Solar Rail Lights (2)

[geoffschultz]

I tried to post this in the following thread forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=137356, but it was closed.

I was hoping that someone out there had found a great rail mounted solar light. I'm about to head down to my boat on the Pacific side of Mexico and will be headed to El Salvador. It seems that everyone uses solar lights to mark their boats as the locals driving pangas at night don't seem to look up for anchor lights, but they seem to be able to avoid boats with these. At least that's the theory...and yes, I do run an anchor light.

Anyhow, I was hoping that someone found a rail mounted solar led light that holds up in a marine environment.

-- Geoff

 

[AnchorDragger]

Why go for reliable and durable when you can get solar garden path lights for under $5 at Lowes Building supply. When one dies just deep six it and drag out another from inside storage.

 

[kjretlaw]

Ditto... I found them at Target at the end of the season for $2.00 I bought a dozen and use 4 at a time.

 

[Tim R.]

I know MaineSail has a good rail mounted anchor light but I do not recall if it is solar.

I use a battery operated LED lantern.

 

[Scott B]

Something like these? http://www.emarinesolar.com/solar-lights/solar-rail-lights.php Clamp onto the rails etc., but pricey at $23 ea.

I just use the garden solar lights and zip tie them to the stanchions.

 

[geoffschultz]

One major issue is that I have to carry/fly with these to Mexico and really want something that lasts. I also want something small that doesn't catch lines. The ones at eMaineSolar do look good, but as Scott B said, pricey.

 

[Delezynski]

Use care when selecting a standard garden light. We bought a set of 4 in La Paz mexico. They were more than I wanted to pay, but sure did turn out to be the BEST in the long run!

We used them a LOT in the Sea of Cortez. Try to get ones that have a warm color. NOT the bright white ones! It helps if they look like a flame. Stands out better.

The cheep ones (like for US $5.00 will NOT last all night. The ones we got lasted for the full night and then some.

What we did was to just use a bit of the blue painters tape to secure one on the bow pulpit (see photo below) and used a bit of safety wire to secure on aft. They worked for years with no problems! I did replace one of the rechargeable batteries on one (the bow) with a larger capacity.

Greg

 

[zeehag]

in mexico, go to home depot or mega and fin d many garden lights. one need not smuggle these from usa, as they exist here. everywhere. $US 3-6 each.

 

[dscribner]

I also use them. A little rigging tape around the end and they plug into a winch quite nicely. If you take length of 3/4" PVC, drill a 3/8" hole and cut a slot to get around your lifelines, they plug on pretty well. The problem is charging. You can leave them in place as long as none of your lines will knock them off but I keep them on the stern until we anchor.

 

[Skip Gundlach]

Hi, Geoff,

We have JUST now taken down the first of a pair of HD solar lamps, the replacement just now going on the stern rail. We used, as mentioned by another, a 3/4" pipe as our stanchion for it.

Other cheapies we put in the winch handle holes; they fit perfectly there by reversing the pointy plastic thingy, leaving a round thingy which is sufficient to hold it upright.

I don't know the maker, as we just tossed the package, but it was substantially better than the cheapies we put in our winches. To my mind, NEVER coming out other than for a night passage, and lasting 6 years, is a good testament. Like the other commenter, I did replace the first one's batteries with a pair of my rechargeables a couple of years in.

HTH

L8R

Skip

 

[zeehag]

there are many solar lights for gardens in mexican stores--especially home depot and mega supermarket. they also can be wired into the ships electrical system if you are able to do that task....no sense in buying stuff in usa when same stuff is sold at same pricing in mexico.
i just bought 3 at mega recently--isnt a bad place to shop for stuff like fans and solar garden lights and even more..

 

[geoffschultz]

We'll be in La Paz for a week+ with a car while getting the boat ready, so we can head to HD/Mega/etc and look for them. Thanks for reminding me of that.

 

[zeehag]

happy hunting, geoff--dont forget walmart and the costco and the rest of the big stores that pop up everywhere without me knowing..LOL

 

[Delezynski]

Geof,

We got our lights at El Arco, in La Paz, Mexico. A short walk from Marina de La Paz down the Abasolo on the left.

Use Google Earth and look at; 24°08'40.58" N 110°19'54.10" W
and use the street view. Good place within walking distance.

By the way, if going from the marina, take a left on the street just before El Arco (ONLY before noon) for the BEST shrimp tacos! They get the shrimp first thing in the AM fresh and when they run out, they close up shop.

Have a GREAT time in La Paz!! We loved it and spent a lot of time there.

Greg

 

[windward54]

Something like these? http://www.emarinesolar.com/solar-lights/solar-rail-lights.php Clamp onto the rails etc., but pricey at $23 ea.

These are junk. I bought a couple to try out, and one by one, they died within a few months.

 

[Bill1565]

Something like these? http://www.emarinesolar.com/solar-lights/solar-rail-lights.php Clamp onto the rails etc., but pricey at $23 ea.

These don't last. We are replacing them with $2 Home Depot lights. I use Bimini fittings and short kengths of SS tubinginstead if zip ties..

 

[Bill1565]

I tried to post this in the following thread forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=137356, but it was closed.

. It seems that everyone uses solar lights to mark their boats as the locals driving pangas at night don't seem to look up for anchor lights, but they seem to be able to avoid boats with these.-- Geoff

Same problem here with" Sportsmen" 300hp motor on 16 foot boats.
Sailm8 who posts here sometimes nearly got run down in a fog this week.

 

[sailaway78]

Solar lights and batteries

I have learned that the main problem with solar lights, is the super cheepo batteries they use. I have a pair that wouldn't burn all night from the day they were brand new. After a short time they wouldn't burn at all. Took out those cheepo batteries, and replaced them with rechargable Duracells. That was a couple yers ago, and they still burn from dusk to sunrise, every night.

 

[zeehag]

nice n easy sed it right,,,also when one wires these lights into their electrical system they work forever on very small amount of electricity.....

 

[geoffschultz]

I purchased some eMarine Solar Rail Mount lights and found out that they were junk. To tie things together, here's a link to that discussion: http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=994586#post994586