just to add to the confusion: I suppose this is at sea, so I suppose we are talking about the rules of the road/colregs. There is no such thing as a cutter or trawler in these rules, only a (power) vessel engaged in fishing (or not - then it's just a power (driven) vessel). In the other articles colregs uses masthead lights and side lights.

Rule 26


Fishing Vessels

(a) A vessel engaged in fishing, whether underway or at anchor, shall exhibit only the lights and shapes prescribed by this rule.

(b) A vessel when engaged in trawling, by which is meant the dragging through the water of a dredge net or other apparatus used as a fishing appliance, shall exhibit;


(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being green and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other; a vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this shape exhibit a basket;

(ii) a masthead light abaft of and higher than the all-round green light; a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;

(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(c) A vessel engaged in fishing, other than trawling, shall exhibit:

(i) two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower white, or a shape consisting of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line one above the other; a vessel of less than 20 meters in length may instead of this shape exhibit a basket;

(ii)when there is outlying gear extending more than 150 meters horizontally from the vessel, an all-round white light or a cone apex upwards in the direction of the gear.

(iii) when making way through the water, in addition to the lights prescribed in this paragraph, sidelights and a sternlight.

(d) A vessel engaged in fishing in close proximity to other vessels engaged in fishing may exhibit the additional signals described in Annex II to these Regulations.

(e) A vessel when not engaged in fishing shall not exhibit the lights or shapes prescribed in this Rule, but only those prescribed for a vessel of her length.

(http://www.oz.net/~papillon/kbmanual/colregs.html)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-06-09 22:02:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Lights for a power-driven vessel, not engaged in fishing:
Rule 23


Power-driven Vessels Underway

(a)A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit:

(i) a masthead light forward;

(ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one;

except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such a light but may do so;

(iii) sidelights: and

(iv) a sternlight.

--------------------- Kortom de correcte vertaling zal afhangen van of je kotter aan het vissen is of niet, en of-ie korter of langer is dan 50m ivm enkeel- en meervoud van de toplichten ;). To add insult to injury, het toplicht is verder zichtbaar dan de boordlichten:

Rule 22


Visibility of Lights

The lights prescribed in these Rules shall have an intensity as specified in Section 8 of Annex I to these Regulations so as to be visible at the following minimum ranges:

(a) In vessels of 50 meters or more in length:

a masthead light, 6 miles;

a sidelight, 3 miles;

a towing light, 3 miles;

a white red, green or yellow all-around light, 3 miles.

(b)In vessels of 12 meters or more in length but less than 50 meters in length;

a masthead light, 5 miles; except that where the length of the vessel is less than 20 meters, 3 miles;

a sidelight, 2 miles;

a sternlight, 2 miles, A towing light, 2 miles;

a white, red, green or yellow all-round light, 2 miles.

(c) In vessels of less than 12 meters in length:

a masthead light, 2 miles;

a sidelight, 1 miles;

a towing light, 2 miles;

a white red, green or yellow all-around light, 2 miles.

Succes ermee!

NB: NOT FOR POINTS alleen om wat extra info te geven, paste niet in een commentaar.