Project Illumination
Been watching a lot of you guys on here and on bookface where you're catching pinkies before and after dark. Now being dinghy bound, I needed to see what I could do to make it so I could have a crack at them. A quick flick through the Whitworths web site showed me all I need, LED Nav lights, an anchor light and some lighting for inside the dinghy. A shade over $100 sealed the deal and home I went with a heap of new ideas how to go about it. The lighting for in the boat, I went for strip lighting, about $25 for a meter, these I have put under the gunwhale on each side. They have an adhesive backing and could have stuck them on, but being 8mm wide, they fit perfectly inside 10mm clear plastic hose, $12 from Bunnings. So I stuck mounting blocks inside the gunwhale and cable tied the plastic hose to this. Nice and secure and out of the way. I probably could have just gotten away with one of these light strips as they are incredibly bright, but being LED, small drain on the battery.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
Looks good.I used to have a
Looks good.
I used to have a bow mounted anchor light and always found it hard to see because the light shines right in your face.
If it's possible maybe you could think about putting it on a removable pole at the transom so it's behind your head and doesn't blind you as much. (Might be too late for that now though).
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
I thought about that but have rod holders on each corner, but then I only plan on having that on during anchor time, if it's a pain, I'll just put some black tape on one side or something.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
bleicester
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 10/09/14
White light
Looking good.
Just FYI - I think the white light has to be on and visible all the way around when underway at night (not just at anchor). What Dtrain is suggesting may be the better option. If you can mount it in the centre of the transom, higher than the outboard, you will be good to go.
Error 404
Fish not found
Coastrunner
Posts: 440
Date Joined: 25/10/14
Thats also my understanding
Between sundown and sun up, nav lights and white light 1M above nav lights while underway.
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Yep, just brushed up on the rules, anchor light stays on during transit.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Rob H
Posts: 5797
Date Joined: 18/01/12
The white light together
The white light together with red/green is the " steaming light".
Which says it is a powered vessel, a sailing vessel (under sail only) doesn't show this.
But if you are under 7 meter and a certain speed I don't think you need anything except a white all round.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Doc
Posts: 691
Date Joined: 29/05/16
Those strip lights are
Those strip lights are brilliant. We've got them in all the bins and the engine compartment.
timmy k (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
white light
i can't see it being able to go in the centre of the transom coz the motor is a tiller, it would be in the way. can the light be to one side or does it have to be in the center?
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
Detachable light
Dale, what about a detachable all round light? Battery operated, has suction cup, stick it on the motor! Lol
http://www.jpwmarine.com.au/products/lighting/navigational-lights/led-portable-emergency-navigation-lights.aspx#tab2-tab
If you do get one, remember to tie some string to it, just in case the suction comes loose.
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
The current light is detachable, only have it in place when needed.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Ashen
Posts: 1042
Date Joined: 22/03/13
Suction cup version
Yeah mate, can see that in the pic. But you mentioned that it interferes with your vision at night. The one I mentioned can be suctioned onto the motor cowling so the light is behind you but still provides allround light.
A fish in the hand is worth 10 in the water!
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Nah Dtrain said that, I said if it causes problems, then I'd stick some black tape on one side. I think on the front it will be handy when coming in at night on a dark jetty or something.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Goin_Fushin.
Posts: 88
Date Joined: 07/12/13
Strip Lights
You may want to consider putting a dimmer in the strip light circuit. You can drop the light down to a dull glow and not destroy your night vision. The dimmer will also extend the life of your LED strip light. Most strip lighting doesn't like anything over 12 volts.
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Yep, that could be an option down the track. I'm hoping for an opportunity in the week after Easter, weather being suitable, that will be the smoke test.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Darren253
Posts: 570
Date Joined: 23/07/16
I have dimmers on my camping
I have dimmers on my camping LEDs... It was amazing but dimming by 15-20% actually cut the amperage down by half.
Jackfrost80
Posts: 8144
Date Joined: 07/05/12
Sweet idea regarding the
Sweet idea regarding the clear hose. I have to cut my strip lighting to run it either side and was worried about the connections failing so hadn't installed them yet. Now i'll run the whole thing inside clear hose.
I bought the RGB ones from Jaycar with a remote to change colour and brightness.
+1 for that light will piss you off. I have it in the same place in my dinghy and used it once and it sucks balls in your vision.
Officially off the Pies bandwagon
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Yeah, I'd only turn it on when needed. Don't think I'd keep them on all the time for that reason.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
letsgofishing
Posts: 35
Date Joined: 23/03/12
Port and starboard lights
I would get some Ally angle and make up a couple of brackets for the P and S lights. It looks like those are for mounting vertically rather than horizontally. Failing that you could change change them over for he correct ones. (Horizontal)
As they are they show to much of an arc of light.
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Too late now, they're staying as they are. Marine and harbours checked me out this morning and didn't say anything about them.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Darren253
Posts: 570
Date Joined: 23/07/16
One thing you'll always got
One thing you'll always got from the internet... An opinion!
Good job on the mod mate. You can get away with one of those small all in one LED combined lights that run on AA batteries and what you've don far exceeds that.
Enjoy your sundowner snapper!
letsgofishing
Posts: 35
Date Joined: 23/03/12
Port and starboard lights
Darren is right. You will always get an opinion from the internet.
The other thing you will get is useful information. My post wasn't having a go at you,it was merely pointing out that with a bit of effort the lights in question could be made better.
It looks to me as though you take a bit of pride in your work. Sounds like you have done a bit of research on Nav lights etc so why not make them comply 100%.
There are reasons why Nav lights have a certain Arc that they are visible. At nighttime when underway P and S lights give an indication of direction of travel. If you are navigating in a narrow channel for instance and observe both P and S lights you would assume the other vessel is heading in your direction. If you try and manoeuvre so as to avoid the other vessel and those lights don't change ,you would assume the other vessel is still heading for you. How far off course do you go to avoid the other vessel.
As for the small all in one LED combo ones that run on AA batteries,they may not be perfect but would probably comply and be safer.
As I said at the beginning this is not meant as having a go at you. A cheap bit of ally angle and an hour of your time would make these lights comply.
Cheers stay safe on the water.