Who needs all the latest electronics for navigation?

dancrane said:
I bet tallow smells better than lube oil. And much better than echo-sounder wiring.

:confused:

What actually is tallow? Forty-odd years after hearing of it, I finally start to wonder.

I've definitely heard that an oil-lamp can be made to burn very brightly, as an anchor light. I'd like one, to increase the sense of not needing electricity, even if I end up cursing the oil drips and smell and wind-blown flickering flame. Good idea, or not?
Click to expand...

A Tilley lamp will burn very brightly and is quite reluctant to blow out, although they will misbehave in a wind.

To stay alight in anything, you need a Davey & Co cone burner riding light:



 
Last edited:
NormanS said:
Many years ago, when entering Wick harbour, with a much bigger boat, we ran aground right in the entrance. "Ah!", said the Harbour Master, "we dredged the entrance channel, using a digger from each side, and we couldn't quite reach the middle".
Click to expand...

We came into Wick in 2017 on the way back from Norway. There were "long reach" diggers working on the quays. We could only find enough water on the outer hammerhead for the night. He told us it was soft stuff anyway!
 
dancrane said:
That looks like the business.

Something tells me I may not find one new. :biggrin-new:
Click to expand...

Never had much luck with one of those, tried everything but wouldn't reliably stay lit. Until.....

Stick a homemade led light in it & works an absolute treat now, for next to no power :cool:

1WRSvkN.jpg
 
GHA said:
Never had much luck with one of those, tried everything but wouldn't reliably stay lit. Until.....

Stick a homemade led light in it & works an absolute treat now, for next to no power :cool:

1WRSvkN.jpg
Click to expand...

I have one of those made by DHR, Rotterdam, but it still burns oil.

I have been thinking of selling it as I don't use it now and they are worth quite a lot of money.
 
I know it's sensible to update to LEDs.

I expect it's commonsense to forego charts and pencils too - plenty of people seem to navigate happily with a tablet.

Much less appealing to my mind though. If I wanted it all to be effective and efficient, I'd hardly buy a boat wait for wind. :rolleyes:

How much, for the lamp, Poignard? Assuming it actually is windproof and burns brightly enough to be useful.
 
dancrane said:
I know it's sensible to update to LEDs.

I expect it's commonsense to forego charts and pencils too - plenty of people seem to navigate happily with a tablet.

Much less appealing to my mind though. If I wanted it all to be effective and efficient, I'd hardly buy a boat wait for wind. :rolleyes:

How much, for the lamp, Poignard? Assuming it actually is windproof and burns brightly enough to be useful.
Click to expand...

£100 carriage extra
 
Note that I asked what the stuff is, I hadn't a clue.

It sounded like one of those traditional oily, boathouse substances associated with preservation of materials, which often smell good.
 
GHA said:
:) :)

Think that one of mine was something like 50 quid at a boat jumble. Must have been drunk ;)

LEDs are much better at lighting themselves than paraffin when you don't get back to the boat before sunset as well.
Click to expand...

I actually have two; the nice copper one complete with spare cone and a galvanised one missing it’s insides which has - surprise- an LED inside it. The advantage is that it puts the light where you want it, not at the mast head. Beware of voltage drop, though...
 
NormanS said:
Many years ago, when entering Wick harbour, with a much bigger boat, we ran aground right in the entrance. "Ah!", said the Harbour Master, "we dredged the entrance channel, using a digger from each side, and we couldn't quite reach the middle".
Click to expand...
What a delightful example of honest Irish logic!
 
This one (£27 from Amazon) claims 20hrs+ burning time and "high light output even in strong winds". And apparently used by the army!

It's something I'd like to have, in addition to the proven LED solution.

Note to self: buy a yacht, first. :rolleyes:
 
Racing in the Crouch, I was the leadsman so we could get the longest tacks without touching. IIRR it was a bit lighter than 7lb. That was back in the 50/60s. Under my desk is a Seafarer700, that will be the only fixed electonics in the fresh boat. HH GPS 72 and VHF complete the kit, though there is a Yeoman as a toy :)
Most of my recent sailing is in open boats, so eyeball and chart.

Think the problem with parrafin lights is meeting the regs on visibility.
 
DownWest said:
Think the problem with parrafin lights is meeting the regs on visibility.
Click to expand...

My DHR proper oil anchor lamp has more than adequate visibility for any likely small craft anchorage. The Fresnel all round lens concentrates the beam horizontally and, when suspended at eye level is very visible. They were, until relatively recently, the norm for anchor lights on sailing vessels of all types and when I was in the MN, one had to be carried as a back-up in case the ship was without electrical power while at anchor.

Regarding the regs, I cannot imagine any official going round a small craft anchorage measuring the intensity of people's anchor lights. Even the most dedicated of jobsworths is hardly likely to be doing that. :D
 
Poignard said:
Regarding the regs, I cannot imagine any official going round a small craft anchorage measuring the intensity of people's anchor lights. Even the most dedicated of jobsworths is hardly likely to be doing that. :D
Click to expand...

You've not met the Portuguese Policia Maritima then?

There was a case a good few years ago, possibly Spain, where a fishing boat hit an anchored leisure vessel on anchor. The leisure vessel (can't remember whether power or sail) was found at fault for not showing correct light.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

mogmog2
Maxwell windlass 10 VW looks interesting (to a windlass noob)
2 3
Replies
59
Views
1K
mogmog2
mogmog2

Share this page

Top