Bow Mounted Spotlight

[Midnightsun]

Does anyone actually use these things? I know I have not for what seems like forever. I can roll back to 2000 and prior when there was no GPS and I used a hand held spotlight to find buoys while navigating at night however this happened only once in my boating lifetime.

Reason I ask is mine is starting to show it's age. A replacement is $600+ US and am wondering if I should simply remove it or dish out the money for a new unit. I do have a very powerful handheld that will put the original halogen sealed car lens to shame. This is what came with my boat and would be plug&play. Then again according to one of the reviews they changed the wiring and plug configuration so it may not be plug&play https://www.westmarine.com/jabsco-146-s ... 2_506.html

[g36]

I still use mine but also have a handheld. If it's just the housing that's looking aged why not just purchase the upper and lower plastic housings and not purchase a new one.

[g36]

Here's a quick search that shows part numbers don't know anything about this company..https://www.pumpagents.com/partpages/Ja ... -0024.html

[Midnightsun]

Thanks for the link, problem is I have more than $400 worth of parts to get mine up to shape. A couple hundred more gets me a new one. Not sure it is worth rebuilding as other parts may go and plastics have become more brittle over the years.

[g36]

Yea I understand I didn't know what "showing its age" meant. If its more than changing the plastics then may not be worth repairing. Good luck, post what you end up doing

[pepmyster]

When you asked about using it, no. Mine is not being used at all.I do test it once in a while but that is it. Newer hand-helds are sure to put these to shame.

[Viper]

I use mine all the time when running in the dark which I seem to do often as I hate it when I have to leave the anchorage and end my weekend, so of course I always leave later than I should.

Last time running across the lake at night at a slow pace I actually heard people talking which freaked me out. Saw nothing on the radar, put her in neutral and began a sweep with the light. Just ahead of me slightly to port we two guys on a Sea Doo just sitting there, no lights, nothing. Asked if they were okay and the reply was like I asked a stupid question. Further into the bay, a target pops up on radar just ahead, I shine the light and it's a decent sized express cruiser anchored out in the middle of the bay with no anchor light or cabin lights on. Then it was a matter of finding the markers into the channel which I would have likely missed were it not for the spot light. The GPS gets you close but it's not exact, and when markers are really close to shore or in areas with no room for error like Georgian Bay, it's not something you want to miss.

I have a portable spot light too but I like a light ahead of me so I don't get any glare. The canvas windows make it difficult shooting a spot light from the bridge.

[Jangocat]

I replace the one on our 1975 28' Carver Santa Cruz with a Golight. The original one was mounted on the front of the flybridge. They are 24 volt but have instructions for converting them to 12 volt. Takes about 2 minutes. Comes with a remote control also. JIm

[Midnightsun]

I bit the bullet and ordered a new one. May even make a Sunbrella cover for it to keep it away from those nasty UV rays

[pepmyster]

I can see the cover protecting it for sure. Sun does a real number on plastics.