How to turn on searchlight?

P

pleeson

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 20, 2012
Messages
301
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Cutwater 28 Owner
Vessel Name
Bairn
I've never used the spotlight on my 2013 Cutwater 28. In heavy fog the other day I thought it would be a good idea with the water taxis still doing 25 knots. One more way to maybe avoid a collision by making myself more visible. For the life of me I could figure out how to turn it on. The panel has the multi function control with the direction arrows etc. but which of those non direction buttons turns it on? Did I mention I hate imojis and pictorial symbols? A simple on and off would be nice... Thanks for any hints.
 
On my RT31S, there's a breaker switch on the 12V panel that must be on, and a button in the middle of the spotlight directional controls that I push. Might not be the same on your boat.
 
On my C 13 we have to have the NAV lights on then just pushover of the buttons and it comes on
 
On my 2012 R27, to use the search light, the “Search Light” switch on the DC power panel must be ON and the navigation light switch must be selected ON.
 
Has anybody actually found that the search light is worth a damn? If so, what do you use it for?


Forrest Stuart
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks very much everyone. I'll give it a go with the Nav Lights on. I figured it was an independent system but thinking too much I guess.
 
pleeson":2i0sqhg9 said:
I've never used the spotlight on my 2013 Cutwater 28. In heavy fog the other day I thought it would be a good idea with the water taxis still doing 25 knots. One more way to maybe avoid a collision by making myself more visible. For the life of me I could figure out how to turn it on. The panel has the multi function control with the direction arrows etc. but which of those non direction buttons turns it on? Did I mention I hate imojis and pictorial symbols? A simple on and off would be nice... Thanks for any hints.
Click to expand...

I hope you have an AIS transducer. That will make you more visible too
 
fmstuart":136liebh said:
Has anybody actually found that the search light is worth a damn? If so, what do you use it for?


Forrest Stuart
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I've found the factory searchlight to be useful for lighting up the flag on the mast at night.

For all other work, I rely on the RCL-95 LED searchlight that I installed recently out on the tip of the bow rail. Now I can scan the water ahead at night without going night-blind. :shock:
 
It took me a while to learn how to use the search light. Now that I can use it properly its been invaluable.

I had tried hitting the buttons to maneuver it, doesn't work. I have now set mine up to the distance in front of the boat I like and use the sweep feature. Works very well for me that way. The light is not all that bright, which is actually a good thing as it doesn't kill your night vision.

Just last week I was coming back from a little trip and evening caught up with me. Gets dark more quickly now. I'm on the ICW following the markers home, no biggie. I come to where the ICW marker 27 is supposed to be, nothing. It's supposed to be lighted. I finally stop, can't see the marker, and I don't want to hit it. Sweep the spotlight, and there it is. Only 50 yards away! Uncomfortably close. The spotlight was great.

Turns outs that 27 was broken off and a goofy marker was stuck on top of the stump. No light, just a sort of stick on top. Hard to see at night. Somehow I didn't notice that on the way past it during daylight. Not good maintenance of the waterway if you ask me. Glad I had the spotlight.
 
Martin610":2vyk3r7x said:
It took me a while to learn how to use the search light. Now that I can use it properly its been invaluable.

I had tried hitting the buttons to maneuver it, doesn't work. I have now set mine up to the distance in front of the boat I like and use the sweep feature. Works very well for me that way. The light is not all that bright, which is actually a good thing as it doesn't kill your night vision.

Just last week I was coming back from a little trip and evening caught up with me. Gets dark more quickly now. I'm on the ICW following the markers home, no biggie. I come to where the ICW marker 27 is supposed to be, nothing. It's supposed to be lighted. I finally stop, can't see the marker, and I don't want to hit it. Sweep the spotlight, and there it is. Only 50 yards away! Uncomfortably close. The spotlight was great.

Turns outs that 27 was broken off and a goofy marker was stuck on top of the stump. No light, just a sort of stick on top. Hard to see at night. Somehow I didn't notice that on the way past it during daylight. Not good maintenance of the waterway if you ask me. Glad I had the spotlight.
Click to expand...

Here in Pacific Northwest waters I find the main purpose for the searchlight is scanning for logs drifting in my path. On my R29 that factory searchlight is near-useless for the task as it lights up the bow too much to see ahead at the distances where it would be reasonable to spot those logs at night. The addition of a searchlight on the bow rail with wireless remote has improved my situational awareness immensely.
 
I have a 2014 R21 EC equipped with a standard searchlight. I don't understand the significance the turtle and the rabbit symbols. I assume they indicate slow and fast but what does that have to do with searchlight function?
 
The turtle and rabbit might be the speed of rotation of the light horizontally.
Just a guess.
 
My 2014 R21 EC searchlight is useless due to reflection from ss rails and white foredeck. Has anyone tried remounting the searchlight on the radar platform? If so, did it solve the reflection problem?
 
Lulu1238":3bddbeje said:
My 2014 R21 EC searchlight is useless due to reflection from ss rails and white foredeck. Has anyone tried remounting the searchlight on the radar platform? If so, did it solve the reflection problem?
Click to expand...
On my 2012 R27, I moved the search light to the mast above the radome. I had hoped the radome would shadow the bow. It does somewhat and does make the searchlight more usable, but it’s still not perfect.

The best solution would be a baffle around the front of the light that extends out beyond the bulb six to eight inches. One Tugnutter made a baffle out of paint can bought at a big box home improvement store. It’s a project I may tackle this summer.
 
One oddity on my 2012 C26: while manuals state "running lights must be on / spotlight control will then be illuminated", mine is illuminated continuously and works independently of nav lights.

Jabsco 63020 series manual, full manual available at https://www.comstedt.se/files/manual/63022-0012.pdf
Section "LIGHT OPERATION":

LIGHT OPERATION
IMPORTANT — Do not shine the searchlight in any manner that will impair the vision of other boat operators.The running light switch for the boat must be “on” for searchlight to operate. With the running light switch “on”,the searchlight control will be illuminated.
SPOT/SLOW — Press once to select slow light movement speed and, on spot/flood type lights, to select spot beam. Press again to turn light off.
FLOOD/FAST — Press once to select fast light movement speed and, on spot/flood type lights, to select flood beam. On lights with spot beam only, this button selects the fast speed only. Press again to turn light off.
DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT — The center lever is moved left, right, fore and aft to move light head. If desired, the center lever can be unscrewed (counter-clockwise) and the black cap (supplied) can be pressed into the center hole. The light movement is then controlled by touching one of the four arrows.
AUTO SWEEP — With the light on, pushing this button will sweep the light in about a 90 degree arc automatically. This is useful in narrow canals and channels, freeing both hands for boat control. Press again to stop auto sweep.
SOS/DISTRESS — Press and hold for about five seconds to automatically flash “SOS” in International Morse Code. The light will sweep horizontally while flashing the SOS. Press again to stop the SOS flashing.
IMPORTANT — Do not allow anyone to “playfully” transmit the SOS signal! The SOS signal will not be transmitted with the boat’s running lights “off ”
 
I have a 2014 R21 EC. There is a female electrical outlet on the starboard side of my bow deck that I would like to use to power a set of LED headlights. I assume it is 12 volt. I need to know the model number of the corresponding male plug. Please help.
 
Lulu, that female connection at the bow starboard side is the connection for your led trailer/boat lights for towing and gets its power from your tow vehicle via the pig tail on your trailer wireing harness. Bob
 
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