Solar Rail Lights
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I saw these and bought four. Although I liked them at first, two of the lights died within a few months. They just didn't hold up well in the marine environment.
I just don't see how they can screw up 8 or nine components, a battery and a LED so badly...even the expensive versions don't last more than a few months. I have had better luck with the $4 walmart versions. Warranty replacement is all but impossible...as the "new" ones are just more of the same....
Best of luck...I have two left from over a dozen different ones I have purchased in the last 6 months, that still work every now and then.
Best of luck...I have two left from over a dozen different ones I have purchased in the last 6 months, that still work every now and then.
Walmart
Here is a walmart light and west marine clamp and pvc pipe connector and will shorten the light holder and clamp to stantions.
I can show you in person bill & Mary
Nick
Here is a walmart light and west marine clamp and pvc pipe connector and will shorten the light holder and clamp to stantions.
I can show you in person bill & Mary
Nick
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Clamps$$$$
There are easy cheaper ways I am sure to fasten to stantions but I had a coupon for WM and the clamps I think were $20 for 2 and some PVC and stainless screws and they can be removed with a screw driver and look good.
I have them high on my bimini and any of my railing and stantions too.
Nick
There are easy cheaper ways I am sure to fasten to stantions but I had a coupon for WM and the clamps I think were $20 for 2 and some PVC and stainless screws and they can be removed with a screw driver and look good.
I have them high on my bimini and any of my railing and stantions too.
Nick
Please tell me you guys are using these as an adjunct to a real anchor light... We almost plowed square into a boat using one as an anchor light because the light "appeared" to be about a 1/4 mile away, because it was soooo dim, when in fact it was less than 20 feet away...
mine were strictly to light a path to the boat, as the marina refused to keep light bulbs in the fixtures...and I had two in the cockpit (one usually worked) for the nights we came back to the boat late or unexpectedly.
Navigation or anchoring, not a chance....
Navigation or anchoring, not a chance....
Not Again
No not using solar lights for Navigation or anchoring either and yes always use my anchor light and yes my Nav lights.
But they do light up the the cockpit nicely for sure and the rest of the boat also.
Nick
No not using solar lights for Navigation or anchoring either and yes always use my anchor light and yes my Nav lights.
But they do light up the the cockpit nicely for sure and the rest of the boat also.
Nick
We added the solar lights to the deck stanchions on our trip along the Gulf ICW. When we would anchor at night, with our anchor light on, at gave enough additional light down near the water that the 200 foot tows that ran all night had a better chance to see us, and they did. We got a couple of comments from them saying it was a good idea and we should pass it along to other pleasure boaters. Chuck
I'll second this. The Poliglow lights are junk. Bought two, neither lasted the season.
Jim
Too bad about the reliability issue, they are the best designed rail clamps for lights that I have ever seen.
Our cheap Lowes and Home Depot lights are going on their second year and they still last until sunrise on most days. I think the first set of four cost us about $20.00. The second set of four we bought from Lowes was about $30.00. Chuck
Very common supplement here in SW Fla. 90+ % of all boating trips here are fishermen. Commonly in 20' boats with 200hp engines. 60-70 boat tournements that start at first light with boats screaming thru anchorages at 60+mph.
They get confused between masthead lights and stars. Additional lights nearer the water seem to ward them off.
I personally also wrap stanchions with reflective tape for the few that use spotlights.
Walmart lights. 3" of electrical tape around the base and they fit the winch handle socket like they were made to go there. Slice a 4" length of PVC; it slides over a 1" tube stanchion tube with a little coaxing. A spot of epoxy to the base of the light (to keep it in the PVC) and you have a light that snaps on quite nicely and cost $4. The winch ones you have to put someplace in the sunshine to charge. You can always use a throw-away AA cell. Another light that I won't sail without is a 3-LED puck light, you know, the one you stick in a closet and push of 1-2-3 LEDs? Lots of uses, even makes a great mast light if yours fails. Ask me how I know.
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My PoliGlow lights are on backorder, so made one myself today. Cost me $4 from West Marine and a yard light from the yard. Pic shows finished product. If it doesn't work out, I'm only out $4. For more info on how I put it together, go to my blog. Appreciate all the suggestions. http://dixonfantasy.blogspot.com/p/exterior-of-our-boat.html
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