Learning to navigate at night

Some boaters may worry about being caught out after dark or having to do a trip during the night hours. If you never go out at night or really believe that you will never be caught out after dark, then perhaps you don’t need to worry about navigating at night. However, it’s a relatively easy skill to master with practice, and sometimes navigating at night is actually easier than in the day.
 
Practice first in an area where there are lighted aids to navigation, but not too many lights on shore behind the aids to obscure them when you look toward the shore from seaward. Your home area may be best if the conditions are right. (1) make a list of the characteristics of the lights in the area; (2) go out before sunset, look at all the familiar buoys and lights in daylight; (3) from a relatively stationary location (anchor or drive around slowly), observe the lights as they come on as it gets dark; (4) compare what you see to the chart, and note where shore lights may interfere with seeing the lights on the aids to navigation. Once you are familiar with the lights in your home area, you are ready to try new areas at dusk and then in the dark. Remember to turn on your boat’s navigation lights at sunset. Check them before you go out.