I think this is a good thread to share some of my experiences with you guys, rather my dad's experience I guess. I was a kid, and we had a cabin on the west side of Texoma between Briar and Rock Creek. It was common for us to venture out in the day and stay until late evening. We always had a driftwood fire on the beach, hotdogs, somores, and fun. And then at the end of the evening, we would pack up and head back to the marina and up to the cabin.
On two separate occasions, we ended up on dry land before we got to the marina, and once it wasn't exactly dry, but we were grounded nonetheless! This was of course in the days before GPS and chart plotters. He knew the lake well, but we still ended up stranded. So the risks are out there boys and girls. The chart plotter is a game changer and I use it in bright daylight too! I wouldn't have another boat without one. Even with a chart plotter, you MUST listen to your gut and pay attention to those hairs on the back of your neck. While boating at night is a wonderful experience, it is totally different than daytime boating.
If you keep most of the light off in the boat, you can see 50 yards or so, even on a moonless night. All you are concerned with is the area immediately in your path that you need to be able to stop for. I confess I haven't always had everyone wear their lifejackets when running at night, but it would be a good idea. As well as having them all seated. Running a spotlight at night simply destroys your night vision. The back scatter from the light on all the reflective surfaces of the boat and water will limit your night vision. Smoking and alcohol also restrict your night vision. I throw a towel over the dash gauges and dim the chart plotter, using it for speed, direction, track, and depth. I run up on step at a slow cruise around 24 mph. I can stop the boat in 50 feet or turn away from a danger easily and my night vision will give me a 200% margin of safety over that. Depend on your track for depth and distance safety, depend on your eyes for surface objects. This obviously doesn't work as well when there is ambient light in the area. So inter coastal and urban boaters may have more issues and need added help, like radar, to make sure their paths are clear. That may not be a player on our sized boats.
There are many variables in recreational boating, and the night is nothing to fear, but it is something to respect. Have fun with it and be safe out there!