Emergency navigation lights

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arfa

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Does anyone out there have a set of these and if so are they any good ? I am thinking of getting a set as back up in case I'm late getting back in. My boat is not set up with navigation lights and I do not plan on any night sailing but it would be useful to have a set just in case.
Thanks in advance
 
Based on the PBO tests, buy some Cat eye bike lamps for the red and white. They performed better than many of the purpose-built yacht ones and probably cost a lot less. Mine are a few years old now and the white has a distinctly green look to it, which I would readily use for a starboard light. Don't know if they are more white now.
 
If you are referring to those emergency nav lights that have a 'D' cell dry battery in them then forget it.
I used them once for real. Got to port and you could hardly see them 3 boatlengths away.
Thought it was the batteries, as we had them on for a good few hours.
Put new ones in - just as bad.............a bit scary as we had been relying on them.

Put your money and faith , into a decent rechargeable searchlight thingy - more effective.
 
I'd confirm the utter uselessness of the ones with the D cell battery. I had battery problems on a transatlantic crossing, and tried them, but the bow lights were barely visible from the cockpit. I've got a set of cheap LED bike lights, and intend to use green paper or paint to make a green (although the white has a distinct greenish tinge anyway).
I suspect that more expensive bike lights might be the answer.
 
Thanks for the replies - it is much as i thought in that bike lights are brighter and have a longer life. I just need to sort out the starboard light !
Thanks
 
You can buy green led's from Maplin and re-solder them into one of the bike lights you are talking about. Do the same with some white led's and you have a complete set. Usually there are three or five led's in the bike lights, you may have to bend the outer ones out a bit to get the angle of view you need as the bike lights are mainly pointed towards the front. Individual led's have an approximate angle of 30 degrees for the cheaper sort so the lights with five in could give 150 degree viewing angle and the ones with three led's only 90 degrees, that is assuming you can get the led'sin them to bend enough. If you re-solder them, leave them sticking out a bit so you can get the angle. Some led's have a 60 degree viewing angle. Check out the maplin book if you go there or their web page http://www.maplin.co.uk .
 
Of course, (and no I dont want a ColRegs discussion) as you are under 7m overall, you could just carry a powerful flashlight to light the sails.
I have had the battery ones for years (part of my old RORC kit) but only used them once. Dim is a good description.

If you fitted a 2 mile tricolour Lalizas 12m they are quite cheap about 15 quid, and a stern light for about 6 quid. Add nother white for steaming and a bit of wiring, I reckon you could do the job for about 35 quid all up. Must be worth that surely?
 
I too am avoiding the colregs debate and the safety issue....
I am colregs compliant already with a light but sometimes think it is inadequate although I do not plan to sail after dark.
£35 quid is a fair price to pay but given my fitting/electical skills you can probably add another £100 for someone to come along and do the job properly after I've botched it !
 
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