LED Lightbar

[DJMattyT]

does anyone have any light bars for your tower? I was thinking about getting 1 or 2

 

[jcyamaharider]

I have 3 small ones. I don't use them that much but they come in handy sometimes. 2 rear facing and 1 forward facing.

 

[justason]

I was looking into this a couple years back......general consensus was the lights hindered your visibility often....either by a general washout of light in front of you or a reflection off the bow seats......not sure the source......maybe @Julian was part of that chat ?

 

[jcyamaharider]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/tower-lights-for-night-time-boating.5998/#post-104489

As stated in the post I never use them while running, only while docking or parked on the sand bar looking for something or playing in the water at night.

 

[DJMattyT]

Damn I would be looking to use them while running. My boating area is filled with lobster pots and u can't see them at night

 

[jcyamaharider]

Yeah won't help there.

 

[DJMattyT]

I mean I am looking at a 40in Cree Lightbar with 19,000 lumens. It should help considering it's meant for off roaring no?

 

[DJMattyT]

Sorry 28,000 lumens

 

[jcyamaharider]

I couldn't see anything with my lights while underway, but a better light bar may be different. I just usually take my spot light and use that, I also have a chart plotter and I mark things in the water that I want to miss.

 

[DJMattyT]

This is kinda what I was looking at

 

[jcyamaharider]

Shinning on the water is going to be way different. The water reflects the light and makes it kind of " foggy" look. Best was I can think to describe it. If you are in an area and just no wake speed, it would probably do the job, just not for 20 mph.

 

[GTBRMC]

Assume you know this, but generally running at any speed above no-wake with lights beyond running lights is a no-no.
I use a hand-held spot, flash on for a second or two to scan in front of me, then shut off. Rinse, repeat as necessary.

Note: I do this when moving through clusters of mooring buoys, not crab pots, so situation is not identical.

 

[DJMattyT]

Yeah maybe that's the best option a handheld spotlight. Why can't you run at higher speeds with a light bar? For other boaters? I kinda figured I'd get a dimmer for passing other boaters

 

[GTBRMC]

General issue is your lights would blind other boaters, yes

 

[DJMattyT]

Yeah as I figured, my dad has a bright spotlight on his boat and it's on a dimmer so you dim it a lot passing boats but you don't shut it totally off so you vanish haha

 

[Murf'n'surf]

A hand held spot or a remote controlled spot that you set on your bow with suction cups is the way to go.

You'll want to stay dark when approaching other vessels because most guys run dark and your spot light will kill their "night eyes".

 

[Lextacy03]

Great Article about night boating here http://www.boatingmag.com/how-to/navigating-night

I am looking into get the Hand held FLIR for my phone. http://www.flir.com/flirone/
I played with it at the boat show this year and was very impressed.

 

[DJMattyT]

I've driven my Dad's bout and brothers boat at night plenty of times. Both are more equipped than mine (lights, radar and Gps) I was just figuring out the right light for my boat. Maybe I just get a small gps instead idk lol I love the thought of a Lightbar up there. Obviously just using it when needed so others don't get blinded. I found and RGB one that may be cool to use with a controller for cosmetics as well as functionally.

 

[Julian]

Great Article about night boating here http://www.boatingmag.com/how-to/navigating-night

I am looking into get the Hand held FLIR for my phone. http://www.flir.com/flirone/
I played with it at the boat show this year and was very impressed.

Good article! Explains well why you would not want to run at night with a light bar....regardless of how tempting it might be. I've been on the receiving end of boats shining their spotlights on me, and also boats running with no lights and they are a PITA! Fortunately in the latter situation I was on my brothers Grady White with Radar, and I knew a boat was there, just couldn't see it as he was fishing with NO lights on in front of the Sunshine bridge at the mouth of Tampa Bay!! (MORON)

 

[LyonsAR210]

@DJMattyT Something I've used in the past is this...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K9SYPAE?keywords=Night vision&qid=1456368993&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3

I've only used it on lakes, but helps with navigating around the shoreline and docks. Just a suggestion. I like the FLIR camera for the phone, but can't see the justification for the price...yet! Might have to look for some more "reasons".