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Three of the four major light manufacturers serve up superlative lights—many lights even satisfied Coast Guard requirements at our engine-off test voltage. Still, a variation of the Golden Rule applies: Shine unto others as you would have them shine unto you.

We inspected, mounted and tested 70 navi- ûgation lights from the four major light makers: ûHella, Aqua Signal, Perko and Attwood.

Most boats, new or used, come with navigation lights installed—and that's about all that we care about them until one of them fails. Sometimes the failure is in the light itself, sometimes in the wiring leading to it. The fix is usually simple enough to perform mechanically or electrically, but there's an inconvenience factor that varies from minor to major, depending on when the failure occurs. If a light goes out while boating in calm conditions, it's no big deal. But it's no fun trying to change a bulb at the bow in a 20-knot wind. After the first of these pains, you begin to pay more attention to how…