boat headlights

mommicked

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
1,700
I would like to mount two small offroad or foglights to my boats bow for nighttime navigating ie,I see a fair amount of logs in area lakes in the daytime,dont want to hit them.Is it legal?.Im in N.C.I could see how they might obscure the nav. lights and figure I could turn them off if see other boat lights ahead.anyone tried this and what lights might be good to use?I would mount them just under the bow of a lrg jonboat.
 

Dave1251

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 18, 2009
Messages
151
Re: boat headlights

Docking lights or "head lights" can not be used in open water, only Nav. lights.
 

mommicked

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
1,700
Re: boat headlights

what is the definition of open water,and what about smallish rivers?
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: boat headlights

bad ide3a--read previous posts on the topic. Use your night vision and watch for surface anomolies
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,454
Re: boat headlights

If you are travelling at night, you should be not going fast enough to have damage hitting a log. How fast were you planning on running?
 

ddrieck

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Messages
655
Re: boat headlights

You would be better off using a hand held spot light. I installed a couple of driving light mounted to the very top of the windshield to use and docking lights. For chits and giggles I turned them on out on open water and it didn't light up much of anything.

Just my .02
 

elkhunter338

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 27, 2009
Messages
818
Re: boat headlights

I installed 2 - 25watt tractor lights on my boat for night time use. They do not work very well when fog is out. I also get glare off the boat because I mounted them on the front of the cuddy cabin roof. My driving windsheild is back farther and higher than the cuddy cabin.
Coast guard inspection never said anything about my aux. lights. They check my nav. lights and informed me the anchor light needs to beable to be on all by it's self when you are not underpower. My red/green, center white light (anchor light) and stern light are all off one switch.
I told them I never plan to anchor at night and if so they would be commig to find me.
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: boat headlights

Handheld spotlight or an actual bow rail mounted remote control spotlight is the only way to go. And they are NOT for constant illumination. Only use them long enough to find a marker, obstruction, landmark, etc, then turn them OFF.
 

mommicked

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
1,700
Re: boat headlights

Thanks to eveyone for your advice.I was at the boat mechanics and there was a camo duck boat that had rectangular pivot mount lights right on the bow.I would mount them under the bow ,no boat glare,and wont trip on them,and I would only use them intermitantly? while under power. maybe a momentary thumb switch on the throttle.I am somtimes alone and steering,throttle,spotlight w two hands is tough. anyway I will cont.wildlife and see what they say,I dont want a ticket.
 

JoLin

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
5,146
Re: boat headlights

For occasional use I guess it's no different from using a spotlight. But use it very, very sparingly. It destroys your night vision, and that's a lot more valuable for night running than anything else. You don't want to blind another boater, either.

Second, there are legally preescribed configurations for navigation lights. Red/Green at the bow that can only be seen through a specific "arc", white all-around at the stern or masthead. ANY OTHER CONFIGURATION coukl confuse another boater, with tragic consequences. Don't be "that guy"- there's already enough risk in night running.

Be safe- have fun!
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: boat headlights

keep in mind that the night time speed limit in most states is 10 mph.... sometimes that is too fast..... your best bet is to not use a light except to look for markers.... on a moonlit night you should be fine and on a really dark or foggy night run at idle speed and be ready to throw it into neutral when you hit a log
 

oceansbreeze

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
276
Re: boat headlights

I keep a 1.5 million candle power hand held spotlight in the carry case it came in, in the storage locker. The odd time I have found myself out later than expected (fish were biting!) it comes in handy as I approached the dock - and you can point it any direction you want...
 
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