Which flashlight d'you keep with you in the cockpit?

Thank you, Cap'n...the same people make this thing: http://bit.ly/UAiulp

Over 5000 lumens (whatever that means), for a couple of hours...then it needs eight hours' charge. Weighs three kilos.

Pretty damned butch...but you'd expect that, for £400. :eek:
 
dancrane said:
I'm still 'in the dark' on how much a lumen actually is. How many lumens would a modest, 2 D-cell 3v torch with a 2" lens provide?

And how many lumens does the average car full-beam create?
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I don't know the answer to those 2, but for a domestic incandescent light bulb

100W incandescent bulb = 1,300-1,400 lumens
75W incandescent bulb = 920-970 lumens
60W incandescent bulb = 700-750 lumens
40W incandescent bulb = 410-430 lumens
25W incandescent bulb = 220-230 lumens

So they give about 13 lumens per watt. I doubt a little incandescent torch would be that efficient, but if you're lucky, maybe 20 lumens max, perhaps.

P.S. It's Fenix, I realise, not Phenix. TK35 fits in my oilskin pocket and weighs less than 300grams.:)
 
Thanks LittleSister, that's a great help.

I had a big Chinese-made 12v rechargeable spotlamp from a French supermarket...fairly false economy at about 20 euros. I attached it to a car battery after the supplied cells died...and the bulb blew after about 15 dazzling seconds. Yes, I felt duly stupid. :o
 
I've got a sealed beam hand held light (I think it's called a "Blue Spot") which gives a good light. TBH I don't find it much use though. If I use it from the cockpit then I get so much reflection from the shrouds, stanchions and pullpit that I can't see much. It also screws up my night vision so I am reluctant to use it.
It's Ok for seeing things to either side but that's not really much use; I want to see what is ahead. :):)

I've got a headlight on order for my bike which will double up for use on the boat. At 1800 lumens it packs a reasonable punch and I'll be able to go up to the fordeck to use it (no trailing lead). Time will tell if it is any more use.
 
Rigger Mortice said:
I've got a headlight on order for my bike. At 1800 lumens it packs a reasonable punch...
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No doubt! That's hugely powerful. Something like a car's dipped beam, no?

Good point about reflection off standing rigging, etc. So a very narrow, powerful beam would be ideal - directable between obstacles. A broad laser light, perhaps? :eek: :)
 
I have replaced spotlight 12V 55W battery operated spotlight (as headlamp bulb) woth a lenser p7 and a TK35 bboth excellent lights and with Cree technology gives great light but IMHO problem with all LED Cree technology is the light scatter and lack of a focused beam.

I am sure its something they are improving but at present would be interested in anones opinion of a LED light with good beam.
 
Rigger Mortice said:
I've got a headlight on order for my bike which will double up for use on the boat. At 1800 lumens it packs a reasonable punch and I'll be able to go up to the fordeck to use it (no trailing lead). Time will tell if it is any more use.
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Is it LED or Xeon - any details?

I want to fit 2 extra lights to my BMW 1600/6 but official BMW ones are some £1800!!
 
capnsensible said:
I know its just me, but I have never felt the requirement for anything more than a small maglite in my pocket.

Got lots of other torches spread around the boats, but I always come back to the simple option.

Head torches though are the spawn of the devil!!!!
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I used to have a small mag light in my oily jacket. Sadly it wasn't up to a life at sea and stopped working after a couple of months. These days I don't bother with anything. If you stop using a torch to look at everything then ones night vision will soon be more than adequate for almost all tasks on deck on even the darkest night.

I agree with you on head torches. Nothing like being suddenly blinded by a pillock asking you a question.
 
At night I always have a Petzl e-lite
http://www.petzl.com/us/outdoor/headlamp/super-compact/elite
around my neck or on my head. Very useful for short range use.

I used to have a dive torch - about €30 and powered by 8 C cells - in a cockpit halyard bag, which I would used to shine on the sails or at the bridge of another vessel, or for picking out things. And a small waterproof torch that was powered by 3 AA batteries for looking at the sails.
 
dancrane said:
No doubt! That's hugely powerful. Something like a car's dipped beam, no?:)
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I hope so! At the moment I use 2 lights which have a claimed output of 240 lumens each. For riding on a clear dry night they are fine but if the weather isn't good they are only just adequate. To be honest, I'm not too sure about the various light output claims. I think a fair amount of poetic licence is employed, but the modern LED bike lights are certainly far, far better then the Every Ready bike lights that I rmeber from my youth.


dancrane said:
Good point about reflection off standing rigging, etc. So a very narrow, powerful beam would be ideal - directable between obstacles. A broad laser light, perhaps? :eek: :)
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I'm not sure. If you are trying to locate something perhaps a broad beam would be better? As I mentioned before I very rarely use a light these days. The only time that I have found one to be any real use has been on a friends boat when I've sat at a the pull pit using a torch to try to find buoys. On my own boat I'm usually semi-single handing ( SWMBO keeps herself warm down below!) and using a light in the cockpit is useless.

