How Do You Wire Bow & Stern Lights?
Boating at night means that, if a boat is less than 65.6 feet long and is not a rowboat, it must display navigation lights. On recreational boats, this means a combination (or bi-color) bow light with a red lens to port, a green lens to starboard and a white stern light. Although all manufactured boats come so equipped, the do-it-yourself sailor will have to wire these lights into his boat’s electrical system in a manner that will pass muster should his boat be inspected. They should also be wired in a way that will alert the sailor should the bulbs burn out, so that they can be quickly replaced. Drill mounting and wiring holes for the bow light unit, using the template provided with the unit to mark the holes on the hull of the boat. Repeat the procedure for the stern light. Neither the bow nor stern lights can be obscured by any part of the boat, and they should be as far forward (for the bow light) and as a far aft (for the stern light) as practical. Decide on the route the wiring f
