Maglite

[noelex]

They say a picture is worth 1000 words.
The first photo is the maglite rechargable the second a 3D Maglight and on the right is a modern LED torch the TK40

The phots were not taken by me

 

[Sans Bateau]

Impressive. krap office you have though.

 

[landlockedpirate]

Some more pictures for you. All torches had new Duracell batteries and position was the same for all. I was really suprised how bad my old Maglite was !

In order: Maglite 3D, Maglite 3D LED, Techlite 3AAA LED & Lenser P7 4AAA LED

1st Pic is the standard Maglite 3D

Maglite 3D with genuine Maglite LED bulb upgrade.

Techlite 3AAA LED torch from Costco (About £8 !)

Lenser P7 4AAA LED

To give you some idea of range here are a couple more pictures.

Maglite 3D LED

Lenser P7 4AAA

The Lenser is stunning, fantastic range and very bright, but it does come at a price. For my money the £8 Techlite from Costco is the best value by far, the Maglites will now be reserved for investigating strange noises in the night

 

[tudorsailor]

I got a Lenser P7 off eBay. Way better than my old huge maglight even with its LED bulb

TS

 

[tim_ber]

It could possibly be their new super bright LED Maglite which shines at an advertised 114 lumens, or something like that. I have one and it is probably the best torch I have every owned, not only because of the brightness, but also be you can focus it.

EDIT: tis dis one: http://www.maglite.com/d_cell_led.asp

To Csail, I would say that Stingo has identified the torch you used correctly.

I was given a 2 cell (D size battery) like the one he has linked to and was astounded by the performance (to the point that I would use it on board a boat instead of a flood light).

I have looked at the bulb and it is a tiny surface mount LED - it is patented by Maglite and is an amazing LED; so much power from such a tiny component.

The torch can be purchased for £22 to £27 I have been told.

However, having seen the photos of the £8 Costco torch, I will be investigating that too.

 

[noelex]

LedLenser are the only company that sell reasonable LED torches at normal retail outlets like camping stores.
Because so few people have seen a good LED torch they are “blown away” by the performance of the Ledlenser.
If you are prepared to buy from specialist stores you can get torches better than Ledlenser.
There are many torches for similar money that are brighter than Ledlenser. Most of the Ledlenser models are unregulated. This means that the LED is not driven at optimum levels. It also means the brightness drops as the batteries wear out. The better torchers are regulated the brightness stays the same until the batteries are close to depleted. Near the end of the battery life they will switch to a lower level or blink etc to tell you the batteries are weak.
Regulation also means the torch can be used optimally with many batteries such as alkaline, lithium rechargeable lithium etc.

Ledlensers big selling points is the focussing mechanism. This unfortunately compromises their waterproofness (most good LED torches can be used snorkelling without any problems, if you drop them overboard at an anchorage chances are the torch will be fine when retrieved). The focusing system is also unnecessary with such bright LEDs available and a good reflector the torches have good flood and spot without making any alterations.
If you look at the beamshots you will see the TK15 is brighter in spot even when the Ledlenser is focussed for a spot beam and brighter in flood than the LedLenser when focused for flood.

The beam shots so the Ledlenser focused for spot then flood. Followed by the Fenix TK15 (a similar sized torch)(the third image on the end of the top row)

For a boat use torch size is generally not too important and I have also included the Tk 35 (The last image on the bottom)a larger torch (164 X 62 mm), but brighter again.

Sorry to sound negative on the Ledlenser range. They are better than all the other torches you can buy at a camping store and brighter than most people have ever seen. There are however better alternatives

You can see beamshots of other torches at
http://fonarik.com/test/indexen.php

 

[Chi34]

Any suggestions for a boat torch, powered on AAs, which won't roll around?
Do these torches like these need 'high performance' batteries?
I suppose a luminous patch could make it easier to locate in a dark cockpit too.

 

[Seven Spades]

They say a picture is worth 1000 words.
The first photo is the maglite rechargable the second a 3D Maglight and on the right is a modern LED torch the TK40

The phots were not taken by me

These could be terrible misleading unless they were all photographed with the same exposure.

 

[noelex]

These could be terrible misleading unless they were all photographed with the same exposure.

Good point. They are all taken with the same exposure.
There are other sites that have beamshots with similar results.
Goinggear in the USA has some good videos including beamshots. The video format displays the difference in brightness better than a still photo.

http://goinggear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14

 

[noelex]

Any suggestions for a boat torch, powered on AAs, which won't roll around?
Do these torches like these need 'high performance' batteries?
I suppose a luminous patch could make it easier to locate in a dark cockpit too.

The requirement not to roll around is surprising difficult. Most of these torches are machined from aluminium tube and a round reflector works best which means they will be a round shape, but I agree something that doesn’t roll around is best on a boat.
For smaller torches getting one with a pocket clip solves the problem, but its harder for bigger torches (which would be my first choice on a boat). A good solution is to attach a lanyard to an otherwise round torch. Its useful to secure it around your neck when on deck and stops it rolling

The Fenix TK40 is a good choice for a large torch that will take AA batteries
http://www.flashaholics.co.uk/fenix/fenix-tk40.html

There is also the TK45 which is slightly brighter but has a less spot beam which is not as good for picking out buoys etc

I often leave a torch on low in the cockpit when visiting other boats. It helps security and supliments the anchor light.
The TK40 will run for 150 hours on low.

 

[Seven Spades]

Well I looked at the EXIF data and it has all been removed from the images.

 

[Csail]

Any suggestions for a boat torch, powered on AAs, which won't roll around?
Do these torches like these need 'high performance' batteries?
I suppose a luminous patch could make it easier to locate in a dark cockpit too.

