Reggie - the riding light

[Sailingsaves]

I have had a pm with the OP.

My telephone device would cost more than the anchor project so far proposed. It would be good to light up all of the cabin lights too in order to find one's boat.

No one ever showed any interest in the 'phone device and hence I only sell torches and Gore-tex survival suits now (whilst working on other inventions and still getting nowhere fast).

Just my experience that NiMH batteries seem to die just when you need them, and give far fewer cycles than suggested. Perhaps on something that is charged every day, this will not be a problem.

Didn't you make a device to turn on a light in response to a phone call? Now may be a good time to mention it ...



An idea to fit such a device into the anchor light, perhaps to make it flash?

 

[RupertW]

Food for thought, red & green would obviously be out and if the lights have >2 miles range a flashing option might also be questionable as it may get mixed up with a navigation mark. Shame really as it would be fun to be able to have your own personal light characteristic ! Not sure about a strobe and of course if more than one yacht also used them it would be confusing.

Anyone any ideas ?

We have a set of b n q 30 white Xmas tree type solar LEDs and string them across the Bimini - although feeble we could see them from the taverna bar across an half mile of anchorage . So naff so unique when driving the dinghy in the dark when we can barely walk.

 

[PaulJS]

How about combining an anchor ball with a light and battery, with solar cells mounted on the ball's surface(s)?

 

[vyv_cox]

How about combining an anchor ball with a light and battery, with solar cells mounted on the ball's surface(s)?

The beauty of the self contained type is that it is always there and works every night. No need to go forward to rig an anchor ball if you choose not to and it works on moorings too! In Greece anchor balls are extremely rare and a Greek cruiser told me recently, in all seriousness, that he believed they were worn to show that the vessel had mechanical problems.

 

[mainsail1]

Having searched the web there appear to be anchor lights that suit most needs already. It seems this project may be just 'reinventing the anchor light'

 

[DJE]

Food for thought, red & green would obviously be out and if the lights have >2 miles range a flashing option might also be questionable as it may get mixed up with a navigation mark. Shame really as it would be fun to be able to have your own personal light characteristic ! Not sure about a strobe and of course if more than one yacht also used them it would be confusing.

Anyone any ideas ?

LED rope lights formed into a distinctive shape or word!

 

[Storyline]

How about combining an anchor ball with a light and battery, with solar cells mounted on the ball's surface(s)?

The problems with combining them would be the storage and also as Roberto pointed out earlier in the thread the ball tends to rotate which would not be good. The thing we need is a radical new type of anchor ball. Have been scratching my head for a novel idea !

Having searched the web there appear to be anchor lights that suit most needs already. It seems this project may be just 'reinventing the anchor light'

Yes, you have a point but I hope that new technology in both solar and LEDs will mean that we can come up with something better. As I said at the start of the thread this is a winter project rather than the start of a marine supply business empire . I would far rather be starting phase II of Storyline's refurbishment but unfortunately she is 316 miles away and the first winter of retirement leaves time for something to get my teeth into - cannot spend all day on here !

 

[tudorsailor]

My vote would be for a "find my boat" device. Ideal for charters. I still am embarrassed about being unable to identify our charter boat years ago on a carribean charter. First night, pitch black, every boat looked the same. A device you can wake up with with a text message would be great.

TudorSailor

 

[Storyline]

My vote would be for a "find my boat" device. Ideal for charters. I still am embarrassed about being unable to identify our charter boat years ago on a carribean charter. First night, pitch black, every boat looked the same. A device you can wake up with with a text message would be great.

TudorSailor

Yes, that is a very good point. I had not thought about charterers and I can see that in a busy anchorage with many similar boats it may be hard at night when returning from the bar to identify your boat.

Especially as many anchorages can get inky black due to the lack of light pollution. To be faced with a large number of single white lights must be confusing (especially after a few rums ).

 

[lw395]

My vote would be for a "find my boat" device. Ideal for charters. I still am embarrassed about being unable to identify our charter boat years ago on a carribean charter. First night, pitch black, every boat looked the same. A device you can wake up with with a text message would be great.

TudorSailor

Text messages do not work everywhere!
Several times I've been in cornwall and got the previous evenings texts at 9AM....

 

[Sailingsaves]

My vote would be for a "find my boat" device. Ideal for charters. I still am embarrassed about being unable to identify our charter boat years ago on a carribean charter. First night, pitch black, every boat looked the same. A device you can wake up with with a text message would be great.

TudorSailor

A few options.

1) 3M reflective tape and carry cheap Cree torch with you (but requires those 'special' AA sized, but 3.7 lithium batteries and special charger)
1.1) 3M tape but buy my torch ! Uses 4 AA ordinary batteries or rechargable. Dylan liked it and I have sold a lot and had only good reviews.

2) I used to attempt to sell a key fob that had 200 metre range at least, that would turn on whatever you linked the receiver to in your boat. No sim cards required. I could easily configure it to be portable and plug into a cigar outlet with an LED powerful enough to light whole interior of a 30 foot boat. Very cheap to make. But I never had any takers. I am not good at selling, only inventing / product developing.

3) the more expensive sim card device, but has its limitations as pointed out.

I use (2) to turn on powerful LEDs on my car and it lights up like a Christmas tree from 200 metres away. Just for fun, but maybe useful in a car park on a dark night. I also look out of the bedroom window and turn it on at 1 am etc if I hear a dodgy noise (street lights off at midnight) and the car lights up the whole road. Maybe enough to scare a burglar off also (or attract him to the car - but then he'd only see a cheap old banger with fancy lights - then realise somone has eyes on him and hopefully clear off or break in and get a good clobbering)

 

[RobbieW]

My vote would be for a "find my boat" device...

Handheld GPS with a waypoint set when you anchored??

 

[Jungle Jim]

As the thread has now deviated to 'find my boat' mode, how about these:

http://www.carymart.com/2ch-dc-powe...s-p-853.html?zenid=3t56kl3toio4364ngiakvhe7s7

2km range. Light up the boat from the beach-side taverna before you leave your table

Probably illegal in some locations as I'm not sure the frequencies are free globally. I can forsee problems if you press the button and the local air traffic control radar switches off.

 

[Sailingsaves]

That is like the keyfob thing I used to sell for £15.

Have not tested range greater than 200metres. Bit pricey at $48.

Hav

As the thread has now deviated to 'find my boat' mode, how about these:

http://www.carymart.com/2ch-dc-powe...s-p-853.html?zenid=3t56kl3toio4364ngiakvhe7s7

2km range. Light up the boat from the beach-side taverna before you leave your table

Probably illegal in some locations as I'm not sure the frequencies are free globally. I can forsee problems if you press the button and the local air traffic control radar switches off.

 

[Storyline]

.....
1) 3M reflective tape and carry cheap Cree torch with you (but requires those 'special' AA sized, but 3.7 lithium batteries and special charger)
1.1) 3M tape but buy my torch ! Uses 4 AA ordinary batteries or rechargable. Dylan liked it and I have sold a lot and had only good reviews.
.....
.....

That sounds a good idea, just a strip of 3M tape horizontally along the sail cover. Sods law would have it that the boat ends up bows on though !