Paraffin light.

Yes. It may not be bright enough under some circumstances but it saves on battery power and lasts all the way through to dawn. I am reluctant to hang mine over the deck so I hang it high over the pulpit. That way. if in the unlikely event it falls it lands in the water and doesn't set fire to the boat. If I am not on a chain rode I hang it away from the rope!
 
Get the German one on ebay, not the Chinese one. Mine is ancient and still works a treat. Very nice glow to have a last whisky up on deck with.
 
Re: Paraffin light - on diesel

Has anyone tried running a paraffin lamp on diesel? Just to cut down on extra can to carry. My take on the chemistry says it shouldn't be far off...
 
Re: Paraffin light - on diesel

Dipping the lamp in the tank is a bit sodding tricky. And it smells for longer than paraffin. I only use about a couple of litres a year, and its also useful for degreasing stuff and getting slimy diesel off surfaces /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: Paraffin light - on diesel

[ QUOTE ]
My take on the chemistry says it shouldn't be far off...

[/ QUOTE ] what little experience of chemistry that I have makes me think that it might smoke a bit.
 
there is a maxi in front of me in pwllheli, he came back from the scillies last august with one of those garden solar powered lights stuck in his rigging as an anchor light, as of last weekend it was still there, come dark it lights up, come daylight it switches off, magic and no fuel.
 
Re: Paraffin light - on diesel

YES, I have just come back from the yacht club and driven past a boat whose owner has used one of those garden solar lamps to light his jetty, which I think is a cool idea.

For my anchor light I use a large Dietz hurricane lantern, which works well. It should be remembered that no matter how powerful your anchor light is, it does tend to be lost in the background scatter of lights as one enters the port, but having said that, I think that it is good seamanship and sound policy to always light your boat at anchor, not to mention a legal requirement!

There has been some discussion in the latest YM about strobes and multicoloured anchor lights, too.

I am converting my boat to paraffin lamps and also using paraffin for cooking - I would rather paraffin than gas.

So there it is! Hope you have great fun sourcing lamps!
 
Re: Paraffin light - on diesel

I don't think you've got the hang of this. He will need to know is it a diesel solar lamp or a paraffin solar lamp?
 
I wondered what that was. When we arrive in the dark it catches your eye, I thought it was something shiny on his mast reflecting the harbour masters light.

Not very bright is it, might be better away from the background lights, but as I thought it was a stainless plate reflecting light it is pretty rubbish as an anchor light.

I would rather not have other skippers squinting as they approached me at night at anchor wondering if that is a light or not. I had been considering one of these, at least now I know not to....
 
We use a brass hurricane lantern made by a German company Dietz or Deutz or similar. It hangs on a strop between our stern gantry and the sprayhood grabrail so it is protected from the strongest gusts, but it's flickering light still lights our white decks and coachroof. And before someone jumps on me, it doesn't HAVE to be hanging on the foredeck, read the rules properly if you mistakenly think that is written in stone. I like the paraffin lamp because the flickering light itself says 'anchor light' whereas a plain fixed white can be lost against shore lights, plus masthead anchor lights are too high IMO to clearly show up to an incoming/outgoing vessel.

We also carry a Davis anchor light which comes with a variety of very low amps light options from fixed white (2 different amperage bulbs supplied) plus red and yellow, all of which can flash or be fixed or flash in any sequence! This one gets used sometimes as a cockpit light as well as an anchor light for seriously windy nights.
 
[ QUOTE ]
or the not-so-famous Westfalia :

Paraffin lamp No. 555649



[/ QUOTE ]Fill capacity approx. 1 Litre -> Stays lit for approx 8 hours

Be cheaper to run the engine for 15 minutes in the morning and put all the amps back into the battery... Nice looking tilly type though

I use a hurricane, but it is chinese and I don't trust it, I am going to look for one of these Germanic types.
Port_Dinllean_lrg_01.jpg
 
Used one for years but more lately with...

Citronella Oil in it. Significant reduction in bugs as we sit in a cloud of repellent.

The very first one I had is now at the bottom of Poole Harbour after, one morning I carelessly stood it on the foredeck just before kicking it overboard. That one was a beaute; no leaks, never blew out and always lasted all night. (Bit like me in earlier days)

The next two were made in China and always leaked if you filled them full enough to last - around the side arm attachments to the tank. Next one was British and worked fine but it made it's way home and now serves as a garden lamp.

Wife just bought me a nice brass Dietz, German one which I have yet to try out.

I'm surprised that nobody has put in an objection yet on the grounds of "...all around the horizon for a distance of 1 nautical mile" but since it's now after midnight perhaps all the forum Rotweillers are asleep!

Seriously, IMO ANY light is OK for a yacht anchored in shallow waters. We also have two SS solar garden lights, one on the pulpit and the other atop the stern gantry.

G'night

Steve Cronin
 
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