Stellar light dive torch is good.

 

[noelex]

Well I looked at the EXIF data and it has all been removed from the images.

Some healthy skepticism is always good.
I have no connection with the site producing the beamshots, but it is independent and not affiliated with any manufacturer. The results are also consistent with other test results and comments I have seen. I have used a Ledlenser P7 and own a Thrunight catapult v2 (which is almost the same as the TK35 in the photos) and the differences if anything, look more dramatic in real life than they do in the photos.

 

[Chi34]

Thanks for the suggestions. Maybe I'll put a hole in a foam block, to prevent rolling. It's annoying if you can't put something down in the cockpit.
How shockproof are these LED torches?

 

[noelex]

Thanks for the suggestions. Maybe I'll put a hole in a foam block, to prevent rolling. It's annoying if you can't put something down in the cockpit.
How shockproof are these LED torches?

Very shockproof. The better models can be thrown against a brick wall and still work ok


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvnQHCld2tM&feature=related

Or from a manufacturer

http://ralights.com

"To get things going, we started by dropping this production EDC Tactical repeatedly from a height of 6 meters (20 feet) on to concrete, pavement and rocks. We then moved on to throwing the light at concrete, pavement and rocks for over an hour. The light still functions"

 

[Chi34]

That answers that. Looks like I might need to protect the boat, not the torch. Thanks.

 

[Pleiades]

Lighten our darkness!

This particular quest for enlightenment is a bit dim. Although I have several Maglites from tiny AAA one to 6 D cell whopper on board, imho all straight torches are pretty useless for most jobs on board. You can't hold them and work at the same time, they roll about and splosh overboard given the slightest opporunity, they slip out of wet hands easily and some don't have lanyard attachments. The rubber sleave with hook accessory makes them somewhat more use friendly but far better is the military style Right Angle Torch as used by the military, firefighters, - and me - I have 4 onboard. Handiest torches ever invented - and you don't feel like a complete twit as one does when wearing a head torch. They can be set down or hung up or wedged under a convenient armpit or wherever and they stay put and shine where you want shine. They come cheap - about £7 or £13 for a 2 cell C or D type and even the cheapies have O rings to keep the sea out, but you can get better quality ones right up to the hazardous environment approved ones. I have some of the Wolf ones - http://www.wolf-safety.co.uk/torches/atex_led_torch/ excellent, and another good make which I can't remember but they are all far more useful than straight torches. On a boat it is important to leave hands free to hold on and a right angle design contributes more to safe working than brightness of beam.

"...and the light was good."

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[noelex]

This particular quest for enlightenment is a bit dim. Although I have several Maglites from tiny AAA one to 6 D cell whopper on board, imho all straight torches are pretty useless for most jobs on board. You can't hold them and work at the same time, they roll about and splosh overboard given the slightest opporunity, they slip out of wet hands easily and some don't have lanyard attachments. The rubber sleave with hook accessory makes them somewhat more use friendly but far better is the military style Right Angle Torch as used by the military, firefighters, - and me - I have 4 onboard. Handiest torches ever invented - and you don't feel like a complete twit as one does when wearing a head torch. They can be set down or hung up or wedged under a convenient armpit or wherever and they stay put and shine where you want shine. They come cheap - about £7 or £13 for a 2 cell C or D type and even the cheapies have O rings to keep the sea out, but you can get better quality ones right up to the hazardous environment approved ones. I have some of the Wolf ones - http://www.wolf-safety.co.uk/torches/atex_led_torch/ excellent, and another good make which I can't remember but they are all far more useful than straight torches. On a boat it is important to leave hands free to hold on and a right angle design contributes more to safe working than brightness of beam.

"...and the light was good."

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

There is certainly a lot of advantages in keeping both hands free when on a yacht. I use a headtorch a lot, but your probably right I look like a complete twit.
The problem is a headtorch or a right angle torch can only have a small head limiting the throw.
To pick out a mooring buoy, another yacht or a MOB you need a bigger reflector which means a torch or spotlight.
If your doing something like working on the engine a right angle torch, or headtorch, (depending on preference) is a good choice.

 

[AHoy2]

Thanks to this thread (and particularly the input from noelex) I got round to updating my handlight equipment.

I wanted a boat torch that was suitable for searching, "alerting", capable of extended use without recourse to a boat power connection and robust enough to be kept at the helm pedestal at night. When not in use it should be part of the grab-bag inventory. I already have two of the traditional bulky rechargeable lamps on board but neither is particularly robust, waterproof or able to run for very long. After some further research it came down to a choice between the fenix TK40 or TK35. The TK40 has the benefit of using AA batteries which I am trying to standardize on for the boat (eneloop), whereas the TK35 uses CR123/18650 cells. I eventually opted for the TK35 based on the beam patterns (as displayed side-by-side on a couple of Youtube reviews), lower price and better suitability for use as a torch for crew/dinghy (lighter and smaller).

Have to say that I am impressed with the quality and performance of the TK35, although the ergonomics of the switches seemed a bit strange at first - now got a technique sorted. Versatility is good with the variable output, plus the slab shape reduces the risk of it rolling about. Hopefully I will not need the SOS signalling facility nor the strobe although the latter is very effective as a defence weapon!

The lower cost of the TK35 v. the TK40 and the decision to also carry CR123/18650 batteries meant I could "justify" getting a TK15 as a personal torch to replace my rather feeble small maglite :>) Same positive quality and performance comments for the TK15.

Both torches came with good quality holsters and spare O-rings and seals.
Delivery from Flashaholics was next day as advertised.

 

[Marmalade]

another vote for the p7