I have this really cool little RIS inflatable and sometimes, alright, many times, I like to get in a sunset dingy ride after work. I bought WM suction cup plastic type NAV lights that after two years I can say not only eat batteries (and I'm Green!) but have 10 percent of the integrity one would might find in a medium priced electrical-proof flashlight. While I took great steps to avoid being underway with dead batteries, it always happened somewhere in the cycle. It's not like these lights say, "Hey, you got twenty minutes." I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle battery and hard (as hard as a rubber boat allows) wiring a real set of nav lights in. Overkill? Better ideas? I always feel being out with a light out is like walking around with my fly open. BTW. Peggy, you're the greatest . . . Nick "Julia Bell" C-27 #86
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Nick, I Feel Your Pain...
.. I have had nothing but problems over the years with those. I'm on my 4th. (BTW, someone told me the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, so...) Anyway, the latest one I got is one of the slick-looking rubber-encased ones. It is sitting in my garage disintegrated after 18 months. I agree with you. I'm going to get a regular all-around light, or tri-light, wire it into two 6VT lantern batteries sitting in a Tupperware case and get on with my life... Rick D.
.. I have had nothing but problems over the years with those. I'm on my 4th. (BTW, someone told me the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, so...) Anyway, the latest one I got is one of the slick-looking rubber-encased ones. It is sitting in my garage disintegrated after 18 months. I agree with you. I'm going to get a regular all-around light, or tri-light, wire it into two 6VT lantern batteries sitting in a Tupperware case and get on with my life... Rick D.
One 360 White Light
If I am not mistaken is all you need. I saw one recently mounted atop the engine cowling looked like a pretty cool setup. The battery is going to be a hassel which ever way. Look at a wheel chair battery if you do go that way, they are some sort of gell cell and tipping won't be a problem.
If I am not mistaken is all you need. I saw one recently mounted atop the engine cowling looked like a pretty cool setup. The battery is going to be a hassel which ever way. Look at a wheel chair battery if you do go that way, they are some sort of gell cell and tipping won't be a problem.
Navigation Rule 23 Paragraph (c)
a power-driven vessal of less than 7 meters in length whose speed does not exceed 7 knots may, in lieu of the lights in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit an all-round white light and shall if practicable, also exhibit sidelights; Guess it is not real clear. What seems reasonable to me is you are going directly from the boat to the shore it would be acceptable. If you were to go this way seems that it would be prudent to check with the local constabulary and find out what they would look for.
a power-driven vessal of less than 7 meters in length whose speed does not exceed 7 knots may, in lieu of the lights in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit an all-round white light and shall if practicable, also exhibit sidelights; Guess it is not real clear. What seems reasonable to me is you are going directly from the boat to the shore it would be acceptable. If you were to go this way seems that it would be prudent to check with the local constabulary and find out what they would look for.
How about...
Years ago in my smaller boats with outboards and no charging I used a garden tractor battery for lights and stere
ne time I even used it to jump start my truck(BIG V-8) afer leaving the lights on for a day. Small, sort of deep cycle and cheap.
Years ago in my smaller boats with outboards and no charging I used a garden tractor battery for lights and stere
ne time I even used it to jump start my truck(BIG V-8) afer leaving the lights on for a day. Small, sort of deep cycle and cheap.dinghy running lights
Nick, I have the same problem. I cruise and occasionally bar hop on an 11 ft RIB with an out board that has electric start/6 amp alternator. Between West Marine suction cup lights that have either died or been knocked off, I've probably spent $60. What I want to do is mount a jet ski gell battery in the front bow locker and mount a socket to hold a bow running light in the fiberglass between the locker cover and rubber bow. I'm still trying to come up with a way to mount the stern light. It seems no one sells a socket that will mount to a vertical surface. I'd also like to flush mount a cigarette lighter receptacle (with rubber cap) in the vertical fiberglass of the locker for a bait airator or q-beam. Overkill? Probably. But I'm a firm believer in the fact that if its not easy to use, it won't get used. We'll see how it turns out.
Nick, I have the same problem. I cruise and occasionally bar hop on an 11 ft RIB with an out board that has electric start/6 amp alternator. Between West Marine suction cup lights that have either died or been knocked off, I've probably spent $60. What I want to do is mount a jet ski gell battery in the front bow locker and mount a socket to hold a bow running light in the fiberglass between the locker cover and rubber bow. I'm still trying to come up with a way to mount the stern light. It seems no one sells a socket that will mount to a vertical surface. I'd also like to flush mount a cigarette lighter receptacle (with rubber cap) in the vertical fiberglass of the locker for a bait airator or q-beam. Overkill? Probably. But I'm a firm believer in the fact that if its not easy to use, it won't get used. We'll see how it turns out.
dingy nav lights
Nick; At Catalina Is., and pretty much everywhere, we just go with a flashlight at night, but anywhere in Orange Co. (Newport or Dana Point) you need the 360 degree white light. (I once taped a shot glass to a flashlight for an emergency ticket-beater).
