Boat light comments invited

Arminius

Well-Known Member
Oct 30, 2019
1,059
Seattle
Boat Info
Bowrider 200 Select, 2003
Engines
5.0L MPI, 260 hp w/Alpha 1 Drive
I was thinking of mounting this unit on the bow. It is rated at 8000 Lumens and pulls 4.3 amps. The spot and flood rows can be aimed independently. The flood would be useful docking in the marina while the spot could be parallel with the surface of the water while planing. This avoids the complexity and early failures of directional controls. Once I had strong incandescent docking lights in the hull of a big outboard and controlled light elevation with the trim button and this worked but was touchy. $70.00 and the only holes will be in the anchor locker lid. I will endeavor not to blind anyone if they turn out to be that bright and will ultimately wire 3 positions. This seems to be an honest ad for work boat owners:
vwl-108w2d-recb-store-revise.jpg
 
I was thinking of mounting this unit on the bow. It is rated at 8000 Lumens and pulls 4.3 amps. The spot and flood rows can be aimed independently. The flood would be useful docking in the marina while the spot could be parallel with the surface of the water while planing. This avoids the complexity and early failures of directional controls. Once I had strong incandescent docking lights in the hull of a big outboard and controlled light elevation with the trim button and this worked but was touchy. $70.00 and the only holes will be in the anchor locker lid. I will endeavor not to blind anyone if they turn out to be that bright and will ultimately wire 3 positions. This seems to be an honest ad for work boat owners:
vwl-108w2d-recb-store-revise.jpg
 
I was thinking of mounting this unit on the bow. It is rated at 8000 Lumens and pulls 4.3 amps. The spot and flood rows can be aimed independently. The flood would be useful docking in the marina while the spot could be parallel with the surface of the water while planing. This avoids the complexity and early failures of directional controls. Once I had strong incandescent docking lights in the hull of a big outboard and controlled light elevation with the trim button and this worked but was touchy. $70.00 and the only holes will be in the anchor locker lid. I will endeavor not to blind anyone if they turn out to be that bright and will ultimately wire 3 positions. This seems to be an honest ad for work boat owners:
vwl-108w2d-recb-store-revise.jpg
Unbelievable!
 
Running that while navigating (away from a dock, for example) is illegal, regardless of speed.
What do you mean? I am genuinely curious and strive to comply with the law. The technology is changing. Those old incandescents just didn't have the candela per amp.
 
What do you mean? I am genuinely curious and strive to comply with the law. The technology is changing. Those old incandescents just didn't have the candela per amp.
Anything other than the navigation lights can confuse other boaters, whether coming straight at you or from the side or from behind. With the existing navigation lights, I as another boat, know what type of boat I see and I know which way they're heading. If you add another light to it... now I don't know. It can lead to accidents.

EDIT: Oh... this would have been covered in that safe boating course that I'm sure you took ;)
 
Running that while navigating (away from a dock, for example) is illegal, regardless of speed.
That's the answer.

I recently read another thread (may have been on another forum though) where the OP asked the same question. He got blasted up and down and chastised for even thinking of doing such a stupid thing. Y'all should google the thread as many very very consise replies were provided.

OK, I'll admit to doing such a thing when I was a teenager. It was the most dangerous thing I ever tried. Dangerous to Me, as well as the other boaters. And boy did I ever get beeped a lot.
 
I would invest in a 12 KW open radar array to mount on the bow cover. This will give you eyes in the darkness. If you have the budget another great addition to have is a remotely operated FLIR camera. In combination with a 12” or larger MFD and AIS transponder these components will provide you with complete situational awareness during your nighttime outings.
 
Using white lighting, other than nav lights, while under way is illegal, with the exceptions of hand held spotlights and docking lights WHILE DOCKING.

The white lights cause others to lose night vision. Kinda like the schmucks that drive around with the new LED lights on high beam and too stupid to dim them, blinding others.
 
Using white lighting, other than nav lights, while under way is illegal, with the exceptions of hand held spotlights and docking lights WHILE DOCKING.

The white lights cause others to lose night vision. Kinda like the schmucks that drive around with the new LED lights on high beam and too stupid to dim them, blinding others.

That's not exactly the way the laws read. If, and only if, the white light could cause confusion as that what lights you are required to display and/or if the white light obscures your existing nav lights, then it's illegal. It's hard to imagine a situation where these two conditions aren't met on a pleasure boat but still....the law does not say "though shalt not use super bright docking lights whilst underway". It's a bit more nuanced :)
 
Does anyone have a better suggestion? I want area lighting while docking in the marina and a well aimed laser while planing at night. No fussing with directional controls of low candle power crap please. Yes, I also have a handheld for backing.

As to legality, I have not heard an analysis of that S. Carolina litigation whose origin was teens (who'd been drinking) trying to navigate under a bridge using a handheld who hit a submerged piling with injury or death resulting. National news assumed negligence. The culprit was a lawyer who faked his own death and it was very complex.

Boating is dangerous and we all must do our best to look out for ourselves.
 
If there are plans for planning at night is there an EPIRB onboard? And hopefully one that is automatically activated when it gets wet…
 
Does anyone have a better suggestion? I want area lighting while docking in the marina and a well aimed laser while planing at night. No fussing with directional controls of low candle power crap please. Yes, I also have a handheld for backing.

As to legality, I have not heard an analysis of that S. Carolina litigation whose origin was teens (who'd been drinking) trying to navigate under a bridge using a handheld who hit a submerged piling with injury or death resulting. National news assumed negligence. The culprit was a lawyer who faked his own death and it was very complex.

Boating is dangerous and we all must do our best to look out for ourselves.

If you can't navigate at night without a forward white light, you shouldn't be out there. Or you simply need to slow down so that you can safely navigate. If spot/forward lights were necessary to safely navigate at night every boat would be required to have them.

Perhaps you need to brush up on nav rules, buy a chart or get yourself a light list? Or better yet limit your boating to daylight hours :)

upload_2022-11-18_10-7-44.png
 
The coastguard nighttime speed limit is 25 MPH and many localities limit this to lower speeds. Boating at night is very dangerous and not the time to be speeding or towing people around.

As far as docking, why is a handheld spotlight not good enough? I have a cordless handheld spotlight for spotting objects/navigation markers and docking.

I could understand the bow mounted light if it is being used for bow fishing at night but not for navigation.
 

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