Docking Light Recommendation

[amanphoto]

LED docking lights vs. Halogen docking lights vs. Remote spotlight

The boat is always running when lights are on so power consumption is not an issue.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

My recommenation would be to go with the LED/surface mount kind of docking lights. The installation is much easier than the docking lights of yesteryear, that required fairly large cutouts in the bow of the boat.

You can always get a handheld spot light for times when you need that flexibility.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

I want distance so I can find the entrance to my channel. It's kind of hard to see until your on top of it. They dredged the channel and If I miss it, I hit ground.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

You have to be careful with the lighting........ you really are not permitted to "run" under more then standard running lights. I like the new LED lights but you can not use them (legally) to navigate. At a "stop" in the water you can use a handheld spotlight to find the channel marker.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

For your intended use I would go with a hand held spot light, far more common and makes looking for markers much easier, your issue is the very reason that I use my Spot light for as well, other then that it pretty much stays in its case.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

agreed. Hand held spot light, find the marker quickly and turn it off. The best have a switch that does not stay on, so you can make quick flashes to reconfirm. And you can hold it above the boat to preserve night vision.

No headlights on a boat.

 

[amanphoto]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

The channel is at the end of the bay. There is no other boat traffic when I'm coming in. Most of the time the camper top is up and the sea glass makes it very hard to use a hand held spot light. Some times it's raining. Once I've found the markers, I will turn the lights off.

I would like to see a comparison between LED dock light and halogen.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

I would recommend GPS and a remote controlled spotlight then... docking lights are for docking...

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

LEDs are often brighter and use about 20 % of the power as halogens how ever the distance isn't like a head light. I have both and being as I often night fish and and have fog, a quick flash with a spot light will show a channel marker, most have reflective tape on them .

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

Docking lights will not do what you are wanting unless you are almost on top of the marker. Like everyone else is saying, handheld or remote control spot light is what you need.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

The channel is at the end of the bay. There is no other boat traffic when I'm coming in. Most of the time the camper top is up and the sea glass makes it very hard to use a hand held spot light. Some times it's raining. Once I've found the markers, I will turn the lights off.

I would like to see a comparison between LED dock light and halogen.

The halogen (I'm talking the kind of docking lights that you have to cut 4-5 inch holes in your bow for) are way brighter and light up a larger area than the smaller LED's. They can even hit the reflector tape on buoys from maybe 100' out but for what you're looking to do a hand held spot would fit you best. Just un-snap a few snaps on the camper cover and put the head of the spot light through when you need to use it. The spot is many times brighter than the large halogen docking lights. If un-snapping the camper cover is too much of a pain then go with a remote spot up on the bow. No docking lights are going to be bright enough to do what you want to do.

 

[etracer68]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

I'm offen out at night, and use a hand held, never on for more then 10 sec to look for markers, and the reflective makers are easy to find. I also use a GPS, and mark spot just inside, inbetween, and just outside the markers before during daylight. The GPS marks, line me right up. Also remember, RED, Right, Return. Most entrances are marked with a blinking light also.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

I boat a lot at night, and I agree with most people here, docking lights are useless for this purpose. They are great for lighting up the dock once you are 100' away and head on. No matter how bright they are they are, they reflect way too much off the water to help see for any great distance. A spot you that you can use to scan for the markers quickly and from a steeper angle that will reduce the glare from the the water. I use a handheld, but a remote spot would work well if you use the camper often.

And, "headlights" under way get you a visit from the LEO on our lake real fast.

 

[the machinist]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

I can understand the OP as a few times when I have had to launch early (4:30AM) to be able to get launched at a very minus tide, there were some morons who laid out numerous crab pots in front of the launch area. Without my docking lights, I would not have made it thru that maze of pots/lines. Yes maybe my handheld would have worked, BUT running 1/2 a mile into deeper/open water using just a handheld in that situation was not an option.

 

[salty87]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

problem with docking lights is they are fixed. if the bow isn't pointed in the right direction neither are the lights.

another vote for spotlight with a remote if handheld won't work.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

Well docking lights generally point down towards the water, so they are like low beams on a car. To see at a distance, you will need some sort of spot light.

docking lights can suffice for the close up stuff.

 

[Myrtonos]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

Can docking lights be selective yellow, or must they be white?

Also, would ultraviolet docking lights be worth trying, maybe in conjuction with (low level) selective yellow ones? They would be useful in vincity of flourscent objects (many minerals) and organisms such as scorpions.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

Docking lights can be any color you want so long as you only use them for docking. Do you run into many scorpions at your dock? Perhaps you should find safer docking facilities...

 

[Myrtonos]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

Yes, visible emission headlights may only be used for docking, but is it any different with ultraviolet docking lights, would they still be classed legally as docking lights if the only visible light they emit is a dim violet light?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Docking Light Recommendation

yes it would be the same..... the ONLY exterior lights you can legally run while underway at night are red and green to mark each side of the bow and white overhead and on the stern. There are laws specifying angles of visibility and brightness of all of these lights.