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The red and green lights on a boat are side lights and assist in determining the direction the boat is facing. Red lights are on the port, or left side, while green lights are on the starboard, or right side. If you see only one side light, you are looking at that side of the boat. If you see both lights at the same time, that means that the boat is either headed towards you or away from you. If the red light is to the right, the boat is coming towards you (Red-Right-Returning). If the green light is to the right, the boat is going away from you.

See the associated link for US Coast Guard Navigational Rules of the Road

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12y ago
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The lights help determine right of way at night. They have very little to with navigation. If you are approaching a boat at night and see a red light that means that vessel has right of way over your vessel. If you see a green light it means you have right of way. Boats must also be equipped with a stern light and mast head light when under power. This help you determine the direction of the boat.

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4y ago

red to port and green to starboard

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Q: What do red and green lights on a boat mean?
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What does red green and white lights on a boat mean at night?

At night, boats are supposed to display navigational lights; these are red, green, and white. The lights are screened/shielded so that each light is only visible from a certain range of directions.If you are on a boat and can see the red, green, and white navigational lights from another boat all at the same time, you should watch out, because that means that it is moving directly toward you and there is the possibility of a collision.


On a boat what does a red and green light mean at night?

At night, boats are supposed to display navigational lights; these are red, green, and white. The lights are screened/shielded so that each light is only visible from a certain range of directions.If you are on a boat and can see the red, green, and white navigational lights from another boat all at the same time, you should watch out, because that means that it is moving directly toward you and there is the possibility of a collision.


What does a red and green light mean at night on a boat?

At night, boats are supposed to display navigational lights; these are red, green, and white. The lights are screened/shielded so that each light is only visible from a certain range of directions.If you are on a boat and can see the red, green, and white navigational lights from another boat all at the same time, you should watch out, because that means that it is moving directly toward you and there is the possibility of a collision.


When you can only see a red and green light at night while operating a boat what does that mean?

If you are seeing both a red and green light at the same time from another boat, it means that either that boat is moving almost directly toward you, or something is wrong with the other boat's lights.


What does it mean when you only see red and green lights on another boat?

If you see both the red and green lights but not the white one, the boat is coming right for you and something's wrong because the white light has to be visible from any angle for a distance of two miles. <<>> If there's no white light it's a sailing boat. If you see red and green the boat is under sail and you are lined up with its bows. A small motor boat also needs a white light high up and visible all round.


You are operating a powerboat at night You see only red and green lights on another boat What do these lights tell you?

A sailing vessel is approaching head-on. You must give way. The lights that are seen from the front of a small boat are red and green. They signify the port and starboard sides of the ship. Red is for the port (left) side and green is the starboard (right) side.


What color light is on the stern of a boat?

Properly, it is a white light, and elevated higher than the red/green lights on the front of the boat.


You are operating a powerboat at night you see res and white lights on another boat what do these lights tell you?

seeing the Red & Green lights without knowing what they are telling you means you should not be the operator of a boat of any kind until you learn that they are Navigation lights and even if you are not operating a power boat, you still need to understand what they mean. I suggest you do a boat lic. course before you cause an accident.


You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red green and white lights on another boat. What do these lights tell you?

That a power driven ship is headed right for you. The green and red lights are the navigational side lanterns and the white light is the top light.


You are operating a powerboat at night. You see red green and white lights on another boat what do these lights tell you?

That a power driven ship is headed right for you. The green and red lights are the navigational side lanterns and the white light is the top light.


You are operating a powerboat at night You see red green and white lights on another boat What do these lights tell you?

That a power driven ship is headed right for you. The green and red lights are the navigational side lanterns and the white light is the top light.


You are operating a powerboat at night you see a red and white lights on another boat what do these lights tell you?

Another boat is approaching you. The red light is their port side and the green light is their starboard side. The port side is left.