Perko Navigation Lights

Running lights are not optional after dark, and Perko has built marine navigation lights for more than a century. This collection covers bow sidelights, stern lights, masthead and all-round lights, fold-down and pole lights, plus the sockets, bulbs, and parts to keep them lit. The right setup depends on your boat length and the navigation rules, so start there before you pick fixtures.

Know what the rules require

Navigation light requirements follow the COLREGS and US Coast Guard rules, and they scale with boat length. Power-driven boats under about 12 meters generally need red and green sidelights, a masthead light, and a stern light, or in some cases an all-round white plus sidelights. The lights also have to be visible for a set distance, commonly one or two nautical miles depending on the fixture and boat size. Match the fixture ratings to your boat so you are legal and, more important, seen.

Fixed, fold-down, or pole lights

Fixed lights mount permanently and are simple and rugged. Fold-down and removable pole lights stow out of the way for trailering, fishing, or watersports, then pop up when you need them. Plug-in pole lights are popular on smaller boats and bass rigs where a permanent pole would be in the way. Pick the style that fits how you use the boat.

Match the light to its position

Each light has a specific arc and color it must show. Sidelights show red to port and green to starboard over a set arc, the stern light shows white aft, and a masthead or all-round white covers the rest. Mount each fixture where it shows the correct arc without being blocked by the hull, rails, or gear, since a blocked light is as bad as no light.

Bulbs and LED options

Many Perko lights use festoon or bayonet bulbs, and we stock the spare bulbs and socket assemblies to keep an older fixture going. LED bulbs and fixtures draw far less current and last longer, which matters on a small battery. Match the replacement bulb to the fixture before ordering.

Keep spares aboard

A burned-out nav light at dusk is a real problem, so carry a spare bulb that fits your fixtures. It is a cheap way to avoid running dark or cutting a trip short.

Not sure which lights your boat needs? Tell our crew your boat length and how you run, and we will match the fixtures, arcs, and bulbs so you meet the rules and stay visible.