Thanks Dennis, I also started using cheap camper's headlamps for night and stopped using my Q-beam. It is amazing how well a small LED light can reflect off of markers in the dark. I keep at least three of these things aboard, all small, cheap but reliable. The batteries last a season. Gave one to friend when we got caught out after dark, after a fireworks display raftup. He we was very grateful and bought more for work and his car. Handsfree, they now come with switchable white, or red LEDs and I use em for a thousand tasks. I save the Q-Beam for a rescue signal device.
Chuck Resolute 1990 C&C 34R Broad Creek, Magothy River, Md ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis C. via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> To: "CnClist" <CnC-List@cnc-list.com> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2015 3:00:28 PM Subject: Stus-List New searchlight for the boat After a lot of research and querying the list, I finally bought a new searchlight for Touche'. I bought this one: http://store.marinebeam.com/marinebeam-ultra-long-range-cree-rlt-illuminator/ It is pretty darn phenomenal. After using a pistol grip "Q-beam" style light for years, it will take some getting used to. This light is a bit bigger and heavier than a MagLite 2 D cell flashlight. The MarineBeam has 3 D cells. The biggest difference is the narrow beam. They claim it has very little "spillover" light to reflect off lifelines, deck, shrouds, bimini frames, etc. I certainly remember having to hold the old searchlight outside the lifelines in order to prevent being blinded by reflected light. When pointed forward, the Q-beam did, indeed, generate night vision destroying reflected light from deck, shrouds, etc. While I haven't tried it on the boat yet, a quick test in the neighborhood showed very positive results. It VERY clearly illuminated a stop sign 300 yards away. The beam was, indeed, very narrow. (Fortunately, my neighborhood is fairly peaceful. There are neighborhoods where I wouldn't do this.) At first I was concerned about finding buoys and day beacons with such a narrow beam but when I thought about it, it shouldn't be a problem. Most reflectors on marks are 2-10 feet or so above the water, a fairly small area to search. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA _______________________________________________ Email address: CnC-List@cnc-list.com To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
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