Saltwater Suzi and Cap'n Larry's advice for the cash-starved boater
Signal Lights
Why is this information included in The Frugal Mariner?  For the same reason  we included the sound signals page.  If you run into another boat, it's going to be expensive.  Plus, if you print out the cheat sheet at the bottom of the page, you don't have to buy one.  Hey, we just saved you $8.95 (less the cost of a sheet of paper and a little ink.)  If you are a Scotsman like we are, you must be positively giddy that you've saved that kind of money. 
Rowboat_less_than_7_meters

Rowboat_less_than_7_meters
Rowboat longer than 7 meters

Rowboat longer than 7 meters
Anchored - 7 m to 50 m

Anchored - 7 m to 50 m
Anchored - 50 m to 100 m

Anchored - 50 m to 100 m
Anchored 100 m or More

Anchored 100 m or More
Sailing vessel under sail

Sailing vessel under sail
Sailing vessel motor sailing

Sailing vessel motor sailing
Sailing vessel with Tri-Color

Sailing vessel with Tri-Color
Power Driven less than 50 m

Power Driven less than 50 m
Power Driven - Optional < 12 m

Power Driven - Optional < 12 m
Power Driven - more than 50 m

Power Driven - more than 50 m
Fishing Vessel Trawling, Making Way > 50 m

Fishing Vessel Trawling, Making Way > 50 m
Fishing Vessel, Trawling, Making Way, < 50 m

Fishing Vessel, Trawling, Making Way, < 50 m
Fishing but not Trawling, Making Way

Fishing but not Trawling, Making Way
Fishing but not Trawling, not making way

Fishing but not Trawling, not making way
Fishing but not Trawling, Making Way, Gear Out > 150 m

Fishing but not Trawling, Making Way, Gear Out > 150 m

Fishing but not Trawling, Not Making Way, Gear Out >150 m

Fishing but not Trawling, Not Making Way, Gear Out >150 m
Towing Astern 200 m or less

Towing Astern 200 m or less
Towing alongside / Pushing ahead- not composite

Towing alongside / Pushing ahead- not composite
Composite - treated as single vessel< 50 m

Composite - treated as single vessel< 50 m
Composite - treated as single vessel > 50 m

Composite - treated as single vessel > 50 m
Vessel being towed astern 200 m or less

Vessel being towed astern 200 m or less
Vessel being towed astern -> 200 m

Vessel being towed astern -> 200 m

Partly submerged<100 m long < 25 m wide

Partly submerged<100 m long < 25 m wide
Partly Submerged >25 m wide <100 m long

Partly Submerged >25 m wide <100 m long

Partly Submerged < 25m wide, > 100 m long

Partly Submerged < 25m wide, > 100 m long
Inland Only Multiple vessels being pushed ahead (yellow flashing)

Inland Only Multiple vessels being pushed ahead (yellow flashing)
Multiple Vessels being towed alongside - Yellow flashing

Multiple Vessels being towed alongside - Yellow flashing
Not Under Command - Making Way

Not Under Command - Making Way
Not Under Command - Not Making Way

Not Under Command - Not Making Way
Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Making Way < 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Making Way < 50 m
Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Making Way > 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Making Way > 50 m
Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Not Making Way

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Not Making Way

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Anchored - < 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Anchored - < 50 m
Restricted in Ability to Maneuver Anchored > 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver Anchored > 50 m
Dredging or Underwater Ops. -Not Making Way

Dredging or Underwater Ops. -Not Making Way
Mine Clearing Making Way - > 50 meters

Mine Clearing Making Way - > 50 meters
Mine Clearing - Making Way -< 50 m

Mine Clearing - Making Way -< 50 m
Pilot Vessel on Duty Underway

Pilot Vessel on Duty Underway
Pilot Vessel on Duty - Anchored

Pilot Vessel on Duty - Anchored
Pilot Vessel Off Duty Making Way - < 50 m

Pilot Vessel Off Duty Making Way - < 50 m
Aground - less than 12 m

Aground - less than 12 m
Aground - >12 m < 50 m

Aground - >12 m < 50 m
Aground - > 50 m

Aground - > 50 m
Submarine Yellow flash 3 X then off 3 sec

Submarine Yellow flash 3 X then off 3 sec
Seaplane Underway

Seaplane Underway
Full Moon and Venus - Underway

Full Moon and Venus - Underway
Stern
Starboard
Bow
Starboard
Bow
Stern
As with everything involving government bureaucracy, nautical light signals are much more complex than it would seem they should be.  There are not only Inland and International lights, there are also Great Lakes Only lights And Inland Western Rivers.  This, however, is what we have to work with so we have attempted to make it less complex by giving you four different quides - one for Inland, one for International, one for Great Lakes and one for Western Rivers. Copy one of each and keep the appropriate one near your helm for reference. 

Many of the guides we have found for sale include all three on one chart to save space.  To us, this is confusing.  For even less confusion we have tried to represent the lights starting from the simplest, though they are still grouped.  So if you see a boat lit up like Times Square, you'll more likely find it at nearer the bottom of each chart.  Unless, of course, global warming has melted the polar ice caps, raised the ocean level and you are seeing Times Square.  We don't know what to tell you in that case.
Also, be advised that you will sometimes encounter lights which do not match any configuration - probably because someone on the vessel in question didn't turn them on, didn't change a burned out bulb, or didn't install the correct lights to begin with.  If there is ever any question, keep very clear, and try to communicate over your radio.
Inland
Print this chart, laminate it, and keep it at your helm for reference when boating on Inland waters.
Please note four things regarding these charts;

1. These charts indicate what you will see from your viewpoint  They do not indicate whether a light is an 'all around' light or a directional light.  If you can see it, it doesn't matter if it's an 'all around', and you can't tell from just one direction anyway.

2. The side view is from the starboard side of the boat.  If you are seeing the port side of the boat, it will be a mirror image of the starboard side and the Green Running Light will be Red.

3. If you need to know what lights to use on your boat, and the luminosity of those lights, please consult your Chapman's Piloting or  The Coast Guard's Navigation Center.

4. If there is any discrepancy between what is shown here and the Coast Guard's Navigation Center, be informed that the Coast Guard supercedes us in every case. While we have done our best to make sure all of these are accurate, we are, after all, only human.  Please, please let us know if there are any errors and we will correct them immediately.