Led Nav Lights - Page 2

Hightower · 27 January 2008, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

This is not a criticism, just a comment. I know that the requirement for visibility of small boat nav lights is 2 nautical miles but are you happy for a large boat to need to be only 2 miles away when you get seen?

No offence to me but to be completley honest, I figure that 2nm will be fine for most inshore cruising, I guess I might want something a little more powerful if crossing the channel, but can't really see it as being a major problem unless I break down or something and as I'd be crossing the Channel in daylight I shouldn't really need lights.

I think that one has to ask the question if lights on a small craft are really that usefull at all. From a height of 6' from Sea level the horizon is only 3 miles away and as most nav lights on RIBs are lower than that then so is the horizon and hence the range of the light. But I'd rather have lights than none at all.

What have you on your RIB Jeff?

jwalker · 27 January 2008, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

I think that one has to ask the question if lights on a small craft are really that usefull at all. From a height of 6' from Sea level the horizon is only 3 miles away and as most nav lights on RIBs are lower than that then so is the horizon and hence the range of the light. But I'd rather have lights than none at all.

Aye, but from the bridge of a big boat the horizon would be much further.

Quote:

What have you on your RIB Jeff?

Well I realised how puny my lights were and I also got fed up with the bulbs only lasting a very short while so I diy'd some led lamps. Very bright, so bright I had to paint a black patch on a stainless cleat because a reflection shone backwards as brightly as a normal nav light. Nothing is ever straight forward.

Hightower · 28 January 2008, 00:02

That's assuming that someones on watch

In the Solent there are so many Nav lights from fishing boats, bouys etc I doubt they'd even see you. I do however carry flares and if I had broken down in a main shipping channel then I guess I wouldn't trust the crew of a tanker of Ferry to see me and would keep the flares pretty close to me.

But I see your point. If a 2nm range was inadequet (spelling

) why sell Nav lights in this range?

jwalker · 28 January 2008, 00:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

That's assuming that someones on watch

Bad boy.

Quote:

I do however carry flares and if I had broken down in a main shipping channel then I guess I wouldn't trust the crew of a tanker of Ferry to see me and would keep the flares pretty close to me.

Yeh, I agree that's a good idea.

Quote:

If a 2nm range was inadequet (spelling

) why sell Nav lights in this range?

I dunno, it wasn't my idea.....

BruceB · 28 January 2008, 00:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

That's assuming that someones on watch

I used to go to sea on research ships, you would be shocked to find out just how often larger ships rely just on their radar set beeping when someone comes close and don't keep watch.
Two recent incidents locally to me can be used as examples-
Does anybody remember the the Jambo a few years ago? 50miles off course with nobody awake on the bridge and managed to ram Scotland near Ullapool?
A local fishing boat (who shall remain nameless to save embarrassment) being boarded by the lifeboat because it was circling slowly off Oban. All the crew were found asleep below by the lifeboat crew.

so that statement isn't a million miles from the truth a lot of the time........

Pablo · 28 February 2008, 13:40

I'm only very rarely going to need lights on my boat. I would think that on such small craft only a white light would suffice. I also wonder why I can't find simple AA battery powered ones. 3 LEDs will stay lit for at least 160 hours on a bicycle.

jyasaki · 28 February 2008, 16:27

There are a couple of companies that sell battery powered nav lights (self-contained, AA powered, I mean.)

Innovative [something or other - Lighting?] is one; had a set for my SIB in case I got caught out after dark. The moisture in the drybox was enough to corrode everything to uselessness before I ever used them. And that was after giving all metal bits a good coating of silicone grease.

I don't know what the regs are in France, but in the US if the boat is capable of over 7 kts and powered by an engine, you must have lights rated a step higher than the battery powered ones (not sure exactly what that rating is, though; going by the markings on the packaging.)

Here's a link: http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=116109F

jky

yoyo · 28 February 2008, 22:46

The lights shown on this thread from down under look great but they are on the large side for my requirements at about 90mm long. Has anybody found anything similar but a little smaller? I wish to mount the smaller lights on the side of my console.

Pablo · 29 February 2008, 09:50

I think that just the white one in this set will do me. I'd attach it to my flag pole when needed. It will last 80 hours on a single LR20 battery.

http://www.bigship.com/catalogue/ele...eux-de-secours

martx007 · 29 February 2008, 10:58

I bought them Pablo a few weeks ago as they were advertised as LED lights.
Mine arrived with filament bulbs in so I don't know whether that was a one off or not.

Martin

Pablo · 29 February 2008, 14:46

I've not seen them advertised with LEDs but it would be interesting.

hobbit555 · 08 March 2008, 18:40

Have recently seen LED bulbs that fit in normal nav lights. not sure if they make them small enough for vessels under 7m

will try to find them for you

waverunner · 13 March 2008, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baydreamer

I ordered the same on set on july 24th and received them today. They seem to be the biz. Excellent service all round.

Just ordered a set, lets hope they are as good as they sound

Rooster21 · 13 March 2008, 22:39

Received mine from Oz last week.

Liked the LED NAV lights alot.

But the allround white seems a bit "made in China" ish, Taiwan actually. Does'nt seem bright enough to me either.

Didnt get any customs charges either.

BruceB · 12 April 2008, 11:27

I got the lights from boatshop.com.au site as well. A pair of white LED port/starboard delivered in around a week for £27 all in.
Quite pleased with them and quicker delivery than most UK companies.

Hightower · 12 April 2008, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceB

I got the lights from boatshop.com.au site as well. A pair of white LED port/starboard delivered in around a week for £27 all in.
Quite pleased with them and quicker delivery than most UK companies.

did you go for the ones with the stainless covers?

BruceB · 12 April 2008, 13:43

Nah, got the white ones as I am going to console mount them rather than back on the frame.
I have a full width white console on order so it will reduce the wiring outside the console and hopefully be less obtrusive with night vision than just in direct view.