Nick; At Catalina Is., and pretty much everywhere, we just go with a flashlight at night, but anywhere in Orange Co. (Newport or Dana Point) you need the 360 degree white light. (I once taped a shot glass to a flashlight for an emergency ticket-beater).
Honest Sir, It's in the Book . . .
In regards to the all around white light, Rule 23, Paragraph "c" says, "a vessel whose speed does not exceed 7 knots . . " Does this mean a vessel *not capable* of exceeding 7 knots or is it (a nav light configuration) speed limit? However, I believe I’ll go with Red-Green-White because like elsewhere, San Diego Bay (night time 5 knot speed limit) is taking security measures very seriously nowadays and I'll probably pass on trying to explain Rule 23, Paragraph "c" while looking at an automatic weapon. The garden tractorjet ski battery sounds interesting (as long as it won’t spill) and the flashlight and the shot glass is a nautical stroke of genius. Thanks folks. Nick “Julia Bell” C-27 #86
In regards to the all around white light, Rule 23, Paragraph "c" says, "a vessel whose speed does not exceed 7 knots . . " Does this mean a vessel *not capable* of exceeding 7 knots or is it (a nav light configuration) speed limit? However, I believe I’ll go with Red-Green-White because like elsewhere, San Diego Bay (night time 5 knot speed limit) is taking security measures very seriously nowadays and I'll probably pass on trying to explain Rule 23, Paragraph "c" while looking at an automatic weapon. The garden tractorjet ski battery sounds interesting (as long as it won’t spill) and the flashlight and the shot glass is a nautical stroke of genius. Thanks folks. Nick “Julia Bell” C-27 #86
Whoops
I was wrong in my previous response on thsi topic; thanks to thos who pointed it out. It's more complicated than I thought, and is, of course, in Rule 23. International allows all-around white w/o sidelights for < 7 meters, 7 knots; inland requires sidelights. See link, then page 44
I was wrong in my previous response on thsi topic; thanks to thos who pointed it out. It's more complicated than I thought, and is, of course, in Rule 23. International allows all-around white w/o sidelights for < 7 meters, 7 knots; inland requires sidelights. See link, then page 44
Why use batteries?
Why not just power your lights from your outboard? They will only run when your engine is running, but that's probably the only time you'll need them, anyway. You can get a light harness for most outboards or can probably convert one if you can't find an exact match. Attaching the socket for a removable pole-type all-round light to the outside of the engine case will aslo eliminate the need for any external wires, but you should put a plug inside the case to help when you need to take the cover off. This would also allow you to get the light a little higher in the air and remove it when it's not needed. I haven't tried it, but it should work.
Why not just power your lights from your outboard? They will only run when your engine is running, but that's probably the only time you'll need them, anyway. You can get a light harness for most outboards or can probably convert one if you can't find an exact match. Attaching the socket for a removable pole-type all-round light to the outside of the engine case will aslo eliminate the need for any external wires, but you should put a plug inside the case to help when you need to take the cover off. This would also allow you to get the light a little higher in the air and remove it when it's not needed. I haven't tried it, but it should work.
Motor Electrical Output Quality
It's good that you're looking into having lights for night running. Last summer there was a 23 foot sailboat boat that was T-boned by a fast sport fishing boat even though they had lights (and this was in Dixon Entrance miles from any habitation); however, it was an old boat with those small half-inch wide lights that are almost worthless and the plastic was crazed and the colors bleached out. Not sure that regulation lights would have prevented this accident but it points out the importance of visibility. In fact, in todays crowded environment going a step above the regulated minimum wouldn't hurt. Our outboard has the capability of DC output via an add-on (not a "generator" but something like that) but when checking about the quality I learned that the voltage is "unregulated" and is not good for connecting to a wet cell battery (I wanted to add on a depth sounder). The dealer said the voltage and current output is not good for items like electronics and I don't remember what he said about lights but I think lights is what the unit is designed for. Also, I've found it really difficult to pick out a boat light against a backdrop of city lights. For this reason if I went to the effort of adding lights I'd go to 10W vice the 5W units. Sounds like a good project.
It's good that you're looking into having lights for night running. Last summer there was a 23 foot sailboat boat that was T-boned by a fast sport fishing boat even though they had lights (and this was in Dixon Entrance miles from any habitation); however, it was an old boat with those small half-inch wide lights that are almost worthless and the plastic was crazed and the colors bleached out. Not sure that regulation lights would have prevented this accident but it points out the importance of visibility. In fact, in todays crowded environment going a step above the regulated minimum wouldn't hurt. Our outboard has the capability of DC output via an add-on (not a "generator" but something like that) but when checking about the quality I learned that the voltage is "unregulated" and is not good for connecting to a wet cell battery (I wanted to add on a depth sounder). The dealer said the voltage and current output is not good for items like electronics and I don't remember what he said about lights but I think lights is what the unit is designed for. Also, I've found it really difficult to pick out a boat light against a backdrop of city lights. For this reason if I went to the effort of adding lights I'd go to 10W vice the 5W units. Sounds like a good project.
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