Download Boating Tip #20: Dayshapes (PDF format, 22KB)

Shapes are displayed during daylight hours in lieu of lights which are displayed from sunset to sunrise or in restricted visibility. The three dimensional shapes are raised aloft high in the rigging to indicate the type of vessel or an activity in which the vessel is engaged. The shapes are always black in color. On large vessels > 20 meters (65’7″) in length, the shapes have a diameter of at least 0.6 meters (approximately 2 feet), and when multiple shapes are displayed, they are separated by at least 1.5 meters (approximately 5 feet) of vertical space. On shorter boats, the shapes can be smaller in size. The two dayshapes most often displayed by recreational vessels, are the black sphere and the black cone. The black spherical shape indicates that a vessel is anchored. The black conical shape, pointed downwards is displayed by a sailboat while under power during daylight hours.