway/10102301_700054432

[thedude]

here's the one i made for my pole.

[t-bone]

That is awesome but isn't that going be submerged when deployed?

[Manxfishing]

Terry,

LED's are waterproof, Just need to keep the connection above the water line

[Waterfoul]

Law enforcement officers will tell you it needs to be higher than the red/green on the bow AND high enough to be seen from the front of the boat, despite what the regs may say.  I would agree with them... as long as you can see it from the front of the boat you should be fine.  The blue lights on top of the Talons do not qualify as navigation lights and in fact, I know some guys who cover them up so people can't tell when they are deployed... no sense in giving away your spots!!

[thedude]

yes it wouldn't work to use the power poles in the dark. not really a concern for me however. i could count on 1 hand the number of times that might have ever been an issue in the past, in the future, i've always got the original pole light, so this works 99% of the time (legally speaking)

[Rangerman]

Well here goes with both feet in Federal Law that Red and Green Nav lights are to show 112 degrees Port Red/Green Starboard to 22 degrees abaft beam What that says to Bass Bubba's any red and green made for night navigation is legal. Now this is where it get alittle sticky. Rear Light White must be show 360 degrees. Nothing in the law about the highest point. The highest point gets into vessels over 50 Gross Tons. No  light on Power Pole or Talon is required unless you run into a wet behind the ears DNR officers. Sure the pole does block some of the 360 but the light can still be seen anywhere within 360 degrees. Confused yet. The law is written that way. Guys about any factory set of navigation light comply. Had to learn all this red tape mess for Captains License. Most is it is common sense. For you guys up yonder you are required to carry flares on Navigable Water which includes LSC. Federal Law. I understand MI does not check for it but is Federal Law. Believe me you have NEVER had a ticket til you get a USCG Safety Violation. Fines start at about $500.00. See you boys again in June during the catch and release for another two weeks on LSC. Y'all got a great fishery please protect it. Y'all come on down to North Carolina in the winter our water does not get hard and the fish bite great all winter long and no closed season. Coarse we do catch an release most of the time except for the perch, Hybids and other stuff. We don't have many toothy fish so you can throw the high dollar baits