I came across the following: "Most of these flush mounted sidelights are installed below the vessel's rub rail. International Navigation Rules require that sidelights be installed above the uppermost continuous deck. Therefore this configuration would not be in compliance with International Navigation Rules." and: "Sidelights that are installed in the contour of the bow without providing a mounting surface tooled to be parallel with the fore and aft centerline of the vessel are not in compliance with the Inland or International Navigation Rules. Depending on the breadth of the vessel near the bow and how far aft from the vessel's stem the lights are mounted, this shift can be more than 20 degrees in some cases." Coast Guard Short Range Aids to Navigation Division (G-NSR) Here is a link: http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/sidelights.htm steve Steve R. M-15 #119 Lexington, KY --- Rachel <penokee@cheqnet.net> wrote: It's my understanding that it is not legal to have those nav. lights mounted below the gunwhale - I think that perhaps it used to be. I checked this out while restoring my M-17, which also had the bow lights mounted on the topsides, just below the hull/deck joint.