A neat idea

[sailaway78]

For me at least. While back was wandering around in a dollar store. I know, but it's really OK to do some shopping there. Found some little three LED solar powered spotlights, made to stick in the ground and shine on whatever. All plastic housing, with a spot that swivels on the stick in part, and the little solar panel swivels on top of that. Less than 15 bucks for a pair. And they will burn all night, although get a little dim the last couple of hours. These things are absolutely the neatest gizmo ever for night sailing and lighting the sails up so you can see them, and the tell tales. They are not real bright, and I have them zip tied to the top front of the bimini frame. Mounted above eye level, and in front of the helm, they make a nice soft light on the sails, but do not harm night vision. Make it easy to see what the sails are doing on a dark night way offshore. Probably the neatest addition I have ever done for 15 bucks.

 

[BrianW]

Great idea Phil.
Big Lots has some on sale... 8 for $30. BrianW

 

[Stu Jackson]

Neat idea.

Only ? - what ever happened to the simple, ubiquitous, handy - dandy "flashilght?"

 

[Hermit Scott]

The best $15 upgrade I installed was 12 pack of Corona. Which we promptly uninstalled.

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Flashlight?

Stu- the flashlight requires the use of both batteries and hands. Besides, that's not a new toy to play with. Don't spoil his fun!:naughty: -Paul

 

[kloudie1]

I think that Phil is talking about the spotlight version and not the landscape or "anchor light" version..

 

[sailingdog]

If the lights are white light, they do harm night vision.

For me at least. While back was wandering around in a dollar store. I know, but it's really OK to do some shopping there. Found some little three LED solar powered spotlights, made to stick in the ground and shine on whatever. All plastic housing, with a spot that swivels on the stick in part, and the little solar panel swivels on top of that. Less than 15 bucks for a pair. And they will burn all night, although get a little dim the last couple of hours. These things are absolutely the neatest gizmo ever for night sailing and lighting the sails up so you can see them, and the tell tales. They are not real bright, and I have them zip tied to the top front of the bimini frame. Mounted above eye level, and in front of the helm, they make a nice soft light on the sails, but do not harm night vision. Make it easy to see what the sails are doing on a dark night way offshore. Probably the neatest addition I have ever done for 15 bucks.

 

[sailaway78]

Not the little floods

These are not the little floods that many use as a cockpit or anchor light. They are, as kloudie says, a spot. There is basically no light at all reaches the cockpit, and they are not bright. The light is just a dim, bluish tinted off white. Basically, all they do is make the sails seem like they almost glow, as opposed to being lit. Need no hands or batteries, and much dimmer than a flash light. There may be a slight loss of night vision, but it really is not a noticeable effect. Certainly makes night sailing much easier in shifty wind conditions. I have had and used the little solar powered ground floods for cockpit lights at night, and they do damage night vision, and do nothing to light sails.

 

[zeehag]

i found these lights to be just about perfect for use at night--they light the sails just enough for the sail to be visible and do not harm my poorly accommodating night vision--the stars are just as bright as without them and i can still see--with the spotlights and flashlights there is major loss of accommodation--i cannot see again quickly in the dark--these do NOT affect that at all.......other boats can see the sails as a dimly lighted form--we can see the sails as a glow forward and a shape..isnt bright and does the job..btw--i talked him into them ..lol.....they work at anchor to light the boat and while underway to light the sails--is more a safety factor than anything else--and it works..LOL...cheaply!!!!!!..

 

[kenn]

A good dollar-store has it's place... most of our boat dishes and glasses came from there, and they're quite decent quality. Beats $10 a plate from ye olde chandlery ;-)

I bought some of those dollar-store stick-on LED lights (the flood type; 3 for $7). They're actually a knock-off or the better ones that generally sell for around $10 each. The worst thing about the knock-offs is that they take 3 AAA batteries (expensive) and they don't regulate at all, so they quickly lose intensity as the batteries fade. If you're electrically inclined, it's not that hard to regulate them better and adapt them for 12 v.

The nicest interior lights I've found are the IKEA LED lights (various types and shapes), which are well-made, have a colour closer to incandescent bulbs, and can directly connect to 12 v. About $10 to $15 per light, but sold in sets which includes the AC adaptor.

 

[Ross]

I am always amazed at how little light we need to change total darkness into can just barely see enough to avoid tripping. Being able to distinguish a white thread from a black thread is the threshold of total darkness.

 

[kloudie1]

Check out this article on night vision and adaptation.. Pretty much defends Phil's position about color.. at very low levels.
http://stlplaces.com/night_vision_red_myth/

 

[Ross]

Before the advent of artificial lighting the world came with an automatic dimmer that allowed our vision to adapt to the darkness. It was called sunset. There are three stages of twilight, civil, nautical and astronomical. Civil lasts until the first stars are visible, nautical lasts until the horizon is not dependably visible and astronomical twilight begins when nautical twilight ends and continues until all stars are visible.

 

[Witzend]

I use a couple of them when shes on the mooring.

 

[rpwillia]

Got a picture?

That would be nice.