Deck lighting, useful.?

[aitchem]

Hi,
Planning my mast/boom refurbish, currently lying on the patio.

So, there is already a combined steaming/decklight there, perko I think.
Is it worthwhile to fit spreader lights as well, throwing light to the cockpit.?
They would ideally run off the one 1.5mm2 core, I suppose I could add more cable up there.

What about wattage, would high power be a hinderance. i.e. not being able to look up at the sails etc.?
I have limited experience of night sailing, especially involving having to say fix something in the dark, so any input would be appreciated.

thanks
Howard

 

[rob2]

I'm ready to be shot down here, but over the years I've never used the deck lights. If at sea, the efect on your night vision would be terrible so I prefer to use a torch and ensure at least one of the crew avoids looking into the light. They're probably most used to light the way back aboard from the pub.

Rob.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I'm ready to be shot down here,

Sorry to dissappoint but I agree.

I prefer a headlight to a torch though. It's instantly available, keeps your hands free and can be used anywhere, even to see into the bottom of a locker.
Just remember not to look directly at other crew members to avoid damaging night vision.

 

[chubby]

I have deck lighting, I wouldnt use it under way but if say rafted up to give folk a bit more light to cross the foredeck or if adjusting the anchor etc. I have one that shines down from the mast, orginally had spreader lights too but didnt replace these last time I had the mast down for a refurb.

 

[Cardo]

This is something I've been wondering. What about when at anchor? How do you light up the cockpit, etc.?

 

[NormanS]

This is something I've been wondering. What about when at anchor? How do you light up the cockpit, etc.?

I have an LED anchor light, which I don't always use, but when In use, it hangs on the end of the boom, and lights up the cockpit quite usefully.

 

[Herald]

Sorry to dissappoint but I agree.

I prefer a headlight to a torch though. It's instantly available, keeps your hands free and can be used anywhere, even to see into the bottom of a locker.
Just remember not to look directly at other crew members to avoid damaging night vision.

+1

I've got the combined steaming light / deck light for lighting up the foredeck, but apart from that don't see the point in putting further lights on the spreaders. Very rarely use the deck flood, usually left on for coming home from the pub and climbing down the ladders, often useful with the NE harbours.....

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

This is something I've been wondering. What about when at anchor? How do you light up the cockpit, etc.?

A 12-volt inspection tube plugged into a cigarette lighter, an LED lantern, oil lamp....Depends on the company and how much light is required for the occasion: meal? drinks? snogging...

 

[Lodesman77]

I also have the combined steaming/foredeck light - I find it useful for anchoring/mooring; at that point the requirement for night vision is less than that for seeing what you're doing on the foredeck. Other than that I wouldn't use it, and wouldn't want it shining aft at any point.

 

[pagoda]

I also have the combined steaming/foredeck light - I find it useful for anchoring/mooring; at that point the requirement for night vision is less than that for seeing what you're doing on the foredeck. Other than that I wouldn't use it, and wouldn't want it shining aft at any point.

Ditto...
Our deck flood is rarely used, but very useful when trying to sort out foredeck/anchor/moorings in poor weather. It only shines forward, so the helm is kept out the glare. It's dam* useful - finding a dark grey mooring without a pickup, in horizontal rain at 25Kts, when everybody else is on their 2nd glass of wine tucked up indoors..

Graeme

 

[LittleSister]

Ditto...
Our deck flood is rarely used, but very useful when trying to sort out foredeck/anchor/moorings in poor weather. It only shines forward, so the helm is kept out the glare. It's dam* useful - finding a dark grey mooring without a pickup, in horizontal rain at 25Kts, when everybody else is on their 2nd glass of wine tucked up indoors..

Graeme

+1

The deck light didn't work on our boat when we first had it, and having had several years without one and not much missing it, I have found it very useful since it was fixed. As others have said, especially sorting out anchoring/moorings, but also dealing with warps/halyards/sailcover on our berth, and reefing in the dark. Has been getting quite a bit of use lately as the days are so short.

