Docking Lights?

[wadebmadden]

I am an inland boater. Often times you stay out a little too late and its dark when you come home. Many of the lakes here have unlit ramps and ramp areas.

I was out one night comming back to the ramp, there were no lights in the parking lot or anything. I had a buddy up on the bow with a flashlight, but the darkness just swallowed the light. I was watching the chartplotter and keeping right on course. (back to the ramp) counting down with the depth finder 6 feet, 5 feet, 4 feet, deploy truck getting buddy. He later told me that he still couldnt see the shore when he went in the water, but of course he could touch bottom. It was a rather nerve racking situation.

Since then Ive made it a rule to not use dockless ramps. But I was wondering about some docking lights. I know they sell many varieties of spot lights. I was kind of thinking of these "headlight styles" http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...eId=10001&Ntk=Primary+Search&ddkey=SiteSearch

but I dont like the idea of cutting the hull.

perhaps just a good ole hand held spotlight???


thoughts?


thanks in advance

Wade

 

[wkearney99]

Gotta love having that deployable friend to get the truck!

Bear in mind your depth sender may be reading feet from the sensor. If the transducer is already two feet down in the hull below the waterline you might need to factor that into your total depth.

The trouble with the in-hull lights is you can't aim them. They're only going to face forward. That's no good if you've got wind or a current to deal with and you get pushed sideways. I'd much prefer having a remotely controllable spotlight instead. They make ones that'll go on a radar arch, bow deck or even mounted to a rail.

Using a handheld isn't all that convenient unless you have someone else to operate it. You've already got your hands full dealing with the wheel and throttles. That and you don't really want that much bright light right up next to you as it'll wreck your night vision.

 

[boatmailster]

there is only two holes to be cut out and if you have enough room those light could end up in rope locker - that where older models of sea rays used to have them - in rope lockers.

 

[wadebmadden]

HMMMM Chain locker you say, that would sound alot easier,,, and my locker is huge.

Ive also looked into the mounted spotlight options, I dont like the foredeck idea because it would take up sun bathing space, I didnt really like the idea of drilling into a hard top that dosnt leak now....

west marine has one that suction cup mounts. I kinda like that idea, its out of the way when I dont need it,, and there the 2% of the time I do need it.

how would you go about knowing exactly where to drill of the headlight style?


Thanks

Wade

 

[wadebmadden]

Also,,, on the headlights....

any thought of their frame, or case not fitting the contour of the hull?

I mean,,, you cut the holes,,, what if the shape of the light dosnt match the shape of the hull worth a darn?

 

[Dave S]

I use my adjustable bow mounted spotlight for night docking and it works great. As the pilot of the boat you can control it with one hand using the joy stick control. Having full control of the light's direction is very important in my opinion. Here is the one that was factory installed by Sea Ray on my boat.

Mine is mounted on the foredeck but lights are also made that mount on the bow rail itself if you want to get it off the deck. West Marine has all kinds of different lights on their site if you want to look at your choices.

 

[boatmailster]

Also,,, on the headlights....

any thought of their frame, or case not fitting the contour of the hull?

I mean,,, you cut the holes,,, what if the shape of the light dosnt match the shape of the hull worth a darn?

It comes with template (be sure you have one with set) - to cut oval shaped holes. The bigger light from you previous post flex a little and should be enough to match contour of your boat, and use some silicone to cover smaller gaps(I am not familiar with metal light).
As for spotlight you may think about small Guest mounted on your hardtop ?

 

[Four Suns]

You need be careful on these things as they are not "headlights". I keep my boat on a river also and there are several boats that think turning on the "headlights" when it gets dark is the thing to do. All it does is blind other boaters who are trying to properly be on the water at night. I know you said you are going to use them docking, but it seems that people that have these are tempted to turn them on when it gets dark. Boats don't have headlights for a reason.

 

[wadebmadden]

but it seems that people that have these are tempted to turn them on when it gets dark. Boats don't have headlights for a reason.

Oh good call, it reminds me of people who run with fog lights on when its not foggy,,,,, sure they can see great, but the other drivers are going insain!!!!

 

[estebanj]

On current boat I have the spotlight like Dave and others. On previous boats I used a handheld version.

If I had to chose one, I would go with h/held. I find it a lot easier to point in the direction I need.

But if money/time was no object, a bow mounted one would be a "tier 2" priority project for me.

Esteban

 

[comsnark]

Probably 20% of my boating is after dark. It is very common for me to go out to dinner at sunset, and to leave the restaurant at 10pm for a 1 hour ride home. I also think nothing of going out at 10pm from the house for a short 1 hour tour.

I boat on a bay that has shores fairly well lit with residential houses. This year, I have seen a few boaters driving around with "headlights". I can't tell you how stupid they look. And yes. . .they do bad things to your night vision.

I cannot think of a single use for fixed angle headlights on a boat. MAYBE for the final lineup on a trailer at an unlit ramp. . .but in that case a light on the truck would be equally useful. I never want to illuminate something DANGEROUSLY IN FRONT of me. I navigate so that things I need to illuminate are SAFELY TO THE SIDE.

For general "I need to illuminate something", I prefer to use my bow mounted spot. The bow mouted spot must be as far forward as possible, and if you have a bow rail, you want to mount the light on it. You DO NOT want to mount the light on your deck behind other deck hardware. You do not want light from the spot hitting anything on your boat and reflected back at you.

I also have a hand held spot (based on advice I got from this board). The hand held spot can be deployed faster than the bow spot, and also can be used BEHIND the boat, which the bow spot can't reach. BUT pointing the handheld in front of the boat ends up reflecting huge amounts of light off of the railings and deck that is very counter productive. If I had a raised bridge, it might work better. . .but I don't.

If I was trailer boating, I would make sure I was at a lit ramp area. When I leave my dock, I ensure my dock lights are on if I leave within 2 hours of sunset. But of course. . .things happen. This is why you want lights on the boat. I have come home before and said "Darn. Dock lights are off".

 

[Four Suns]

I ran into about a 20' Sea Ray (with a red bottom) last night going about 40 mph down the channel. He had mounted a half dozen off road bar lights on his wakeboard tower facing forward and it was pitch black out and the guy just blinded me. He proceeded to zip by my port side hauling ass. It looked like a freekin' UFO coming down the water.

What an idiot. People that think boats should should have headlights should just stay off the water. It's reckless and stupid and there is just no excuse for it. I hope the dork reads this forum. Wait.. he probably is too stupid to use a keyboard.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Far be it for me to agree with Gary for anything but he is right. :smt043

Those that have them will use them inappropriately. Great example was last year at Lake Murray. If I saw one Canbote (poontoon's for you who don't know) with head lights on after dark, I saw 100! :smt021 What a mess! :smt100

Being on the water at night is not something you don't want to do without the proper tools. Knowledge of the area is the 1st one on the list.

But back to your question. I have a phobia about cutting fiberglass so a hand held spot would be my solution. Use it sparingly and wisely. :thumbsup:

 

[wkearney99]

The downside to hand-held units is they're usually not 'on-hand' when you need them. Necessitating someone having to go digging through a locker, under a seat or going below to dig it up... in the dark. Only to find it's not charged up. But as long as you have a convenient place to stow is AND you remember to keep it charged, a handheld spot certainly beats none at all!

 

[sbw1]

The mounted lite gives you the most flexibility because it can be aimed. Get one that has a spot and a flood setting. The spot is good for picking up a ramp or bouy or whatever. The flood gives you a wider field of illumination that is useful when finding and tying lines. The quality of these things varies quite a lot. I've had them break off in rough water. If you do that kind of boating, look at the design and find one that is sturdy.