Night time boating - lights

[Eddie Mullins]

I have seen some posts here regarding lighting, mostly that anything more than required should not be used, except for periods as needed.

My situation may be different than most but I have gone with others, and one of the main reasons I now have a boat is the opportunity to hunt out of it - at night. I am a coon hunter, and its is not uncommon for hunters around this area and others to use their boats on the rivers at night in remote areas, and almost always there are no other boaters around. We are also getting into shallow areas, obstacles and watching the banks for our dogs or game, so.... I plan to put lights on my boat. I will be respectful if there does happen to be another boater in the area and turn them off.

What I have seen used in the past were hand held spots, they were OK but I want something hands free, it will need to be fairly bright, and would prefer it to be directional.

Given that I will only use if appropriate, any reccomendations on lights for a budget concious hunter? I am also aware of the battery drain so will be looking for tips there as well.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Night time boating - lights

They make a variety of remote control spotlights for boats...not sure if I would consider the low budget items. search right here on iboats for remote spotlights.

Bring a friend hunting and tell him where to point it is probably the cheapest way out.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Night time boating - lights

I will assume whatever lights you end up with they will be high power units so that means you need a large deep cycle battery. Standard auto or starting batteries do not like to be deeply discharged -- hence the deep cycle. And be sure to charge it again immediately after use. Don't leave it in a discharged conditioned as this will greatly shorten it's life.

 

[Eddie Mullins]

Re: Night time boating - lights

Just curious what state you are from because in my state hunting from a moter vehiclke of any sort witll get a nice fat fine.

Yes and No. Lets take duck hunting for example, boats often become the blind for the hunters. It is legal to shoot ducks form a boat if not currently under power of the motor. I will not be shooting anything from my boat, but rather using it as a means to get to hunting areas.

Silvertip - thanks for the tip on the deep cycle battery. I will also have a trolling motor on the boat - not necesarily used at the same time, but should I have 2 batteries. Would it make sense to add alternator charger if I am going to hunt for several hours at night?

 

[Splat]

Re: Night time boating - lights

I believe its GoLight makes a remote spot that mounts to a stantion, but also has the bow nav lights. I know they are available here on I boats, I'm sorry I cant get the link as I'm on my blackberry at the moment.

Seems like a pretty slick solution, I've even been considering one for my self.

Bill

 

[5150abf]

Re: Night time boating - lights

I fish exclusively at night and I don't think a couple spots running up against the shor ewopuld bother me much.

We have a couple guys that hunt carp with abow and arrow(I geuss that is what they are doing) and they run 3 or 4 big spots on the front of their boats but they are always real close to shore.

The problem comes when you run down the river like that and it takes out your nav light and makes it hard to figure out if you are coming or going.

I have a million candle power hand held spot that throws alot of light and it was pretty cheap, if you go this route make sure the one you get has a replacable bulb.

You should be able to run one of those for quite a while, 5-6 hours continuous, on a single deep cell but if you can swing 2 batteries that would be even better.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Night time boating - lights

Lighting the water does get tricky, you really don't have much depth perception if you only spot one place. Thats why so many folks recommend the hand held kind, you want to keep the spot moving. If you do do get a mounted light, do not mount it where any of the light will reflect off the boat. The reflected light will kill you night vision (especially if your boat is white).

 

[roger777]

Re: Night time boating - lights

If you are running a trolling motor and spot light you should bring a second battery. Mounted spotlights can be pretty expensive..Your best bet would be to try and find a used one on ebay.

 

[Eddie Mullins]

Re: Night time boating - lights

I appreciate the replies and have decided to get a hand held for now, current problem, I am having trouble locating one with alligator clips on it since I don't have 12v plug on the boat. I thought about order and mounting a plug, but for now would prefer to stic with clips.

I also wondered if I got a light with a plug if I could just cut it off and wire it to clips or the battery?

I may end up using other itmes on board that use a plug so I might go that route, bu like the idea of the ability to move things around with the clips until I figure out the layout I want to be mpre permanent.

 

[One]

Re: Night time boating - lights

You should be aple to find clips at any hardware store. As far as sniping the wires that should be no problem. Just make sure you remember witch wires possitive and negitive. If it comes with a cig. lighter plug on it you can take the plug apart and the center wire is possitive. I picked up a cheep spotlight (like $10) just to keep in the boat.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Night time boating - lights

I use one of these...i think i got it at Walmart a long time ago...
No need for cutting the plug off and you can still use the light in your car..
http://www.roadtrucker.com/roadpro/...s/12-volt-clip-on-lighter-adapter-rppsaps.jpg

 

[bowman316]

Re: Night time boating - lights

You can not just snip a household plug and connect it to a battery, you need a converter to convert it from AC to DC.

You could do that with a cig lighter plug

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Night time boating - lights

They make 12V adapters that have the positive and negative wires on the end to go straight to the battery. That way you can use the correct plug and maintain a good connection without doing a hackjob on a $50 spotlight.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Night time boating - lights

Thats what i was talking about...no need to cut the wires...

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Night time boating - lights

I bought a Black and Decker reachargable handheld spolight for $20 last summer that has the option of recharging off a cigarette lighter or a house plug if you have a converter on board.

It's 1 million candlepower and works excellent for me. It's a nice cheap alternative to a mounted light and lets me save the deep cycle juice for the Minn Kota

It is a fast way to ruin your night vision as previously mentioned. I use it to find my way back to the landing on the Looking Glass river.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[camofry]

Re: Night time boating - lights

Not knowing what state you are from, You may want to check with your local DNR about hunting coon from a boat.Here in Ohio, hunting from a boat with a motor( gas or eclectic) is a no no.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Night time boating - lights

People hunt from boats here all the time.
You take the boat out, anchor, then set your ecoys, then camoflague the boat with a tarp or something, then lay down in the boat.

I am in MD.

I also use a hand held rechargable flash light. With a handgun style handle. It has a million CP light, and another low power lcd light to save the battery. Got it at walmart for about 20 bucks.

Can plug it into a cig lighter, or ac plug.