Do you ever use oil lights on your boat

A resounding yes. We only use oil lamps at anchor, a trawler lamp in the saloon and three fastnet lamps around the boat. Love them, the soft light, the warmth and not using any 'lecky!

4 gallons of lamp oil lasts at least a year. We also have an oil riding lamp that we use too.
 
Conachair said:
Once upon a time but not any more, got rid of them. Leds's just too convenient. Anyone have oil lamps at home?
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Yes, we have half a dozen, always filled & trimmed ready to light, & very glad of them we are when the power goes off. it doesn't happen as frequently as it did 30 years ago, but it does still happen once or twice a year. Given the current Govt's indecision over power supplies (no new power stations of any sort to replace the dead & dying from the 1950's & 70's) I am told we will all see a lot more power cuts in the medium term future.

I also have on on SR, it is a lovely warm light & does actually take the chill off the cabin of a winter's evening. it's not quite strong enough to read by unless you sit under it & have it turned up high, but it does take the pressure off the batteries if I haven't run the engine for a few days or more. And it looks good even when not in use.

I carry a 1/2 ltr bottle of no smell lamp oil - dearer than parafin, but lasts over a year anyway so it doesn't matter. I use oil because burning ordinary parafin can make your eyes sting in a closed cabin & ventilation lets all that warmth out! Never get any sootiness or oily greasyness simply by trimming the wicks & not letting them run out of fuel.
 
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Tidewaiter2 said:
I have a hurracane lamp but have never used it on board. It seems to give out quite a lot of heat and I have not worked out how to hang is up as an anchor light wihout the risk of fire. It has a 5 inch handle but that seems to get quite warm. Any suggestions?
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A suitable looped length of welded, not soldered, light chain with a s/s carabiner clip.
looped at lamp end, clipped ends at boat end.
'ornamental' chain from an ironmongers will do, but must be welded/heatproof:o[/QUOTE]

Thank you.
 
BACUS said:
Hello all
In this day of led lighting is it worth having a oil lamp as a back up, or are they to much trouble
Thanks for your time
Bacus
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We have an oil lamp which we hang from an open hatch handle; the hatch acts as a chimney at the same time. We also have small candles which we keep inside glasses. These combine to provide a cosy ambiance and warmth but we only light them when we are moored.
 
I'm surprised to hear of smelly/soot problems. Our Weams and Plath gimbled yacht lamp doesn't produce any odour or soot at all.

We only use Weams and Plath lamp oil which is about £10 a litre, it lasts us about 6 months, we use it every weekend.

I'll try and find a link to the one we have. It's absolutely top drawer.

http://www.sears.com/weems-plath-900-chrome-oil-yacht-lamp/p-SPM6378105403P
 
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We use ours all the time, it creates a snug warm light for evenings at anchor or alongside and its often lit on a night passage as its dull glow seems to not impact on the night vision too much but is sufficient to do galley tasks etc. Ours is one of these: http://www.delite.dk/essorensen/classicyachtlamp.html with a 4-way gimble and a clip on smoke bell. We've not had any soot issues using any of the lamp oils we've purchased in UK hardware stores.
 
Searush said:
Yes, we have half a dozen, always filled & trimmed ready to light, & very glad of them we are when the power goes off. it doesn't happen as frequently as it did 30 years ago, but it does still happen once or twice a year. Given the current Govt's indecision over power supplies (no new power stations of any sort to replace the dead & dying from the 1950's & 70's) I am told we will all see a lot more power cuts in the medium term future.
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Living aboard with LED's and a diesel heater it takes a day or so to notice if the power goes off :cool:

Though I can see the appeal, but after a year or two of not getting used I ditched the ones i had.

As for anchor lights... :D :D

noligghts.jpg


PA020030.jpg
 
onesea said:
We came back with one of these...

Lamp_zps48b62df2.jpg


If your thinking about buying the cheap ones look at the expensive ones first. This one came with 2 mounting brackets, so you can use it at home or your other boat/ caravan.

We have used it 5 nights so far this year, we had it as a light of an evening and turn it down to supply back light and warmth at night.

Should we of bought the LED's hell no...
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Could I ask where you got yours from? I have one like it and would like to get another; I got mine off ebay a few years ago and haven't seen another since - they are made in Denmark but I haven't seen them for sale here...
 
Two oil lamps in the saloon and they provide all the lighting during the summer. They don't smell and they only create soot when turned up too high.

I've also got a decent paraffin anchor light and a hurricane lamp for the cockpit.

To be honest the reason I don't have LED lights inside is because paraffin does all I need it to. Electric lights are used in the heads, forepeak and galley, but their usage is negligible compared to the saloon and cockpit.

I personally love the routine of filling the lamps in the evening, it goes along with winding the clock and changing the barograph paper which are all things that I only do when cruising in the summer. It's comforting and I know I'm on holiday.

Ventilation isn't an issue since the washboards rarely get mounted during the summer months.
 
We have two Gypsy Moth lamps from Nauticalia, and a swinging lamp under the saloon hatch. We often use them in the evenings away from our marina, partly to reduce battery drain(not so important now we have LEDs) but mainly for the ambience and warmth they provide. The fixed lamps have heat shields above, but we have never had soot problems. We use ordinary lamp oil.

We would not be without them.
 
re Doug 748 link to ebay USA miners safety lamps-E.Thomas&Williams are still making them in Aberdare, and another firm in Eccles, Manchester.
Combine with a brass Weems&Plath fourway gimbal,large size, both in brass. Not quite as pricey as the ebay ones, even if you get the proper gauze filtered one.
 
Lodesman77 said:
Could I ask where you got yours from? I have one like it and would like to get another; I got mine off ebay a few years ago and haven't seen another since - they are made in Denmark but I haven't seen them for sale here...
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I hate say I have already told you but:
http://www.calibramarine.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=54

If your in Burseldon looking for LEDS (or oil lamps) they are well worth a visit. Friendly help full so much nicer than your average chandler. They also sell on line...
 
I have two onboard in the saloon, i like to use them when i am alone sailing,its nice to see a warm glow below at night...and they give of lots of heat...but for playing cards and chatting around the table i find i use the electric ones..ordinary bulbs.
 
One Nauticalia Fastnet lamp that's now on its fourth boat. Also I've got a choice of three oil fired anchor lights! I burn white spirit, much cheaper than "lamp oil" and easier to find than the traditional whale oil.
 
Sorry, bit late on this thread but Yes we use all the time. I personally like the smell but if its not your thing then you can buy lamp oil that doesn't give off a smell or alternatively you can add your own essence.

An oil lamp suits my boat a bit like an open fire suits some houses.

Alternatives are tea lights which add a very nice ambiance.

Now I'm dreaming - sitting in the cockpit, warm starry night, glass of wine and an oil lamp flickering gently. Bring on the summer !
 
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