Underwater lights

[samfieldhouse]

So, I'm moored next to a motorboat that has underwater lights which were on all night. I don't have a problem with that, I just don't really get why, what's the point?
I did take loads of creative pics of my boat moored in glowing purple water which is cool.

 

[colhel]

what's the point?
I did take loads of creative pics of my boat moored in glowing purple water which is cool.

Maybe you've answered your own question

 

[jfm]

As Colhel says, you have answered yourself
Also, they can also be a safety feature. Eg (1) folks generally less like to hit you (2) a MoB on your boat or a neighbour is less panicked and easier to recover (3) if tender is arriving late it's much safer to embark/disembark the tender with UWL (which btw is why I also have UWLs on tenders).

 

[Fire99]

So, I'm moored next to a motorboat that has underwater lights which were on all night. I don't have a problem with that, I just don't really get why, what's the point?
I did take loads of creative pics of my boat moored in glowing purple water which is cool.

I seem to have a bit of a 'blue light' obsession. Even my outside speakers now seem to light up blue.. I think my only reason for not having underwater blue lights is a resistance to more holes under the waterline. That said all my smurf colours go to sleep when I go to sleep. I think the safety point is a load of ol guff. If you need a boat to be lit up like a scene from frozen to stop you bumping into it, either go to the opticians or get some boating classes perhaps.. I'd say people tend to suffer target fixation so lighting up a 'target' may make it a target.

Bottom line.. It's vanity, mate. We think we're much cooler than we are..

 

[KevinV]

We think we're much cooler than we are..

Speak for yourself - I'm exactly as cool as I think I am!

(which is not very. Oh, and the only underwater light I've ever had is when I dropped a torch over the side)

 

[samfieldhouse]

I seem to have a bit of a 'blue light' obsession. Even my outside speakers now seem to light up blue.. I think my only reason for not having underwater blue lights is a resistance to more holes under the waterline. That said all my smurf colours go to sleep when I go to sleep. I think the safety point is a load of ol guff. If you need a boat to be lit up like a scene from frozen to stop you bumping into it, either go to the opticians or get some boating classes perhaps.. I'd say people tend to suffer target fixation so lighting up a 'target' may make it a target.

Bottom line.. It's vanity, mate. We think we're much cooler than we are..

I'm quite happy to buy the "I think I look cool" line - who doesn't want to look cool; the pretence of it being a safety feature just doesn't wash

 

[jfm]

Happy to agree to disagree. I've used underwater lights since 2009 and I'm firmly of the view that when passengers move at night from tender to dock/mother ship, UWLs are a meaningful safety improvement.

 

[Fire99]

I'm quite happy to buy the "I think I look cool" line - who doesn't want to look cool; the pretence of it being a safety feature just doesn't wash

Let's be clear here, when I can get over the idea of adding a few little holes in my hull and the bonkers prices for underwater lights, I'm sure the underside of my boat will be as 'frozen' as the rest of my boat.

Now asking a (perhaps) silly question. Why blue? Blue seems to hold the monopoly on boaty lighting...

 

[Fire99]

Happy to agree to disagree. I've used underwater lights since 2009 and I'm firmly of the view that when passengers move at night from tender to dock/mother ship, UWLs are a meaningful safety improvement.

Perhaps.. But if it was about safety, surely white would offer better visibility rather than a scene from Avatar?

 

[MapisM]

It's vanity, mate.

As if there wouldn't be a vanity element in boat ownership per se, to start with...

 

[Elessar]

Perhaps.. But if it was about safety, surely white would offer better visibility rather than a scene from Avatar?

No one said J had blue. But any colour light is better than no light.

 

[Davy_S]

The poverty version is probably trainers that sparkle when you walk!

 

[harvey38]

In this day and age there has to an RGBWA (not to be confused with LGBTIA) version that is capable of displaying pretty much any colour the owner my desire.

 

[colhel]

Perhaps.. But if it was about safety, surely white would offer better visibility rather than a scene from Avatar?

Would it?

 

[Seastoke]

I think blue , so no navigation light confusion.

 

[madabouttheboat]

I have them. To be honest I rarely turn them on, but when I do I love to watch the fish and other sea creatures that seem to be attracted to them.

 

[dunedin]

Happy to agree to disagree. I've used underwater lights since 2009 and I'm firmly of the view that when passengers move at night from tender to dock/mother ship, UWLs are a meaningful safety improvement.

Why are the lights better underwater fir safety finding the boat and transferring? Surely hull or deck lights would be more effective for the former. And lights for transferring from the tender are only needed at the one place used (eg side or stern) and a Eur10 sensor would switch them on only when needed.
I can't believe they are other than a fashion item. And what research has been done on impact on water life of the light pollution?

 

[Portofino]

Safety thing is poppycock , esp as the boats gotton extra holes below the WL often done @ build and rendered inaccessible.
Just your normal night lighting suffices .If it’s a large boat with grand superstructure eg a 30 M and a night geny , passing boats can’t miss it .

This is about @ the dock , if I understand the Q with “ moored next to “ ?

So in a marina if there was a tiny shred of safety which there isn’t leaving them on all night is just plain old selfishness , no consideration to others .IMHO .Presume there was no prior conversation by this neighbour of his intention to illuminate the place like tacky Blackpool ?

Re “ cool “ the really cool boats don’t need any add ons , gimmicks etc ..

 

[jfm]

Perhaps.. But if it was about safety, surely white would offer better visibility rather than a scene from Avatar?

"Perhaps" to you too. I'm not wishing to argue and am happy to disagree. I suspect (but correct me if I'm wrong) that you haven't taken guests - perhaps nervous guests and/or small children - in your tender to your anchored boat in total darkness with no UWL, then tried it again with bright UWL, and felt first hand the safety/convenience/pleasure difference.

In my view the colour isn't as important as just having light, rather than the alternative of much darkness generally and totally dark water.

So colour is a matter of choice. I don't use the dark blue setting on mine, and I tend to use cyan or white, but you need clean water for white imho.

All massively imho .

 

[jfm]

In this day and age there has to an RGBWA (not to be confused with LGBTIA) version that is capable of displaying pretty much any colour the owner my desire.

There is and has been for a decade. Lumishore