Is a spotlight needed for boating at night

[viper1216]

I recently picked up a rechargeable spotlight for boating at night, but just curious if it as actually necessary. Obviously would need to be careful that I did not blind other boaters with it, but curious if my eyes would be adjusted enough not to need it at all anyway? I would only be out in the bay and my concern is more for bringing it back into the channel. There are boats that are moored there.

 

[Ned L]

"Required",... no. A real good idea, yes. Your eyes do adjust well, but it really helps to have a light for those moments of '...did I just see something on the surface of the water,.. is that a tree trunk ahead???', or to give a quick sweep for a bouy to pick up the reflective tape.
With spot lights, the less time on the better (for you and the other boats). Leave it off and turn it on only for that quick sweep of light when needed, then back off again.

 

[ThomW]

In my experience with boating at night, out on the open water you can actually see pretty well without a spotlight. Although that is dependent on conditions too. Obviously on a clear night with a full moon, you will see much easier than a night with heavy over cast. Nighttime boating is also easier when you are familiar with the water body you are on (where there are buoys, markers, rocks, etc.). Regardless of how well you can see, if there is a boat or other obstacle that is not lit, they can sneak up on you pretty quick, especially if you are going any faster than a slow troll. A spotlight can be very helpful, and almost a must have, when it comes to docking at night. Unless the boat already has docking lights, or you are always docking in a well lit marina. I'd say to bring it with you and see how it goes. Better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it! Either way, when boating at night BE CAREFUL. Cheers and good luck!

 

[dennis461]

We were sailing into a large inlet one night and it was a pretty bad night. New to the inlet, deep fog, chartplotter died, rock jetties.
Could not tell if we were headed to the inlet or the beach.
We started calling for help on VHF and a fishing boat responded.
He basically said he was in the middle of the channel and would put a spotlight on us, which he did.
This was a great help.

So, yes get a spotlight, keep it charged and keep an eye out for us

 

[On Holiday]

It doesn't hurt to have one on board but should not be used as headlights as it will blind any other boater. Same goes for docking lights, should only be used for loading on the trailer.

 

[ziggy]

i'm with others. i think ya need it for night boating.
i did quite a bit of overnight boating a few years ago. on a lake i know well. even there, it was good to have. especially on a dark (no moon) night. but even when it's a full moon. mostly i used it for coming back into the marina and for docking. like said before. a quick spot on a bouy marker or the dock. also good for knowing where the shoreline is... i generally use it in short bursts. not leaving it on. i may also close one eye when i do a quick spot with the light so as to help me preserve my night vision. only time it's on full time is when i want to see the dock during docking.
when out in open water. i don't use it much. though i do have it plugged in and ready to turn on in a moment. it's a safety item imho. i would suggest having one..... fwiw. in nebraska, a flashlight is a required item on board. a flashlight would be helpful to, but not like a spotlight.

 

[charleso]

I keep one in the boat at all times, just in case Murphy shows up. Get one with a red lens or like my rechargeable has both red and clear leds. Red does not mess with your night vision and will not blind other boaters.

 

[gm280]

I realize a lot of iboater will say no, you shouldn't use a spot light. But I will keep one in my boat for who knows what. There are times when boating at night, something I seriously don't like to do myself, that a light can be very helpful to get back in. So not as a continuous driving type light, but most certainly to assist in a save way getting back in. JMHO

 

[bashr52]

No Title

My new addition this year was fishing lights on both sides of the top to illuminate the banks at night when fishing, and light bar at the front for docking. Make life so much easier

 

[MH Hawker]

i will say yes its a necessity, but i boat a lot at night, i night fish and have ran into a lot of bad conditions, the worst is a very dense fog with viability down to 50 feet or so and i am very happy to have a 1.5 million CP light at hand , i run small mountain lakes so its a necessity, i just added a GPS chart plotter so i expect that will also help a lot, and yes it has been so bad at times i tie off some place and spend the rest of then night on the lake

 

[bruceb58]

It's fine for docking or coming into an area with obstacles. I also use it to pick up buoys if I am coming into a harbor.You don't use it while you are normally operating your boat at night in open water...navigation lights only. Even having it aimed only in front of you it will ruin your night vision and then you won't be able to see things off to the side that you would normally see.

 

[fishrdan]

I think a spot light is a must for running at night. My light went out on 1 trip and it was a royal pain, not something I want to do again as I had to use a fishing light. I only use the light for 1-2 seconds. When scanning L-R and you come to a boat, raise the light well up and over their boat so you're not blasting them. When coming into a harbor, I'll point the light beam down into the water and use the reflected beam to see, much better than blinding anyone who may be in the lights path. Light reflected off the bow is a killer to your night vision, so hold the light high or off of the side.

FWIW, someone bought me a marine rechargeable spotlight several years ago, kind of inconvenient as I had to remember to charge it, it didn't last all that long per charge (not an LED light) and after a couple years the battery was dead. I prefer the cigarette lighter plug-in type.

Qbeam is transitioning over to LED and their old halogen lights can be had dirt cheap on flEbay, $15-20. My old halogen Qbeam lasted for at least 10 years and only bit the dust because I got a rubber fishing worm on the cord, it ate the insulation. I tried one of Qbeam's new LED lights ($60) and didn't like it's pattern or quality of light it produced, just felt weird looking into the LED light, returned it...

 

[dingbat]

My night vision must be better than most...lol
Don't own one. Never used one.

As my mentor once told me, if you can't put it back in the slip with just a map and compass (instruments) you shouldn't be out there in the first place.

With today's technology there is no excuse for not knowing where you are without visual input within 10-12 ft. If that marker isn't on the chart, put it there. It only takes a second.

Learn to use the track feature. There is a stored record of where you've been since you turned the unit on.

I'm not saying a light wouldn't come in handy from time to time, but you can't learn to run until you have the confidence to walk w/o a cane.

 

[viper1216]

Thank you for all the input everyone. Much appreciated. I picked up a rechargable marine light to have on my, just in case.I do have a chart plotter that does track where I am and have gone, so I can use that for coming back in and my slip has a light on it, so should be ok pulling in. Just having it for the "just in case" aspect will be good. I don't plan on going out in bad weather nor will I be out really late at night, more just to maybe view fireworks or something from the bay.

 

[tbenavides98]

Great question! Loved hearing all the answers. I agree that a spotlight would help boating at night and is definitely a neccessity.

 

[charleso]

My night vision must be better than most...lol
Don't own one. Never used one.

As my mentor once told me, if you can't put it back in the slip with just a map and compass (instruments) you shouldn't be out there in the first place.

With today's technology there is no excuse for not knowing where you are without visual input within 10-12 ft. If that marker isn't on the chart, put it there. It only takes a second.

Learn to use the track feature. There is a stored record of where you've been since you turned the unit on.

I'm not saying a light wouldn't come in handy from time to time, but you can't learn to run until you have the confidence to walk w/o a cane.

Yeah, but that plot will not tell you about that floating log in the middle of the channel.

 

[bruceb58]

Yeah, but that plot will not tell you about that floating log in the middle of the channel.

That's why you don't travel at planing speed after dark.