Yachting and Boating World forums: Nav Lights

Ditto Chrusty1's comment. I use a very substantial old copper paraffin anchor light, courtesy of Ebay, which kicks out light, and burns for about 20 hours. It's legal, doesn't drain the battery, and adds to the charm.

As for using oil for the running lights, I'm in 2 minds. I actually have new DHR oil lamps which are very good, and burn well, yet they have a design flaw I've not yet thought of a solution for. I've the 4" lamps, which are the smallest practical size. The problem is the centre of the flame sits above the point of focus of the dioptric lens, which means you get a downward pointing beam, and very reduced visibility horizontally. I think theres an easy solution to this by reducing the height the wick burns at, and as I intend to fit these with very bright LED bulbs when such become cheaper and better, so I keep them as reserves at the moment and continue to drain my batteries with the Hella's. But yes, I've used oil lights on other boats. The only problem is the faff of refilling them daily, trimming the wicks so they don't soot up, and doing this on passage in a seaway makes for an interesting job.

Never use an oil Steaming lamp - the faffing about with twin halyards just for the light is just... silly. I'm doing a cosmetic job with my new masthead light as I'm disguising an Aquasignal 40 masthead by surrounding it in the shell of a cheap repro copper lamp. From 6 feet away, looks like the real thing and burns at the flick of a switch, and is "type approved". I'd like to get type approved inserts for the sidelights, but technology is racing ahead of the insurers so far, but that's next winter's project.

I think oil lights would certainly look the part on Cleone, but the problem is that modern lights have to be disguised, either by using brass or copper covers from Daveys, or Toplicht (actually, Toplicht do amazing kit, the catalogue is Old Boat Porn on Steroids and its free!). And I've yet to find decent LED inserts to fit the lamps. My chief aim is to get LED's mounted so that the oil burners can be easily reinserted into the light in case of emergency. Maybe an email to DHR is called for? I see a niche market opportunity for someone.

Edited by Seagreen (28/05/2008 00:45)