Need some good torches

[BogMonster]

Having spent the greater part of Saturday night on one of our company's Halmatic launches searching for 3 people in the water (sadly no we didn't, nor have they been found since) there is a need for some better hand held illumination in such cases so I said I'd have a look at what was available.

We're looking for some decent waterproof hand held torches to keep on the boats. Must use sensible readily available batteries, preferably LED for battery life (we were out from 8pm to 1am) and also preferably LED for illumination - I have a LED Lenser torch of my own and they are good so probably one option on the list but apart from the stupidly expensive ones they are mainly biased towards the small pocket size - something fist sized that takes bigger C or D cell batteries for longer life would be better and less likely to get dropped as well. I'm also unsure how long an aluminium bodied torch will last in a damp marine environment without going green and furry, the only dive torch they seem to do is the D14 which only has AA batteries in.

Floating would be good but not absolutely essential.

Don't want something too too expensive (probably up to about £50) as a) we will want several and b) it's a working environment so from time to time it is inevitable that they might get lost / dropped overboard / go walkies, a lot of different passengers get on and off the boats in normal operations and some are possibly less trustworthy than others!

Any good recommendations for a marine torch fitting the above please? I've obviously looked on Google but not seen any stand out candidates - most marine torches seem to use stinky old bulbs which are a poor relative these days.

[Leaderscharter]

I have a couple of pistol grip led dive lights, obviously waterproof with three LED's.
I think the brand is Princeton Tec.
Good Luck!

[Anchorhandler]

- most marine torches seem to use stinky old bulbs which are a poor relative these days.

Hey Stephen

Dont bury the stinky old halogen bulb just yet.....due to the wavelength of LED generated light, it has trouble out performing a standard halogen bulb when used as a searchlight. Sure some out there do exist that can match the performance...but at 6 times the cost of halogen.

I use a Nightsearcher Panther HD when out hunting...unbelievably strong beam and fantastic longevity. Granted its twice the 50 quid you want to spend but they do have others including LED. Its what a lot of Coastguard/Police/Armed forces use.
Google Nightsearcher torches and you should find something.

Simon

[PeterM]

As above - nightsearcher do some good stuff and used by police/army....etc

[Channel Ribs]

Peli torches are worth a look too, tough and use sensible batteries (mostly).

Edit: For example the Nemo is about 40 quid, uses C cells and lasts four hours with a xenon bulb. Having both used these myself and supplied them to rescue groups I can vouch for them. They are a dive torch with pistol grip.

[Anchorhandler]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Peli torches are worth a look too, tough and use sensible batteries (mostly).

very true indeed

I have a Peli 'submersible' hand torch that i have owned since 1995

http://images.peliproducts.co.uk/3dl...1800/1800.html

still going strong and very,very well built in fact so well built it looks as though they havent changed the design since.
I keep it in an emergency tool/spares kit aboard the rib.

Simon

[chewy]

I know not battery powered but on the Atlantic we have waterproof ones that plus into a 3 pin socket.
Do the job fine and the lead is a decent length.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

Hey Stephen

Dont bury the stinky old halogen bulb just yet.....due to the wavelength of LED generated light, it has trouble out performing a standard halogen bulb when used as a searchlight. Sure some out there do exist that can match the performance...but at 6 times the cost of halogen.

Really? My little LED Lenser police torch will go much further than any hand torch (D cell Maglites etc) that I have ever owned, granted not as far as the 2 million candlepower 6 volt lantern that I have but the battery lasts a few hours not 20 min!

I'll look into those anyway, ta.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

I keep it in an emergency tool/spares kit aboard the rib.

I have a Peli M6, small but very very bright. Also kept in the emergency box.

[Zippy]

i have a schmitt and bender LED torch i use for walking the dogs in the winter. about the same size as the AA cell Maglight but waterproof and rubber padded so shock proof.

its more of a "tactical" torch but it uses the Lithium batteries, little shorter than standard AA (i cant remember the number and a quick google has proved fruitless) but they last for ages! talking good 3 hours solid use.

[Siochair]

This Co. offer free world wide shopping as well as a reasonable range of torches. http://www.4sevens.com/ This model might be to your liking as it takes AA bats and is waterproof. http://www.4sevens.com/product_info....oducts_id=2422

[SPR]

Fenix tk35 - 820 lumens and 333 metres Spoting range....

nice bit if kit

Scott

[diver 1]

I use UK Kinetics Sunlight SL6 Dive Torches. They have a narrow bright halogen beam, last for ages, take 6 C Cell batteries and you can find them on Ebay for around £20 quid.

Waterproof and pretty bash proof too. Avoid the new style LED versions. Very unnatural white light that doesn't highlight definition of objects very well

[neil.mccrirrick]

Agreed the SL6, or the SL4 both great torches and near indestructable

[Siochair]

Just remembered this site : http://www.qualitychinagoods.com/spe...ice-c-125.html