Lifejacket lights, what to buy

[JimC]

I've recently replaced my lifejackets and want to buy lights for them, any recommendations? The L/Js are Kru Commodores.

 

[Bobc]

Any of the SOLAS flashing water-actvated ones. Aquaspec, Crewsaver, etc.

 

[pmagowan]

I saw some nifty ones that stick to the bladder and make it light up. They were very small

 

[sarabande]

I have a couple of Peli mini torches. They have a range of really waterproof dive lights about the size of a fat biro, and I would certainly consider talking to Peli about a suitable choice.

https://www.pelishop.com/peli-nemo-dive-series.html


(No affiliation apart from being a satisfied customer)

 

[KAL]

I saw some nifty ones that stick to the bladder and make it light up. They were very small

They are Spinlock Lume-Ons. Not SOLAS, but I fitted them to all our non-Spinlock vests as well as the pylon lights.

https://www.spinlock.co.uk/en/stories/the-lume-on-revolution

 

[JimC]

The pylon lights look pretty good in the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df79T7c5I1Y&list=PLIs2q4Xb_gebKt1NX2OEXA-LktrX7YEbg&index=1

Will they fit non-Spinlock LJs? Mine are Kru.

 

[KAL]

Yes, they do. The Lume-Ons are an excellent and cheap add-on though. You attach one to each bladder. They make the bladders light up as they flash so the inflated jacket resembles sort of giant flashing balloons in the water, so very visible.

 

[bitbaltic]

I went for a budget option when replacing the lights on our jackets this year, after these UML lights got a surprisingly good write up in a pbo or ym test last autumn/winter:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/United-Mo...hash=item2f05ea487e:m:mqQLoMxW6w4Yr9RPIjft4NA

They were just as bright as my outgoing Secumar lights when tested in the sink, impressively so in fact. If you are buying for a significant number of lifejackets the store above applies quite a big discount for multiple purchases (we have five jackets on board and replaced all the lights this year).

No connection etc just a satisfied customer.

 

[prv]

I went for a budget option when replacing the lights on our jackets this year, after these UML lights got a surprisingly good write up in a pbo or ym test last autumn/winter:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/United-Mo...hash=item2f05ea487e:m:mqQLoMxW6w4Yr9RPIjft4NA

I use those too. Nice and compact, very bright, not expensive. Auto-activating with a sensor on a wire, but can be manually turned off when needed. They clip onto straps and suchlike, or there are little rubber holders available to attach them to the oral inflation tube of jackets like the classic Crewsavers that have no other features on the front.

Pete

 

[pcatterall]

I had cheap LED cycle lights as manual back ups on dan buoy and horseshoe. They have been attached for 2 years now and still work! at £1.5 a time great as back ups

 

[Robin]

I saw some nifty ones that stick to the bladder and make it light up. They were very small

fluorescent tequila?

Sorry, got my coat on ready.

I prefer the velcro strap attached armband type strobe lights we bought years ago, are they still available? Weren't expensive as I recall

 

[ShinyShoe]

I had cheap LED cycle lights as manual back ups on dan buoy and horseshoe. They have been attached for 2 years now and still work! at £1.5 a time great as back ups

Need to remember to activate before its chucked!

Sometimes an inovation catches your eye. Saw this just this morning and thought - that seems quite smart

[video]https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIs2q4Xb_gebQ4_xq8CZVxl8MzrIgfRlE&rel=0[/video]

Would like to see a head to head -

No light. Standard SOLAS light. This.

 

[JimC]

Need to remember to activate before its chucked!

Sometimes an inovation catches your eye. Saw this just this morning and thought - that seems quite smart

[video]https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIs2q4Xb_gebQ4_xq8CZVxl8MzrIgfRlE&rel=0[/video]

Would like to see a head to head -

No light. Standard SOLAS light. This.

You are seeing a head to head. In the video the person in the water has both the Lume-On bladder lights and a SOLAS flashing light. The Lume-Ons look as if they would be easier to see, certainly at the distances in the video.

 

[ShinyShoe]

You are seeing a head to head. In the video the person in the water has both the Lume-On bladder lights and a SOLAS flashing light. The Lume-Ons look as if they would be easier to see, certainly at the distances in the video.

Yes I could see that - but I couldn't see that one was "better". The SOLAS light is brighter but smaller. The Lume-On is bigger but duller. If I was designing a PBO test I'd expect to:

Take a clear night in flat calm water. Put a test boat with visibility say at 1miles and a dummy with a SOLAS light on it and see if it can be seen, if it can move it back until it can not easily be seen, if it can't move it forward until it can. Now repeat with the Lume-On. The distance would be the outcome I'd want.

Now repeat in rougher weather.

Now repeat in poor visibility.

If you don't use distance, you use a fixed distance - lets say 500m. You then use time till spotted and a compass bearing obtained. I think the bigger bladder light might make that easier as I think you are less likely to loose sight of it in a wave etc.

What I don't like with the video is both lights together.. I can't work out which one is attracting my eye... I think both do...

 

[KAL]

The more the merrier, really...

 

[roliam]

I also have the Lume-Ons. They work great and are not pricey.