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18-10-2014, 02:57
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Boat: Hunter 460, 46'
Posts: 35
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Handheld LED Spotlight
I'm looking at buying one of these handheld LED spotlights and wonder if anyone can recommend a brand or model. How many lumens is optimal?
This one seems good..."Brinkmann MaxFire Q-Beam LED Marine Rechargeable Spotlight"
Thanks!
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18-10-2014, 03:29
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
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18-10-2014, 03:31
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#3
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Will really depend on how much you want to spend. There are some crazy bright LED spots out there but can cost a few hundred bucks.
I've owned several Q Beams over the years and thought they were OK but the switches tended to be a bit flaky, especially in salt water.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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18-10-2014, 09:29
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Southern Maine
Boat: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Posts: 3,080
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Do the LEDs really provide a true "spot" light with a focused beam?
I use my spot light mostly for momentarily lighting up buoys or other hazards ahead. I don't want to ruin my night vision lighting up the whole fore deck.
I'm a big fan of LEDs but they do seem to put out a diffused light that's caused me to shy away from LED spotlights.
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18-10-2014, 09:39
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Marathon, FL
Boat: Hans Christian 33
Posts: 652
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Never had any luck getting a Qbeam to last very long at all.
Bought a Streamlight Waypoint rechargeable last year and have been very pleased with the brightness, battery, and build quality. Not cheap, but worth it in quality.
http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-44...oint+spotlight
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18-10-2014, 10:00
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#6
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Quote:
Originally Posted by ReMetau
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Not really endorsing the Q-Beam, like I said they seem kind of cheap, but I have a couple that are 30 years old that work fine after I replaced the POS switch that was flaky from the very beginning.
Beam diffusion and scatter is an issue with a lot of the cheaper LED lights but I've seen a few that made a nice spot, almost like a laser beam. I think the secret is the right reflector or using fewer high power LEDs (expensive) vs a bunch of low power (cheap).
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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18-10-2014, 10:03
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#7
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 14,678
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom
Do the LEDs really provide a true "spot" light with a focused beam?
I use my spot light mostly for momentarily lighting up buoys or other hazards ahead. I don't want to ruin my night vision lighting up the whole fore deck.
I'm a big fan of LEDs but they do seem to put out a diffused light that's caused me to shy away from LED spotlights.
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You can models with quite a collimated beam. These are not the models with multiple 5mm LEDs, but a single chip LED.
I just took this photo for you. The rocks are 200 m away.
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18-10-2014, 10:07
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom
Do the LEDs really provide a true "spot" light with a focused beam?
I use my spot light mostly for momentarily lighting up buoys or other hazards ahead. I don't want to ruin my night vision lighting up the whole fore deck.
I'm a big fan of LEDs but they do seem to put out a diffused light that's caused me to shy away from LED spotlights.
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The one I referenced above has a very focused beam. It's great for spotting markers. They have underwater models also.
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18-10-2014, 16:51
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Southern Maine
Boat: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Posts: 3,080
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Quote:
Originally Posted by noelex 77
You can models with quite a collimated beam. These are not the models with multiple 5mm LEDs, but a single chip LED.
I just took this photo for you. The rocks are 200 m away.
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OK, I'm convinced! What model was that?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Norskip
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That IS pretty amazing. Pricey though, especially considering...
Quote:
Originally Posted by DotDun
The one I referenced above has a very focused beam. It's great for spotting markers. They have underwater models also.
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That's the $15 Wally World special? OK, that's a no-brainer!
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18-10-2014, 16:57
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom
....
That's the $15 Wally World special? OK, that's a no-brainer!
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Exactly! Bought a couple 2 years ago, still going strong.
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19-10-2014, 00:24
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#12
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 14,678
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptTom
OK, I'm convinced! What model was that?
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It a model made by Thrunite called a Catapult V2.
A good torch/flashlight is a great bit of saftey equipment.
I would suggest a relatively large and bright model for boat use. They all have multiple levels so you can always turn it down if needed, but to pick out some rocks when coming into an anchorage, or to wake up another boat that is dragging lots of lumens can be useful.
Fenix make some good quality, but reasonably priced products.
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19-10-2014, 00:30
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 14,678
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
I made a bracket for mine so it can hang just inside the companionway.
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19-10-2014, 02:08
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#14
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Moderator and Certifiable Refitter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: South of 43 S, Australia
Boat: C.L.O.D.
Posts: 20,242
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
Quote:
Originally Posted by noelex 77
You can models with quite a collimated beam. These are not the models with multiple 5mm LEDs, but a single chip LED.
I just took this photo for you. The rocks are 200 m away.
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And here is one with multiple LEDS and with a 10 degree beam. Not cheap and you have make the holder and switch as well, but pretty darn bright
WHELEN PARMETHEUS SUPER LED REPLACEMENT LIGHTS - 14V PAR 46 - PLED461L from Aircraft Spruce
__________________
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangereous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible. T.E. Lawrence
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19-10-2014, 02:52
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#15
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Eternal Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Australia
Boat: Lagoon 400
Posts: 3,650
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Re: Handheld LED Spotlight
yep we have the fenex TK41 which takes 8 good quality rechargable AA batteries. really bright and has a few settings, waterproof to 1m or so, 900 lumins. We also have a smaller
Riff TL-WW wide beam dive torch that has its own rechargable battery, plus a dexter rechargable that can swap batteries with the cordless drill and recipro saw.
The FENIX is good quality at about $200
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