What should be your primary focus when boating at night?

When boating at night, the primary focus should be on being aware of navigation lights and other vessels. This is crucial for several reasons. The darkness makes it challenging to see obstacles, other boats, and navigational markers clearly. Navigation lights serve as critical indicators of a vessel's direction, size, and activity, and understanding these signals is essential for safe maneuvering in the dark.

By being attentive to navigation lights, you can effectively determine the position and movement of nearby vessels, which helps prevent collisions. Furthermore, knowing how to interpret the colors and patterns of these lights enhances your navigation skills and situational awareness, allowing you to make informed decisions on the water.

While having a working radio is important for communication and emergencies, it does not directly influence your immediate visual awareness of the surroundings, which is vital during nighttime boating. Maintaining a clear line of sight and choosing a direct route are also valuable practices, but without the knowledge of navigation lights and the presence of other vessels, those actions might not be sufficient to ensure safety on the water at night.