Portable Navigation Lights

Zed · Sep 10, 2015

Bob S said:
I have been using a LED lantern as a stern light on my dinghy. I want to buy a good light I can permanently use. Has anyone used the suction cup mounts successfully on their outboard? Judging from my observation about 25% of the dinghies I see use any type of light. Are you using a bow light, stern light or both on your dinghy?

Why would I want that on a dinghy? At night, if I was out and about, I would be in the sailboat with the dinghy on tow.

Johnb · Sep 10, 2015

I suggest everyone should read the Latitude 38 'lectronic latitude report on dinghy accidents at night, posted just yesterday

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2015-09-09

I am not sure mounting a light on a dinghy is viable with all the issues of power, wiring and prevention of damage. Also, unless on a pole it may just not be the right height. In any event a 120 dB air horn and a good lookout may be considered an essential addition.

walt · Sep 10, 2015

I use a portable white LED light (bought at WM) on my sailing kayak. Im not comfortable with a suction cup so made a place to mount the light. I normally do not use this boat at night but once needed the light coming back at dusk. 99.99 percent of the time, the light lives in a holder inside the hull.

Legally you should follow all the rules.. but I just have the white light only as this is the best way to been seen. Ill just repeat what I heard from someone.. if you have just one light, get the all around white as its the most important for safety. You can always say you had the red/green light but it fell off (maybe you used an imaginary suction cup to hold it on). Use that advice at your own risk,.

All U Get · Sep 10, 2015

I use the suction cup but have a string attached to the outboard and light. My wife, when aboard, holds the red/green..........no strings attached.

All U Get

sailingseadragon · Sep 10, 2015

I have used a portable stern light on a pole attached to the transom of the inflatable for years. It is powered by 4 AA batteries - easily removed and stored (and cheap LT $25)... It works well when returning to the boat at night. The same light is available with a suction cup that attaches to the outboard... I want more height so I went with the pole version.

Garner

capta · Sep 10, 2015

Almost no one down here has a light mounted on their dink. Many have tried, but they get trashed at the dinghy docks pretty quickly.
Most of us just hold an all around white above our heads (some wear headlights, but they are not 360 degrees) and proceed with caution. Considering the number of dinghies on the move and the amount of alcohol that has often been imbibed, it may be surprising how few problems we actually have.
Or perhaps not, since most down here cruising have the common sense to have survived getting here, and do just fine (amazingly) without USCG required equipment, boardings and local LEO harassment.

Rick Webb · Sep 10, 2015

Just for Kicks and Grins

Having been required to study the Colregs here is one of the lesser known requirements that are not usually widely known. I have heard that there was a FWC (Fish and Wildlife Commission) Officer who did know this rule and cited many for violating the rule. I have not heard of this recently though.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/navRules/CG_NRHB_20141118.pdf

Rule 23

(d) (i) A power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights; (ii) a power-driven vessel of less than 7 meters in length whose maximum speed does not exceed 7 knots may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule exhibit an all-round white light and shall, if practicable, also exhibit sidelights;

emphasis was inserted by me

Another quirky deal in all of this I have not found on the packaging of any of the "portable" lights stating that they are "Coast Guard Approved" as are the majority of the fixed lights.

Not proposing anyone do anything differently here just fun stuff for Nav Rules geeks to discuss in the bar.

The one important issue I'd ask everyone one to consider is you can't be seen the guy with a drink in one hand and a girl in the other is not going to be able to avoid you. This applies to dinghies, kayaks, SUPs, all of them. A strong flashlight to shine on an approaching vessel and an uncomfortably loud horn may make the difference in being noticed and being run down.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Sep 10, 2015

In Boot Key Harbor, ,and several other spots, you MUST have an all round white at least on your dinghy, or you'll get stopped

I used a suction cup one on the motor, with bungee cords to keep it in place

And of course there is this hilarious tale from a few years ago about a guy with a suction cup light and a bald head-

http://www.saltysailors.com/articles-cruising/a_brilliantly_dumb_idea.html#.VfHZ25dTTfY

Gunni · Sep 10, 2015

I have been using the NaviSafe all -around white LED light for several years, it attaches to a magnetic mount on my outboard cowl. This puppy is bright.
http://www.navisafe.com/

And yeah, it costs a lot.

But you won't be replacing it anytime soon.

capta · Sep 10, 2015

Gunni said:
I have been using the NaviSafe all -around white LED light for several years, it attaches to a magnetic mount on my outboard cowl. This puppy is bright.
http://www.navisafe.com/

And yeah, it costs a lot. But you won't be replacing it anytime soon.

If it's not well above your head, how does it not interfere with your vision?

Gunni · Sep 10, 2015

capta said:
If it's not well above your head, how does it not interfere with your vision?

Oh, it will mess with your vision if you look at it. Don't look at it.

It has a 225 deg setting too that puts plenty of light forward. If you want to win a fashion contest, place the magnetic disk inside your hat and the lamp will clamp down tight on the outside.

capta · Sep 10, 2015

Gunni said:
Oh, it will mess with your vision if you look at it. Don't look at it. It has a 225 deg setting too that puts plenty of light forward. If you want to win a fashion contest, place the magnetic disk inside your hat and the lamp will clamp down tight on the outside.

Using a 360 degree white light actually designed for the purpose, there's only two ways this can go. It can be mounted directly on the motor, shining light every which way (and on the dink) except where you are making a big blind spot by blocking it with your body. I find this configuration blinds me with reflected light off the dink ahead and makes it impossible to look
around without being completely blinded by one's own light.
Or, it can it on a pole or held aloft so that the light shines 360 degrees uninterrupted and does not shine on any part of the boat. This configuration allows one to look in all directions without being blinded by one's own light. Unfortunately, with the pole attached, it's rather inconvenient to go out to dinner or whatever. So we lopped off the pole and it fits nicely in a small bag, but it does require holding it aloft.
It is my preference, when running in the dark, to be proactive and able to see all around me, rather than hoping others will see my light and avoid me.

rgranger · Sep 11, 2015

TSBB 2 said:
In Boot Key Harbor, ,and several other spots, you MUST have an all round white at least on your dinghy, or you'll get stopped

I used a suction cup one on the motor, with bungee cords to keep it in place

And of course there is this hilarious tale from a few years ago about a guy with a suction cup light and a bald head-

http://www.saltysailors.com/articles-cruising/a_brilliantly_dumb_idea.html#.VfHZ25dTTfY

The lengths people will go to in explaining a hickey.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Sep 11, 2015

rgranger said:
The lengths people will go to in explaining a hickey.

isn't that a funny story? I totally cracked up first time I read it

rgranger · Sep 11, 2015

TSBB 2 said:
isn't that a funny story? I totally cracked up first time I read it

Yeah... I'm still laughing.

Rick Webb · Sep 11, 2015

If the Light is Behind You

Does that mean that the boat in front of you cannot see the light?

capta · Sep 11, 2015

rick Webb said:
does That Mean That The Boat In Front Of You Cannot See The Light?

Exactly!

dscribner · Sep 12, 2015

We carry a flashlight. My wife holds it while sitting in the bow. The way she flails about, it becomes an all around on its own, even to the point of blinding me.

If its a real consideration, I'd mount WalMart nav lights, swap to ebay LEDs and power with the small battery pack from that underpowered cordless screwdriver that your mother-in-law bought you a few years back.