Boat Navigation Lights

Navigation lights are not optional extras: they tell other vessels what you are and which way you are heading. We find and fix faults in masthead, steaming, side and stern lights, rewire tired circuits and fit LED replacements, at your berth between Brighton and Southampton.

The rules for which lights a boat must show are set by the collision regulations and depend on its size and type. Our part is the electrical side: making sure the right lights work, are supplied and switched correctly, and stay working in salt and spray.

Why navigation lights fail

Most failures are not the lamp. Mast cables chafe where they exit, deck plugs fill with water and corrode, and joints hidden in headlinings go green. A light that flickers when the boat moves usually has a loose or corroded connection somewhere between switch and fitting.

Masthead light repair

Faults aloft are often traced from the deck first, testing the cable and plug before anyone climbs. If the cable itself has failed, the mast may need to be down or someone sent up, so we will plan that with you and any rigger involved. Sometimes the simplest fix is a combined LED tricolour and anchor light with fewer wires.

LED navigation lights

LED fittings draw a fraction of the current of filament bulbs, which matters at anchor and on long passages. They must be the correct type for the position and boat size, not just bright. We check the replacement suits what the boat needs to show and that the wiring and switching are sound before fitting.

Supply, switching and checks

Each light circuit should have its own protection and a clearly labelled switch. After repairs we test every light with the engine off and running, and confirm the panel indicates what is actually lit.

Marine electrical installation · Boat rewiring · AIS installation

Before the season or a night passage

It is worth switching every navigation light on at the berth before a night passage, rather than discovering a dead sidelight in the dark. If one is out, check the bulb first; if it still fails, the fault is in the wiring and needs tracing safely.

Tricolour, anchor and deck-level lights

Sailing yachts often carry a masthead tricolour for use under sail, with deck-level sidelights and a stern light for motoring, plus an all-round anchor light. Each has its own switch position and the panel should make it impossible to show the wrong combination by accident. Where wiring has been altered over the years, we trace each circuit, label it and correct anything that lights the wrong fittings together. On motor boats the steaming light and all-round white are checked the same way. Deck-level fittings live in spray, so we seal connections and route cable to drain rather than collect water.

Frequently asked questions

Can you repair navigation lights without lowering the mast?

Often. Many faults are at deck level or in the plug. If the mast cable itself has failed we will discuss the options first.

Should I switch to LED navigation lights?

Usually it is a good upgrade for battery use, provided the fitting is the correct type for the boat and position.

Do you decide which lights my boat must show?

The requirement comes from the collision regulations for your boat's size and use. We wire and repair the lights; check the rules or ask your surveyor if unsure.

Why does my steaming light flicker?

Usually a loose or corroded connection in the mast or deck plug. It needs tracing rather than a new bulb.

Get your navigation lights sorted

Tell us which lights are affected and where the boat is, and we will arrange a visit and quote.