I'ld be interested to hear what other people think/do.
 
Sailfree said:
Is it LED or Xeon - any details?

I want to fit 2 extra lights to my BMW 1600/6 but official BMW ones are some £1800!!
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The light I'm getting is an LED one.

If you do a search for "CREE T6" under the Cycling section of Ebay you'll find there are hundreds of different configurations available to choose from. I'm not sure how you would adapt them for use on a car as you would need the right power supply (I think most of them operate at around 8.4 volts but it's necessary to control the current too)
Being a cheapskate I've ordered one from China for less than £20. If it works, and other lights then I've bought from China have been excellent, then fine. If it doesn't come up to scratch then it won't break the bank. :rolleyes:
 
Rigger Mortice said:
The light I'm getting is an LED one.

If you do a search for "CREE T6" under the Cycling section of Ebay you'll find there are hundreds of different configurations available to choose from. I'm not sure how you would adapt them for use on a car as you would need the right power supply (I think most of them operate at around 8.4 volts but it's necessary to control the current too)
Being a cheapskate I've ordered one from China for less than £20. If it works, and other lights then I've bought from China have been excellent, then fine. If it doesn't come up to scratch then it won't break the bank. :rolleyes:
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There are plenty of prebuilt drivers available to power these LEDs from 12v.
Say:
http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut1122

Team this up with one, or more Cree Xm-l emitters and you have lots of light, but watch the heatsinking.
 
This is mine next to companionway steps.
It's a Thrunite Catapult V2.
A McGizmo Haiku is likely to be in my pocket or around my neck.
A Stenlight head torch is the other option.
 
Am I alone in not getting this?

I do keep a Lenser torch on board - fantastic light for emergencies such as MOB, perhaps illuminating sail if a large ship hasn't seen you and otherwise just for pontoon at night if really required. But I'd shudder to use it otherwise while sailing as any bright light ruins your night vision - the brighter, the worse - and identifying buoys is what their flashing patterns are for.

Why would I want to use a torch while sailing at night?
 
BelleSerene said:
Why would I want to use a torch while sailing at night?
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Because your coffee will taste terrible otherwise :)

Preserving night vision is important, but there are plenty of times when sacrificing this, make sense.
Many modern led torches can be dimmed down to a very low level, but will still still provide a very bright image when required.

If you become a MOB at night I bet I could sell you one of my torches for a good profit :)
 
BelleSerene said:
Am I alone in not getting this?

I do keep a Lenser torch on board - fantastic light for emergencies such as MOB, perhaps illuminating sail if a large ship hasn't seen you and otherwise just for pontoon at night if really required. But I'd shudder to use it otherwise while sailing as any bright light ruins your night vision - the brighter, the worse - and identifying buoys is what their flashing patterns are for.

Why would I want to use a torch while sailing at night?
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I use the red light on my Petzl for most things, the white light on the head torch when I need it and the small waterproof torch for trimming the sails. Basically as much light as I need (either red or white as needs require) and as little as I can get away with.

I also tend to think the importance of night vision is over-rated much of the time. Most vessels that are a concern are so brightly lit that they tend to ruin your night vision, rather than require night vision in order to spot them. If one is approaching the coast then night vision could be important, but I try to avoid being in a situation at night where well-established night vision is going to have an impact on safety. If you know it is going to be important in the next hour, or in two, you can plan accordingly.

Maybe I just haven't sailed enough at night.
 
BelleSerene said:
Am I alone in not getting this?

I do keep a Lenser torch on board - fantastic light for emergencies such as MOB, perhaps illuminating sail if a large ship hasn't seen you and otherwise just for pontoon at night if really required. But I'd shudder to use it otherwise while sailing as any bright light ruins your night vision - the brighter, the worse - and identifying buoys is what their flashing patterns are for.

Why would I want to use a torch while sailing at night?
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I think that is right when you are on passage.

It's at the end of the trip when you are inshore/in harbour/going up river that a light might be handy to find mooring buoys, see withies or unlit marks, see piles, see rocks etc etc.

But I agree that it's well worth trying to use night vision first and only resort to torch light as a last resort.
 
Rigger Mortice said:
I think that is right when you are on passage.

It's at the end of the trip when you are inshore/in harbour/going up river that a light might be handy to find mooring buoys, see withies or unlit marks, see piles, see rocks etc etc.

But I agree that it's well worth trying to use night vision first and only resort to torch light as a last resort.
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Yes, and I stand corrected by NoElex about the coffee.

A good trick from a former life of mine (don't get Delfin started on that one) is to close one eye when using a torch at night. Then you retain the night vision in that eye at least.
 
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