Searchlight options

[tranmkp]

As usual the “new” boat has its little quirks - I find that the Jabsco searchlight only works on the vertical axis and not the horizontal . (Frown)

I figure is little plastic gears … anyone ever tear the light apart?

I’m seriously thinking about a LED light bar - anyone ever retrofit one??

On and on it goes


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[CruisingElvinRay]

An LED light bar? for what purpose?


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[tranmkp]

A Bar with some wide coverage led and a few spots will give great coverage without having to articulate - a scrim /flag on the lower part of bar will keep light spill off deck - a movable spot is still nice - even better if a single led - just the dependability of it … all good to have coming into slip at night or “I can’t see a damn thing” situations


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[CruisingElvinRay]

Boats don’t have headlights. A light bar would be dangerous in the way you describe.


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[HookedUp]

I've used movable spotlights and night cameras. Guess everyone has their favorites, but I prefer viewing the night camera on my iPad as the camera covers a large area and makes details stand out. Spotlights work, but cause temporary night blindness to everything not directly in the light and don't offer the distance the camera provides.

Still recall almost running into a pound net piling as I had the light aimed low for crab pots and only saw the piling right before hitting it. Lucky I was running slow since I knew crab pots were everywhere that night and I was running somewhere I'd never been before.

 

[gulfcoast john]

Tranmpk,

Remote controlled spotlights/motors often fail after three years of exposure due to salt spray and/or tiny complex cable wire motors/light controller runs. Warranties reflect that.

Vessels underway at night should only display their red, green and white ‘steaming’ lights and no others. See Chapman’s or take any approved Boating Safety Course for details.

Any type of boat underway ‘headlights’ degrade the night vision of other boaters as well as the skipper from bow rail reflections; that’s why they are forbidden. Vessels underway at night depend on their NIGHT VISION, not on their headlights.

If you are disoriented, or not EXACTLY sure where you are, you should immediately STOP. Then you can use your ‘spotlight’ to confirm nearby ATONS without blinding other vessels nearby.

After 40 years of trying everything, we avoid boating after dark. When you must, to pick out a ATON, we finally found that NOTHING beats a Marinebeam Long Range Illuminator. Shine it out a window and you won’t hit the bow rails. Works at 500 YARDS (NOT A TYPO, YARDS NOT FEET).

https://store.marinebeam.com/marinebeam ... lashlight/

You won’t believe it til you buy it. ⅓ the price of your ‘spotlight’ but runs three days continuous on three D batteries with no heat, weatherproof, and lifetime warranty.

Hope this is helpful.

John

 

[tranmkp]

Gulf Coast

Thanks -I’m really thinking about the long throw searchlights - things can go south really fast in the dark


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[tranmkp]

Gulf Coast

Thanks -I’m really thinking about the long throw searchlights - things can go south really fast in the dark


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I built this one and it’s a death ray - but the 6s lipo battery will only last 25 mins - it’s fussy


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[CruisingElvinRay]

See #5

https://www.discoverboating.com/resources/night-boating


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[knotflying]

The searchlight is rather useless at night because it reflects off the bow rail and destroys your night vision. Some fellow boaters have resolved this by wrapping dark tape on the rail or a can around the light to narrow the beam. Others have raised the light higher. I only was out in the dark once and avoid it at all costs. Too many things in the water can get hit at night. Probably a night vision cameral would be best. If I were going to do anything I would relocate a light onto the forward section of the bow rail. I do carry a handheld, just in case I need a light, but never used it.