Dennis;
Since I single hand most of the time, I also use my spotlight from the cockpit or while standing on the helm seat and trying to see over all the stuff on the boat. Here is some of my experience: Mine is a battery operated light that will also work when plugged into a 12v outlet with the charger plug connected. I find the ability to use both connected and disconnected to be a benefit when I want to go up on the side deck for a better view, or when I have someone to shine the light from the foredeck. My lead-acid battery still had charge in it on Friday morning, to my very pleasant surprise, after sitting neglected in the Nav station for about a year. I would, however, look for one with a Li-ion battery for longer storage life. Dont buy a floodlight. The glare from your deck and rigging will be soo bright that you wont be able to see anything else that is more than a boat length or two away from you. Get a pencil beam spotlight so you can shine it out above the dodger and below the boom with as little glare as possible. Go for the big lumens. Really, you want o be able to reach out and touch what youre looking for. Ocracoke Inlet, here in Pamlico Sound, has a section where it is ½ to ¾ miles between the red daymarks, maybe 1 ½ miles between red flashers, and that is the side on which the channel is shoaling. You dont want to be hunting for the next marker on a dark night. (Had I been smart, I would have anchored at the mouth of the channel and waited for dawn.) Xenon seems to be brighter than Halogen, Halogen brighter than LED. LED gets more run time on high, but just how long will you keep it on? I tend to use mine for 10-15 seconds every couple of minutes. Ive not got a waterproof light. It lives in the cabinet by the Nav station. Never had a failure (knock wood) except for the battery giving out with age. I have a ridiculously expensive Pelican dive light to take underwater if I need light. Look at your local Lowes or Home Depot for a light. Stanley and Everready make some pretty good lights at pretty reasonable prices. For example, here is a Stanley 1300+ lumen w/ Li=ion battery that works either plugged or unplugged for under $60. http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=201165-89606-HIDLISL <http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=201165-89606-HIDLISL&langId= -1&storeId=10151&productId=3979793&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow &cId=PDIO1> &langId=&storeId=10151&productId=3979793&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=no follow&cId=PDIO1 From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dennis C. Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 5:15 PM To: CnClist Subject: Stus-List Handheld spot/flood light discussion There have been a lot of advances in lights since I bought my existing handheld spot light. Been thinking about a new one. REQUIREMENT: 12 VDC plug in. NOT rechargeable. Probably LED. I'd like some discussion on the selection criteria for a new one; not just "I have this one and I like it". · For instance, can you have too many lumens? I think you can. How bright is bright enough? Too much light reflects and causes night blindness. · LED vs halogen vs ?? · If LED, number of bulbs. Color? Blue white? White? · Width of beam. Basically spot vs flood light · Any important considerations I didn't mention Finally, any lights that you think particularly suit the needs of sailors. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83
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