This first weekend in December marks the start of lighted boat parade season for the holidays. Here's our expert guide to decking out your vessel ways that won’t result in dead batteries, generator fires, injuries or elf overboard drills.

Thinking of just picking up piles of standard holiday lights to plug into a portable home generator on the boat? Ho, Ho, Hold it right there!

First, you want to start with LED lights because they draw less power, according to Ted Sensenbrenner, Assistant Director of Boating Safety Programs for Boat US, Annapolis, MD.

“More importantly, adding extra lights to a boat increases the risk of fire and electrical shock," Sensenbrenner says. "Therefore, deciding how to power the display is the first item on the checklist.”

Boat US strongly discourages the use of portable generators because the risks include, but are not limited to: carbon monoxide poisoning, exhaust burns, fire and having poorly secured generators on transoms go overboard when you hit a wave or wake.

AC-powered lights can be plugged into an inverter (such as a Pro Mariner or Master Volt) running off a dedicated marine battery, according to Bob Sminkey, Sales manager at West Marine in Hyannis, Mass. You can also power up using a properly installed marine genset (be sure to fuel up during the day).

Test Your Lights

Both decorative and running lights should be tested before leaving the dock for the parade. To further minimize risk of fire, keep the bilge clean, and have fire extinguishers and flashlights operational and easily accessible.

Peter Leighton, Youth Program manager at Sail Nauticus in Norfolk, Virginia recommends that before you hang lights on the boat check the lights for frayed wires and loose bulb-base connections. Wrap plug connections tightly between strands with high-quality electrical tape, and don't overload circuits.

“The number of strands that can be connected together depends on the type of lights, size of the wiring in the set, and power source being used on the boat,” Leighton adds.  “We deck-out our fleet of Harbor 20s by running them in two triangles – up the main halyard and down the forestay and backstay. We use electrical tape to secure the light strings to the rigging and zip ties or twine to secure lighting to the perimeter.”

Those using AC power to “make sure to use a pigtail with a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) as close to the source as possible. This will shut the power down if anything goes wrong in the circuit.”

Sensenbrenner adds that AA battery-operated lights and 12-volt lights plugged into a 12-volt outlet are another options saying, “If 12-volt outlets are used, the wiring and outlets must be protected by fuses or breakers properly sized to protect the wires supplying power to the outlet from carrying more current than they can safely handle. Any wiring connections should be clean and free from corrosion.”

Boat US recommends calculating power consumption and wattage, as well as how many strands of lights can be safely connected together according to UL standards, see this article from Christmas Lights Etc.

To check the ABYC allowable ampacity of conductors, download the rating table from Blue Sea Systems or check a reference guide such as Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual by Nigel Calder. Look at the specs of the lights you want to use, and consult the manufacturer's instructions, or an electrician.

Lookout!

Sensenbrenner also recommends having two lookouts posted, fore and aft, because the pace of the parade can vary wildly from moment to moment and you never know when revelers on other vessels may lose focus. “I also recommend keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum,” he says.

If you have lots of people aboard, waiving, with all the additional light distractions on your boat and all around you, it’s going to be hard enough telling navigational aids from Rudolph’s nose. Drink responsibly and stay alert.

Decorators should also consider how displays affect the boat's performance and overall stability, especially those using chicken-wire frames because the extra weight of the structure can upset the balance of the boat.

According to Sensenbrenner, hoisting a large chicken-wire frame is like hoisting a sail that can't be reefed or released. If the weather is too windy, or the frame too big, it can dangerously destabilize the boat. Keep in mind the crew will still need to get to dock lines and cleats at the slip.

“Remember, the crew will have to be able to move about and perform jobs, some perhaps on an emergency basis,” he concludes. “Don't decorate in a way that interferes with safe boat operation. Zip ties, Velcro and electrical tape can all help hold lights and decorations from being tripping hazards.”

Skippers who follow these expert tips are sure to sleigh the competition and make Captain Santa’s Nice List.

Send your decorated vessel and parade photos to [email protected] to be included in 2018 our Waterway Guide Boats on Parade holiday album.