Collection: Side lights

Side lights: identifying port and starboard while sailing

Side lights indicate the orientation of a boat at night or in reduced visibility. Red marks port, green marks starboard. Their role is simple but essential: allowing other vessels to understand your relative heading and apply the Rules of the Road. Correct installation depends on both the chosen light and its angle, position, and the absence of obstruction.

This collection includes Mantagua side lights for sailboats or powerboats: red port lights, green starboard lights, bicolors, flat, vertical, horizontal formats, Navislim, Tiny, and racing models. It is part of the Navigation lights family.

Red, green, bicolor: understanding the functions

• Port red: red side light visible within the regulated sector on the left side of the boat.
• Starboard green: green side light visible within the corresponding sector on the right side of the boat.
• Bicolor red/green: a single housing combines both sectors, often mounted on the forward axis of the boat.
• 112.5°: standard angle for a regulated side light, from the bow to the stern on each side.
• 180° or 360°: some catalog products indicate a wider diffusion angle; verify the use and installation to remain consistent with the intended function.

Available Mantagua ranges

• Navislim horizontal black green 2 MN and Navislim horizontal black red 2 MN: compact black-housing lights for boats under 20 m.
• Navislim horizontal white green and Navislim horizontal white red: same mounting logic with white housing.
• Tiny lateral starboard green 1 MN and Tiny lateral port red 1 MN: compact formats for boats under 12 m.
• Flat deck starboard green 3 MN and flat deck port red 3 MN: deck lights with greater range, suited for demanding installations.
• Horizontal racing bicolor 2 MN, horizontal racing port red and vertical racing starboard green: racing-oriented solutions and specific installations.
• Lateral bicolor 2 MN racing, port red 2 MN lateral with black cover and starboard green 2 MN lateral with black cover: compact resin lights for lateral installations.

Choosing based on boat size

The required luminous range depends on the boat size and usage. 1 MN lights are generally associated with small boats, while 2 MN or 3 MN lights suit larger boats or installations requiring greater visibility margin. Always verify the regulations applicable to the vessel, its length, and its navigation area.

• Boats under 12 m: compact 1 MN or 2 MN formats depending on need and installation.
• Boats under 20 m: common 2 MN lights for side lights, with separate red/green or bicolor options.
• Racing use: prioritize lightweight, reliable, low-consumption lights well-protected from breaking waves, verifying the racing rules.
• Exposed installation: IP67 housing, resin, UV-resistant treatment, and watertight cable entry become priorities.

Installation: angle is as important as the light

A poorly oriented side light can become dangerous: too visible forward, obscured by a cockpit, covered by a sail, or confused with the other side. Installation must respect port/starboard symmetry, beam orientation, and useful height. On a bicolor, the boat’s axis must align perfectly with the red and green sectors.

Horizontal lights are installed differently from vertical lights or flat deck lights. Before drilling, verify the support, tilt, cable routing, visibility from the bow, and mechanical protection. On a sailboat, the sheet, cockpit, bowsprit, or spinnaker can temporarily obscure a light if the location is poorly chosen.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up port and starboard: red on the left, green on the right when facing forward.
• Choosing the correct color but with the wrong angle or installation orientation.
• Installing a light visible in harbor but obscured while sailing by rigging, cockpit, or sails.
• Mixing a 180° or 360° light with a use where a 112.5° sector is expected without verifying installation compliance.
• Neglecting watertight cable entry and electrical circuit protection.

Skysat advice

For side lights, we first consider regulatory compliance: red port, green starboard, sector, range, then only the housing format. The right light is the one that remains visible within the correct angle, under real boat conditions, without causing confusion with other navigation lights.