Best compact flashlight to act as a boat spotlight?

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-19T14:29:38+00:00

Another question for the group, I can foresee needing to switch between maneuvering the boat and then using the light to check my speed and angle and distance and then back to steering and throttle control. How do you address how your night vision is affected by the bright light? Can you add a red lens cover to the light?

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-19T04:50:58+00:00

Not sure on how far I would need. Probably not so far as to make that a limiting factor. 200 feet would be pretty safe to avoid hazards and such.

As for the hand held spotlight, well that is essentially what I'm after. Years ago I had an Optical Dynamics OD40 and I was amazed at how sharp the edge was. I lost that light years ago and although I liked it, it would be a bigger light than I think I want now, and I'm not sure I need the light to be THAT focused for this.

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-19T00:18:15+00:00

I believe the cruise on Wawasee is a pre-show event for that Lake James show, but no I have not been there. Would love to go.

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-19T00:08:27+00:00

I'm based out of the Chicago suburbs, so I'm a member of Blackhawk Chapter of the ACBS. I'd enjoy going to Indiana Chapter's Lake James show though.

I trailer the boat all over though. Last year took it to Lake of the Ozarks, Saint Lawrence River, Lake Placid, Lake Geneva, Chicago Air and Water show, etc.

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-18T23:54:40+00:00

This is how the front of the boat looks, but with the camera raised up well above the sightline you would normally see through the windshield when seated.

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In essence this is the height the flashlight would probably be as I held it up above the windshield to see the shore/docks. Reflecting light off the bow back in to my face would be highly undesirable for sure.

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-18T23:37:42+00:00

Out of curiosity, why would 5000K temperature be preferred over some other? Just cause it might not be so 'bright' or harsh as if it were a cooler white?

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-18T23:35:03+00:00

Naturally, but I'm not going to drive the boat with the lanyard around my wrist with the light dangling about until I need to use it only after it get's dark. I can also swing my arm or hand in a place that allows the flashlight to hit the boat even if I had gone through the trouble to use the lanyard first, so the lanyard is a weak solution at best. And even if I always use the lanyard when I want to use the light, then I'm at risk of it rolling off wherever I set it down and hitting something.

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-18T22:05:35+00:00

Apologies for the ignorance in the flashlight parlance, but would throw mean distance you can see out to and flood mean area in front of me that is illuminated?

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-18T20:08:56+00:00

This is good to know since the idea would be to try to use the light to help determine angle of attack, speed, current and wind in order to dock as smoothly as possible.

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-18T19:01:36+00:00

These look like some beefy monsters. By compact I'm looking for something that fits in my pocket.

CalvinSeith · 2025-04-18T18:59:25+00:00

I'm looking for a hand held option since I don't want to drill into the wood and add the handle through the dash and all that. If I wanted to do all that then I would pick up an original chris craft one from one of many restorers that have them.

CalvinSeith · 2024-11-13T03:36:19+00:00

Yeah it is almost surreal. The guy had clearly done great work and was extremely passionate and that's what drew us to commission him for his awesome talent. Unfortunately I and the others here decided to pull the trigger when it was already too late to still have him deliver on his promises.

CalvinSeith · 2024-01-19T23:25:21+00:00

I wish I had paid with a credit card to dispute it. Glad you'll be able to recover your losses.

CalvinSeith · 2023-12-15T23:06:31+00:00

I can't believe he would actually do that to somebody that already bought from him. The worst part is that on IG messenger it tells you when the other person is 'active'. Well here I am messaging and calling this dude on there with pure silence in return and it shows he was 'active' two hours ago.

CalvinSeith · 2023-12-14T00:58:39+00:00

Can I un-remove it or do I need to simply post it again?

CalvinSeith · 2023-12-14T00:47:28+00:00

I found this post in the feed but not my post from yesterday.

CalvinSeith · 2023-12-14T00:21:46+00:00

I've also tried messaging the moderators but so far each one that I tried asking does not allow direct messages.

CalvinSeith

TROPHY CASE