LED running lights for a dinghy

[BobM]

I have been thinking about trying to make up a set of battery powered running lights for my dinghy, a 9.4 water tender. In the fall I am often out at night, returning in the dark and must return by tender through the mooring field in the dark. I usually run a small lantern, but have thought about rigging a battery powered set of LED running lights. Has anyone done something like this?

Thanks,

BobM

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Hi Bob
I assume you know that Aqua Signal, among others, makes some portable running lights which can be mounted on a dinghy with either suction cups or affixed to a permanent mount, all of which can be run off standard AA batteries. Just be careful you kids don't drop them overboard.....

 

[Calif. Ted]

I use the lights mentioned by Don on my dink, batteries seem to last pretty good, see link.
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|65136|295769|320399&id=166470

 

[sailingdog]

IMHO, you really shouldn't trust the suction cup mounts...they're likely to dump the nav lights overboard just when you need them most.

 

[BobM]

I know about those lights, but I don't think they would mount effectively on my water tender. It has a rough surface unlikely to accept a suction cup and no place I can the clamps would work on. Last time I looked at them they weren't LED's, as I recall. I throw my dinghy around a lot, so I don't want anything permanent that isn't low profile.

Here's a bright idea (pun intended). I think I will just epoxy a flat piece of plastic stock to the rough surface on the bow. Then I can use the suction cup mount. Problem solved! The Aqua Signal is buoyant so if you drop it in the drink you can just go get it. However, it is expensive compared to those on Defender. Plus, I'd rather get a pole mount stern light as having the illumination up high not only makes you more visible, but it will light the general area a bit, as well.

 

[Joe]

I'd think a couple of eye straps mounted to the transom, one above the other, would be more than adequate to allow a veritical pole mount for your light. The pole could be modified to hold the light....

Now.... that said... I think you are making this problem too complex. For $18 you can buy the defender unit and experiment with where it works best. If you're worried about it falling over board, tie a lanyard to it and harness it to the boat in case it becomes dislodged from the mounting area. I don't see why you can't fasten a small "L" shaped bracket in the bow to mount the clamp version of the light.

 

[Calif. Ted]

I had the rubber mounts come off several times, last time I re-glued using a gel form of super glue and they have remained attached for quite a while now, knock on wood. Still don't trust them entirely, dink is also stored out of the sunlight and weather most of the time.

 

[caguy]

I use an led headlight. It sits up high enough and shines where I look. Might be cool to add green and red lights to the side straps.
My wife calls it my geek light.
Frank

 

[sailingdog]

Of course, you're not USCG legal in most places using a LED headlight. Also, if you're not facing forward you could cause some serious confusion, especially after you added the sidelights.

I use an led headlight. It sits up high enough and shines where I look. Might be cool to add green and red lights to the side straps.
My wife calls it my geek light.
Frank

 

[caguy]

I was only kidding about the side lights, I'm not that big of a geek. Most dinks that I have observed in Avalon have no lights at all. At best most carry flashlights.
Frank