Oil lamp

[graham]

I have a 40 plus year old gimballed Oil lamp that still has the original glass. Theres no space on a bulkhead for it on our boat so I would like to fit it on the cabin side above our dinette table. To prevent the glass hitting the cabin side at an extreme angle of heel I intend to fit a small restraining lanyard from the bottom of the lamp to limit its movement in the gimbal. Anyone see a problem or better way of doing this?.

Thinking of fitting it above the table astern of the window in this pic,

 

[robstracey]

The one problem i can see is that it might leak oil as you heel because it won't swing in its gimbals propperly. Have you considered a bracket? even an extra inch of hardwood mounting could be enough.

 

[graham]

I think I see what U mean ,the further it stands off the further it can heel before hitting the glass. Cheers I hadnt considered that.

 

[CelebrityScandel]

I have restrained cabin type oil lamps from swinging too far athwartships and hitting the chimney on the cabin side when the boat heels just using a piece of very light brass chain bought from a model shop. For small lamps the chain was about the same size as the safety chains on womens' bracelets, etc.

Exactly how I fitted it I cannot recall but was able to restrain the lamp from the direction I did not want it to swing fully in just by using a loop of chain around the lamp and to part of the gimbal on the other side at the level of the gimbal itself. So there was no loose chain hanging anywhere and there was also no restraint to the swinging in the opposite direction and fore and aft.

With the lamps we had there was never a problem of the oil leaking due the the lamp not sitting upright when the boat heeled.

 

[cliff]

Be very careful over the distance between the top of the glass chimney and the coach roof - oil lamps give out a lot of heat and even with a diffuser plate mounted one can still scorch (or worse) the roof.

As for the oil spilling out when heeled, don't fill the lamp too full when under sail or as others have said fit a hardwood stand off block between the gimbal base and the bulkead or cabin side.

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Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity

 

[PeteCooper]

I have seen my dad light a cigarette from the heat above an oil lamp so be very careful.

 

[doug748]

Even with a gimbal the glass can fly off my lamp, if I expect lively conditions I put it safely away.
When I got a new lamp the wick was twice the size of the old. This gives off a nice light but also a fierce heat (as already described). Even the conducted heat through the shield to the mounting would be too much. I have made up a solid wood "doughnut" and use it as a standing lamp on the table.

 

[Niander]

I have seen my dad light a cigarette from the heat above an oil lamp so be very careful.

you need the heat guard fitted above lamp.....

 

[Billjratt]

looks like you will lose the use of the seat, or it will be head-butted and broken that way...