Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town lights

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Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

Get a proper anchor light with a dioptric lens which concentrates the light in a narrow horizontal band, They are also draught proofed to a greater extent than cheap Chinese plain glass "hurricane" lamps.

The cheapo is good for illumination in the cockpit so you can see your rum and nibbles.
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

How about this: I've replaced the stern light and steaming light bulbs with led ones, and incorporated an on/off switch in the circuit to the forward nav lights, which can therefore be turned off, leaving only the stern light on. When the steaming light is also switched on, you have 360 deg white light, using only led current. Any views?
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

Also i have found if you use parafin it soots the glass up less than lamp oil,smells a bit though no doubt you can get non smelly parafin.
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

1. I think the ColRegs specify a single white light, in the forward part of the vessel.

2. Someone might also assume that you are underway, and that your sidelight isn't working.
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

yep ! That does not comply with Col Regs definition of an anchor light. Quite definitely, it's not a valid / lawful answer to the problem.

"cannot be mistaken for any light, shape or signal authorized elsewhere under these Rules."

The potential for overlap or underlap of the arcs is very high, and the consequences of mistaken or confusing identification are serious.

Sorry, it's a good technical solution but not effective.
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

If it's sooting up, you've got the wick turned too high, or it needs trimming. Aim for a smooth arc of flame. Often the corners of the wick need a tiny snip with a pair of very sharp scissors.

For 20 years the family weekend retreat didn't have any electricity, so this stuff is second nature to me!
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

Its not sooting up now that i have switched to paraffin,i did on lamp oil even with the wick trimmed properly,thanks for the tip though.
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

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2. Someone might also assume that you are underway, and that your sidelight isn't working.

[/ QUOTE ]

In which case they would avoid you wouldn't they? Isn't that the aim of the exercise?
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

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12. Someone might also assume that you are underway, and that your sidelight isn't working.

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Surely that could be said of any anchor light??
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

The rules seem a bit funny here - as I understand it you can use an anchorlight at the masthead in lieu of a steaming light and sternlight (ie sidelights and anchorlight meet the requirements when motoring / motor sailing), but you can't use the steaming / stern lights in lieu of an anchor light.

I suppose I can see the rationale, but a little contradictory.

Jonny
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

Ummm, just a thought, but aren't hurricane lamps the paraffin fuelled lamps that operate under pressure and burn with a mantle and a very bright white light, whereas the ones described in the thread are just plain old unpressurised oil lamps that burn with a wick, giving a yellow light?

Having said that, having googled, it seems that any old oil lamp is classed as a hurricane lamp by retailers.
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

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the paraffin fuelled lamps that operate under pressure and burn with a mantle and a very bright white light,

[/ QUOTE ]

They are called "Tilley lamps". I have two, one is a genuine Tilley but the other is of Chinese make.

Hurricane lamps are a simpler un-pressurised type
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

Depends on whether they thought you were crossing from port or starboard, but I was wrong anyway in what I said because, if the lights were correctly sectored [225 degrees and 135 degrees], you should not see both at the same time.
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

Where did you buy it please? Fed up with my brass "Typhoon" lamp, tried everything, the only place it will stay lit is under the sprayhood
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

I would think the problem with a Tilley as an anchor light is that it would not last the night?

They are also quite noisy, a friend had one in his caravan and it is very bright indeed, but there is a constant low roar. Which might be disturbing?
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother

If Hurricane blows out and Tilley keeps you awake, where to buy a traditional oil-fired anchor lamp then? Google comes up with expensive brass souvenirs running off 240 volts!
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother

Classic Marine, or other chandlers of the same kind, don't buy brass repros though, they aren't any good, try to get a proper copper one. believe it or not, Ebay can be a good source, though again beware cheap repros in brass or "copper"

Trouble with Ebay is, you can get some idiot collector (spit) bidding against you, they will pay silly money for something they really want.

Proper oil fired Anchor lights aren't cheap, but they will see you into your box.
 
Re: Hurricane lamps - might as well not bother if there are town light

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Where did you buy it please?

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I bought it in Cherbourg from Comptoir Maritime but they have either moved or ceased trading.

However, you can get them from the German chandler, www. toplicht.de.

This is the one I have. web page. I have been entirely happy with it.

The casing of mine is made of galvanised steel, which is enamelled, but I think you can buy a brass-cased version.

It's probably a good idea to buy a few spare wicks and a couple of spare chimneys at the same time because these are not often available in modern chandleries.
 
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