Light float

A light float is a type of lighted navigational aid forming an intermediate class between lightvessels and large lighted buoys; they are generally smaller than lightvessels and carry less powerful lights.¹ In times when most lightvessels were crewed, the term was sometimes also used to describe a full-size lightvessel converted to unmanned operation.²

Light floats usually have a boat-shaped platform: this was found to ride the strong tides of rivers and estuaries better than buoys.³ Light floats are still deployed instead of smaller lighted buoys in waters where strong currents may be experienced.⁴