I'm sitting in Avalon harbor right now with a friend and his 38 Top Gun, 1996. The boat has the typical port / starboard bow light and a white light mounted on the transom. He was stopped by LEO and they said he needed a pole light. The pole light mounts just in front of the cockpit and is a 360 degree anchor light. Running at night with this 360 light is blinding to the driver. Should he have a 180 white pole light? Do you in fact need a pole light if your boat already has a white transom light?

Yes, you need a pole light.

When it's turned on in navigation mode it will shine 180* to the front. When it is in anchor mode it will shine 360*. The stern light covers you for the back 180* while in navigation mode.

A white light must be visible 360* while in navigation mode to be legal.

The LEO is correct.

Buck

Buck, yep makes sense now. The pole light was turned side to side so it looked like a 360 light. Thanks

Good deal. Glad it worked out for you. That stuff can be frustrating.