Remote spotlights,what do you use?

[ProfitOfDoom]

Im looking for a remote spotlight,I had a golight before and thought they were great but I dont think a golight will look good on my sundancer.
It seems everyone has a guest, jabsco rayline type lights and the look seems to fit but I read reviews and people say they are not bright and about useless and better off getting a handheld.
I see most of them are around 72,000 candlepower,what do you guys think of the power of these if you own one,and what type do you use?
I was looking at the guest spotlight and the remote panel has a huge box where the joystick is,how are these mounted,just drill 2 holes for the sticks to come through and screw on the front plate?
Also whats your thoughts on brands they both look very much the same guest and jabsco and both are expensive one better then the other?

 

[Skeetobite]

I have the Guest 503 with the push button control. I was worried about damaging the joystick when in rough seas. This model is a "spot" and "flood" light. It also remembers which mode you used last and starts in that mode when powered up.

To answer your question; yes, it requires two small holes to install the controller and is a pretty quick job.

 

[Alex F]

I have the Guest 503 with the push button control. I was worried about damaging the joystick when in rough seas. This model is a "spot" and "flood" light. It also remembers which mode you used last and starts in that mode when powered up.

To answer your question; yes, it requires two small holes to install the controller and is a pretty quick job.

It looks like an interesting unit. Do you know what candlepower it produces? I could only find specs referring to watts it's using, but not candlepower. I've noticed that most searchlights have lower candlepower output than majority of handheld ones. Is my observation correct?

 

[Skeetobite]

Alex, Guest claims over 1,000,000 candlepower with this unit. Not sure if they are indicating the spot or flood mode though.

In my experience, I have been able to light up channel markers welll over 1/4 mile down range. Although I can't see that far in the dark to tell what I'm looking at, I have also had some good reflected light from over 1/2 mile down range.

We boat in the dark very often and I have found this unit to be more than I actually need. For the first couple of years, I just used a dive light and the chartplotter. Same results when navigating slow - even in familiar waters. The big light just gives me a huge lit area to peek around in.

Edit: Side note - When I shine the spot directly in the water next to the foredeck, I have been able to see the bottom in 25' of clear water. Pretty cool.

 

[rcknecht]

I don't like spotlights for a the following reasons...

1. When traveling at night your eyes will get used to the dark and combined with a chart plotter, and not going too fast you can navigate quite welll. When you turn the light off your eyes take time to readjust to the darkness.

2. If it is foggy at night a spot light is useless... Radar is needed.

3. A spot will blind other boaters and running with the spot on is not permitted.

4. They are good if you know morse code to communicate, but not many people know morse code...

 

[Alex F]

I don't like spotlights for a the following reasons...

1. When traveling at night your eyes will get used to the dark and combined with a chart plotter, and not going too fast you can navigate quite welll. When you turn the light off your eyes take time to readjust to the darkness.

2. If it is foggy at night a spot light is useless... Radar is needed.

3. A spot will blind other boaters and running with the spot on is not permitted.

4. They are good if you know morse code to communicate, but not many people know morse code...

Rod, here are my thoughts based on my experience:

1. You're 100% correct, but to prevent this I use my handheld only to whine for few seconds to do a quick scan. It doesn't ruin my vision. It takes a moment for my eyes to re-adjust.

2. I think that anytime (day or night) there's a fug the searchlight is useless.

3. Likelly, we don't have too many boaters that do that, but I've spotted a boat (bridge boat, I couldn't see the make or model in the dark) from my area on number of occasions who was stupid enough to stay behind me in the narrow channel leading toward our marina having his search light on. Even though he was behind it was very uncomfortable for my, so when I ran out of pations I just gave him a nice shine with my 2mil/clp handheld that made him turn his off very quickly.

The biggest issue I have with handhelds is the reflection from my deck.

I find the need for it in the narrow channels (e.g. the one leading to my marina), which is only approximatelly 30-50' wide or in some parts less than that. This sometimes exceeds the margin for error on the chartplotter and radar. On few occasions I happened to be too close to the bouys and having quick assistance with search light illiminates the issue.

 

[AKBASSKING]

I would agree with the fog and blinding other boaters, but there are uses for them. I have 2 on my riverboat, because in September during hunting season, they work great when you are running a river at night in "skinny water."

My SR still has the original light (See below). When I was at the lake I stopped by the SR marina and they had this light for sell. $495!:wow:

Then the Admiral kindly reminded me "Why do we need this in Alaska when I can read a book at 2 AM with no lights?"

Hard to argue with her logic.....:smt021

 

[ProfitOfDoom]

So how do you feel about the 72,000 candle power,I generaly need it to see markers and random debre in the river. I dont need a mega beam of light,but dont want a useless light either will a guest 5" light with 72,000 be enough to see down the river a bit before you get right up on something?

 

[Loneranger]

I boat on the tn river. I find a spotlight a necessity to find channel markers at night. (however I do not have radar nor do most boats on the river. ) I have never used a remote light but I have been told by others that a handheld is much easier and faster to scan with. The hand held is certainly cheaper. If you had a much larger boat then the distance from the cockpit to the bow could be to far for a handheld to still be practical.

John