Boat Headlight

[TNTall]

Hi all. I am gonna put a headlight on my boat so I can locate buoys at night. I don't intend to run it continuously - just on for a few seconds when needed.

My question is... Does anybody use HID off-road lights on their boat? I want to install one (probably 6", 35W), but I don't know if I should get a flood light or a driving light. They are very expensive, so I don't want to get get the wrong kind. How far out in front of you can you see with an HID flood light?

Thanks.

 

[gobigorange]

I got the ones that most marinas sell and they are air craft landing lights I believe.

 

[churly]

I have the round ones with a rubber body. I've seen them in tractor parts stores. Either way, you can see a buoy a good 1/2 mile at night.

 

[Buoy-Master]

Nichol's Marine has them.

Anderson Peterson makes them.

 

[xroadsbasser]

Nichols......under $25 I think....been awhile since I bought mine!

 

[nickajack-smack]

Don't get a flood light get a spot light and yes nichols has them and the glass in them is smooth not rough like the flood lights my dad runs a 100 watt spotlight on the front of his boat and it does the job well. I run the one from nichols and it does just fine. I burn mine the whole time my boat is on plane at night I also run by gps as well

 

[Solo]

Last one I bought was from Joey in East Ridge...less than $25

 

[Timberghost]

i have a aircraft landing light on front of my boat. talk about a bright light.. emoBigsmile

 

[SKIDROW37]

I just bought some from sportsmans guide. They are 55w halogen marine lights. Don't know how they will perform I'm hoping they will light up the bouys but i'll just have to wait and see. I gave 26 bucks for these.They come in a pack of two with all the wires and switches.

 

[canoe fisherman]

You can get some good driving lights from your local Advance or Oriely auto parts store and as far as long range, get you a cigarette lighter on the boat and get the hand held spot light... Just my opinion and you will only be out 40-50 bucks for all of this.

 

[minner]

BBass - 6/23/2011 2:47 PM

Nichol's Marine has them.

Anderson Peterson makes them.

Can someone post a link to these? Are these the same as the T&H Marine ones?

 

[porkchop-xb]

grote part#64931 35watts 3000 candle power around $9.00 at lee smith inc,shock absorbing weatherproof body with bracket

 

[buzz]

Canoe...you can get a 12v...receptacle from Wal-mart, that has a spring lid for a few bucks. I have them on my boat and 4 wheeler.

 

[hk-91]

You better not run your headlight constant on carters lake, 2 years ago the boys (DNR) gave me a warning citation for this, they said the light hinders other boaters from seeing my navagation light and is a safety issue.

 

[Timberghost]

i have fished carters for years and years and have never been checked but 1 time and that was at the reg. dam....guess im lucky but then again i dont fish on the weekends but never seen them through the week

 

[Carl Guffey]

hk-91 - 6/29/2011 10:17 PM You better not run your headlight constant on carters lake, 2 years ago the boys (DNR) gave me a warning citation for this, they said the light hinders other boaters from seeing my navagation light and is a safety issue.

</p>

<font face="georgia,palatino" size="2">It is not just on Carters. Headlights are illegal on boats except to use when docking. If it is turned on at night, even for a second, the operator of the boat is operating the craft illegally and will be subject to a ticket. All lights on the bow are supposed to be either red or green to mark port or starboard and white lights are mounted on the aft part of the boat to indicate the rear of the craft. If you turn a white headlight on, the back is backward.</font></p>

 

[BulletTJ]

This whole headlight being illegal makes no sence to me. It is true when you have a headlight on other boats cant see your little green and red bow light. But they can dang sure see your headlight a lot better than they could the red and green light. If headlights are dangerous why do they have them on cars? When I am meeting a care on the highway I cant see his turn signals but I know he is there because I see his head lights. There is less chance of me running over him with his headlights on than there would be if all he had on was his parking lights. I feel safer with the headlight on, I dont run fast at night. The head light helps find bouys and helps me see things floating in the water. I turn it off when I approach another boat. If this gets me a ticket, I will pay it. But for saftey sake I got a headlight.

 

[Carl Guffey]

<font face="georgia,palatino" size="2">Head lights, blind the boat coming toward you and the white light is still on the wrong end. I have been running boats at night for 40 years and I have never had a problem with obstacles or buoys. If you can't see well enough at night to operate a watercraft, slow down or stay off the water. </font></p>

<font face="Georgia" size="2">The reason there are lights on cars is that asphalt doesn't reflect.</font></p>

 

[dunk]

food for thought.................if the light thing is illegal the barges would be ticketed all the time.......and go to guntersville and fish at night them dadgum alien boats light up the world lol

 

[catch 1]

Tell em Carl, if you can't see. Keep off the water. Sounds about right to me. Don't blind me with your 100,000,000 candle watt's.