Perfect spotlight

[newnewbie]

It's not the Energizer Rechargeable 3 watt LED (3.7 V 700 mA) 197 beam distance 4AA NiMH batteries 12 hour recharge 3 hour use I just bought.

It's dumb to quote beam distance but there was no way I could adequately see stuff 20 m away!!

Can anyone suggest a decent one which is also waterproof?

[Sabreman]

We ditched the spotlight in the early '80s because it kills night vision. The most that we'll use while underway is a micro LED flashlight (to see the telltales), and that is very sparingly. The helmsman turns his head when the trimmer spots the sail.

Once your eyes acclimate to darkness (about 30 minutes) it's amazing what can be seen, even on cloudy night without a moon. I've spent quite a bit of time on a Navy ships and white light on the bridge is forbidden.

My wife and I have a running joke that you can tell power boater is operating at night because the spotlight is shining all over creation ... and into our eyes. No need to actually see what type of boat - if there is a spotlight, it's a powerboater.

In all seriousness, make the spotlight last on your acquisition list. I suspect that someone will jump down my throat for saying that, but we've found that a normal flashlight serves very well when we need it at anchor or in the slip.

[newnewbie]

what do you do coming into an unfamiliar harbour on a dark windy wet night?

[Rangernewell]

As far as spots ....on may boat I have a remote sensored spot ....I have a keychane remote controled spotlight. Once Im in distance... 150 ft., I hit the remote and can direct it from 150 ft away...leads me ,,,well lit to the boat .....as we as I can play with it and see whats going on in a 360 direction.

[sailingdog]

I carry a tactical LED flashlight. Has a decent range and is rated 165 lumens and lets me spot buoys and ATONs at 100'+. It isn't as waterproof as I'd like, but works quite well.

[Rangernewell]

Originally Posted by newnewbie

what do you do coming into an unfamiliar harbour on a dark windy wet night?

pray alot

[SlowButSteady]

I use a Stanley SLM09. Nice and bright; allows me to pick out buoys/marks really well from quite a distance. Some reviews complain of a short battery life per charge, but if you only use it sparingly (a few seconds at a time), the battery seems to be more than sufficient. It can be plugged in, via a "cigarette lighter" plug, for more extended use.

[Allanbc]

I have this one:
Amazon.com: Stanley SL5W09 5 Watt LED Spotlight: Home Improvement

It is really bright and throws a good beam. From the ICW to my slip, I have to traverse a 2 nm long channel that is mostly 50 ft wide with water less than a foot deep on either side of the channel. We did it one night with no moon and no bright lights and I vowed never again.

[newnewbie]

thanks guys
looks like I got badly ripped off on the Energizer
loved the quote about sailors already being in the zone. That was me the other night on my second ever solo night sail. wheeee!

[Danny33]

One million candle light on the sail and now on the trawler...some one needs to pull people like saberman off the hard !