using search light

[nightvision]

Hello,
Last Saturday my buddy and I went out Bass fishing on a small lake. The action was great so we stayed until sun down. On our lake, we have to maintain a 5 mph speed. This was my first time boating in the dark. It was very dark and I had some problems seeing. I came closed to hitting a bouy on the way back to the ramp.

I figure, next time I'll bring along a hand held search light and periodically scan in front of the boat. Is this common a practice? Thanks.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: using search light

we used to do it all the time. Many of the older boats had a search light mounted.

 

[CaptNCamille]

Re: using search light

There is an argument against relying on a search light that is permanently on and on a mounted bracket. It destroys your night vision. For example, if you are looking straight ahead with the aid of the search light and you need to see something to your port or starboard sides, you will not be able to see anything since your eyes will take several minutes to adjust to the darkness.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: using search light

Not to mention blinding someone else coming at you.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: using search light

We have two handheld lights on board, one that is lightweight and plugs into the 12-volt socket and another heavier one that says it has 2 million candle power and is rechargeable. The big one has an adjustable handle so it can be held upright or hanging down by your side. In the upright position it can be fatiguing to hold for long periods, but boy it sure does light things up.

 

[Ned L]

Re: using search light

Good idea, but as you said, the key word is 'periodically'. Turn it on for just a couple of seconds or so to check something out more clearly & then shut it right off. This is for courtesy, to preserve your night vision, and it is in violation of COLREGS to keep it on.

 

[ziggy]

Re: using search light

i use my search light at night every time out.
but i only use it for a second or two at most. a quick scan in ft. of me, port to starboard. if i find something to look at. i may keep it on longer. i never point it at another boat on purpose. if i pick up a boat on a quick scan, i'll have found the obstical. all i need to do is navigate around it. at the dock, i use it. but only when i'm close when i need to be seeing and i don't interfere with others.
when i'm scanning on the lake. i may keep one eye shut for the light scan. helps preserve night vision..

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: using search light

Being a violation of COLREGS is one thing, being rude is another.

I was camping at Lake Carmi last summer and fished out late a few times. There was another guy there who had a pontoon boat with FOUR fog lights mounted- two on the deck and two overhead on his canopy frame up top. Not only was it blinding, but it was quite disturbing to the overall atmosphere and esthetics of the lake. There were extremely bright.

I use a 3-cell D-battery Maglight and only turn it on when necessary.

 

[Nandy]

Re: using search light

I use the search light too. As mentioned by most of the previous members, use it periodically for just a few seconds. I use my gps track as the main means of navigation. I learned to mark any point in which I am to pass anything that might damage the boat if it is not in the map. I remember last year going to a lake that I am not used to for a few hours or boating and returning to the ramp at night out at night. Not only I did not have a map for it, I neglected to mark a hazard that was really close to my starboard when I was navigating that long stretch cove from the ramp. In my way back at pitch black night I knew that the hazard was to the port side but I could not tell. It made it for a tense few minutes until I located the hazard that was not marked. You still have to scan if using a gps, you never know what might be floating in your tracks that was not there before...