I'd forgotten that I'd always wanted one on a previous boat. LED head torches are great, but the narrow beam not so good for for seeing where you're stepping or for sorting out an extensive muddle, when a dimmer but better spread light is more useful.

 

[westhinder]

I agree with the comments on the foredeck light and using lights when sailing.
We also have a cockpit floodlight mounted on the windgenerator pole and it has only been used when moored or anchored. I see no need for spreader mounted lights shining into the cockpit, certainly not while under way.

 

[Greenheart]

How about fitting a carefully 'blinkered' portside lamp, to light the deck with a red glow that won't rob the crew of night vision?

May need using with discretion, to avoid appearing to be steering the other way!

 

[Rigger Mortice]

A question from someone who has never used decklights.

Do you end up working in your own shadow, particularly when trying to pick up a mooring or play with the anchor? Just interested.

 

[aitchem]

OK, thanks for the input.
A good point about working in shadow.
I will dwell on that one, maybe spreader lights would be useful when tied up and returning from the pub situation.
Whilst on the lights subject....
What about having a mounting for a Spotlight on the pulpit.?
I am re-routing the wiring to the bow light and was wondering about running an extra cable for a spotlight, mounted, when needed on a swivelling platform.

thx
Howard

 

[LittleSister]

A question from someone who has never used decklights.

Do you end up working in your own shadow, particularly when trying to pick up a mooring or play with the anchor? Just interested.

We haven't found that a problem. Our mast mounted deck light casts a fairly diffuse gentle light over the front half of the boat. Hasn't been a problem in terms of night vision because it's a soft light, and I wouldn't be using it when night vision was critical.

What about having a mounting for a Spotlight on the pulpit.?
I am re-routing the wiring to the bow light and was wondering about running an extra cable for a spotlight, mounted, when needed on a swivelling platform.

Unneccesary, in my view. I find it very rarely advantageous to use a spotlight, as it destroys your night vision and you end up seeing less than without it. If you do need a spotlight I would recommend one of the new generation high-powered LED torches. Amazingly powerful, adjustable light level, and can be operated from the cockpit, and in any direction, unlike a bow mounted spotlight. (Santa got me one last year. Have used it more to amaze people than to illuminate anything, but a really good bit of kit to have.)

 

[nigel1]

My boat originally had one of those aqua signal combined masthead/downlights. The downlight had never worked and the masthead light was undersized for the length of the boat.
Recently purchased and fitted a Hella marine masthead light with an integral downlight. The bulb supplied for the downlight was 55W with an H3 fitting. I ditched this and fitted an H3 LED (ebay £6)
It provides enough light for the foredeck, very soft lighting but enough to see by.
Another advantage is being LED it can be left on a night at anchor with no worries about battery drain. Someone in another boat may miss seeing a single light at the top of the mast, but the down light does illuminate the boat well and makes it easy to see.
I bought the light from a US company, worked out at 50% cost of same unit from a UK supplier

 

[aitchem]

Thanks,
Well, the mast is down, I will fit spreader lights, because if they aren't there, I can't use them. At least I know that they shouldn't be too bright.
I don't have a radar pole and won't be getting one, so, maybe a light I can hoist up the backstay in a panic situation.

Howard

 

[NormanS]

IF you intend to go sailing on moonless nights then deck lights are very handy, I have one mounted on the radar pole at the stern to illuminate the cockpit, put there because of a lack of one when needed on another owners boat. Try doing a two handed job while carrying a torch, try it when someone else is also doing a two handed task and there's only one torch - deck lights save all that fafing about. I've only used it a few times in anger but it is worth its weight in gold. YES it destroys your night vision but just occasionally other things are more important and your night vision will return . . . . Its very useful when arriving or leaving the boat in the dark to, but its primary role is to illuminate the cockpit when things go wrong on very dark nights.

Head torches are good.

 

[prv]

Try doing a two handed job while carrying a torch

Pete