See link below from the Marine Patrol in an earlier thread:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/...ad.php?t=10254
When using your spotlight, you should take whatever steps you can to prevent from shining your spotlight into the wheelhouse of other boats. You can easily ruin another boater's night vision with your spotlight. Be prepared to look away from other vessel's spotlights should that skipper shine his light into your wheelhouse. Only turn your spotlight on for the amount of time you need it to light what you are looking at. Never leave your spotlight on continuously while underway as it can distract boaters that are a fair distance away. If you feel the necessity to leave your spotlight on at all times, you may want to reconsider taking your boat out at night.
Using your white docking lights a white light on the front of the boat will obscure the red/green nav lights and will make it looks as if your are on the stern of that boat.
Use your docking lights to assist you in docking only.