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Capt Geo



Joined: 18 Mar 2018
Posts: 1
City/Region: Dunedin
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 10:16 pm    Post subject: Spot Light Reply with quote

I just acquired a 2007 C-Dory 25 Cruiser and would like to install a spot/search light and am looking for advice. Which is more effective; a roof mounted hand operated or bow mount remote operated one?
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bridma



Joined: 13 Sep 2011
Posts: 1155
City/Region: Comox
State or Province: BC
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Nomad
Photos: Nomad
PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 10:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In 6 years of owning a C-Dory I only turned on my spot light once. That was when the wind picked up during the night while at anchor. I had a roof mounted light. Nice that it was out the way but limits what you can do if you are putting a dink on the roof. Bow mounted light does not look good IMO and spoils the view forward. If I had to have a light, I would look for a hand one that you can clip on somewhere if you need both hands free.

Martin
22' C-Dory 2011 to 2017
Camano Troll 2017 to present.

"Once a brat, always a brat"
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ssobol



Joined: 27 Oct 2012
Posts: 3358
City/Region: SW Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SoBELLE
Photos: SoBelle
PostPosted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 11:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Depends on how much operating you do at night. Even then the utility is somewhat limited (IMO). I have used my roof mounted GoLight about 3 times. Once when I first got the boat just to see what it did. Once I anchored out in a river and used it so see if my anchor was dragging, and once to pick up a mooring in the dark. That's it in 5 years. However, we really don't spend much time cruising in the dark.

If my boat didn't already have the light I would not be looking to install one.

FWIW, I've lost the rock cover for the Go Light twice while trailering. About $15 ea. time to replace it.

A hand held light is probably more useful. Not only can you point it at pretty much anything (unlike a roof light which has limited elevation and traverse), the slew rate to what you want to illuminate is much faster. A held held is also easier to keep on target. So far I have not seen any remote mount boat spotlights with any sort of target hold feature.
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smckean (Tosca)



Joined: 18 Jan 2014
Posts: 974
City/Region: Guemes Island (Anacortes)
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Tosca
Photos: Tosca
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 3:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Read this thread:

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=26264
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localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just have one like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Brinkmann-800-2301-0-Q-Beam-Million-Spotlight/dp/B00266EF5C/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1525202584&sr=8-5&keywords=12v+spotlight

I've only needed it once. That was leaving the bay @ Upright Channel (Shaw Island) to return to Fisherman's Bay (Lopez Island) after visiting someone; we got a late start. I needed it to spot crab pot floats in the bay. My brother was the spotter.

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Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013
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starcrafttom



Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7878
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Loved my bow mounted one. very use full and very easy to operate.It was all ways ready to go. no looking for it or having to wonder if its charged or trying to plug it in will the shit is hitting the fan. install it once and its always there to use.
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starcrafttom



Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7878
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
PostPosted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Of the two choices you asked about I would get the bow mounted one. Far better position then mounted on the roof. Roof mounts and hand helds all suffer from reflection off the front rail and deck, which does not sound like much but will pretty much blind you.

I miss having one on the 27 and I am thinking of adding one back on.
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beermanPDX



Joined: 01 Feb 2012
Posts: 261
City/Region: Portland
State or Province: OR
Photos: Jean Marie
PostPosted: Fri May 04, 2018 1:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a remote control GoLight mounted on the roof of my 25. Roof or bow rail mounted, both have drawbacks. Do you want some glare or do you want the body of the light in your line of sight day and night? As I mentioned I opted for roof mount. Was there glare? Yes. Was it blinding? No.

I ran my boat a lot of nights on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. During the winter there is a lot of debris in the water. Spotting that debris was the prime purpose of the spotlight and it worked well.

In my opinion, the ideal location is near the anchor roller, low and out of the line of sight. I just couldn't figure out how to make it work.

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Rob
2008 25 Cruiser - Sold
2002 Nordic Tug 32/4 - Sold
1989 40 Tollycraft Sport Sedan
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jbdba01



Joined: 18 Nov 2014
Posts: 172

State or Province: FL
PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2018 9:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My GB 2670 has a spotlight on the bow.

When I bought the boat I asked the guy why he painted the bow rail black.

"So when turn on the spot light it doesn't shine back."

Given my druthers I would like the light on the roof.

Below I removed the paint but will be replacing it with plastic-dip.

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DavidHarding



Joined: 26 Jul 2018
Posts: 6
City/Region: Orlando
State or Province: FL
PostPosted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 2:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mine is also the same as that of yours Localboy.
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colbysmith



Joined: 02 Oct 2011
Posts: 4522
City/Region: Madison
State or Province: WI
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Traveler
Photos: C-Traveler and Midnight-Flyer
PostPosted: Thu Jul 26, 2018 9:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mine is mounted right on top of the tip of the bow rail. A flat triangular plate of stainless is riveted to the bow rail. The light works great when I need it, and there is no reflection back into the cockpit. I have used it coming into buoyed coves at night or other such times. My current boat's light has motorized movement, which only works with the light turned on. I preferred an earlier boats light that I could turn/aim first before turning it on. For me that is the ideal setup, as I trailer with the light pointing back at the cabin, (to protect the lens) and if I forget to spin it around manually prior to using, the need to turn it on first floods the cabin in light.
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CaptMac



Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 225
City/Region: Amelia Island / Jacksonville
State or Province: FL
Photos: Blue Manatee
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 3:18 pm    Post subject: Spotlight Reply with quote

I mounted the Go Light on top of the radome of my other boat, the Flounder Barge.
Having it up high keeps the glare from the aluminum rails to a minimum and it works really well.

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Capt Mac Daniel
Flounder Gigging Charters
Amelia Island, Florida 32034
http://www.floundergigging.com
Flounder Gigging Charters
"The Adventure of a Night-time"
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Swee Pea



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 402
City/Region: Bath
State or Province: NC
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Swee Pea
Photos: Swee Pea
PostPosted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 5:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You would think after all these years as a Brat I would know how to post a picture from my Brats Album to a reply. I can create a link.

I used a simple bracket attached to my antenna to secure a hand held spotlight that can be directed out the window just outside the captains chair. Works great and is inexpensive. Can be removed and used with any 12v plug in socket.

John
Swee Pea

http://www.c-brats.com/albums/SweePea/PICT0472_1_edited.sized.jpg

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=SweePea&id=PICT0473_1_edited&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
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Swee Pea



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 402
City/Region: Bath
State or Province: NC
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Swee Pea
Photos: Swee Pea
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 10:38 am    Post subject: Spot Light Reply with quote

Figured out how to show a picture in a reply/topic.



John
Swee Pea
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Marco Flamingo



Joined: 09 Jul 2015
Posts: 1154
City/Region: Seattle
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2004
C-Dory Model: 16 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Limpet
Photos: Limpet
PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 12:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jbdba01 wrote:
I removed the paint but will be replacing it with plastic-dip.


I used gaffer's tape. It is non-reflective and waterproof. Lasts at least 4 years if boat is kept outside. Removal will leave some residue that is easily cleaned up with acetone or "goop remover."

Apparently, I'm the only one that is bothered by the sun reflecting off of the bow rail. The 1 inch tape is just right for covering up the rail surface facing the helm and is basically invisible from other angles. In the picture, you can see the difference between the reflection of the overhead lights in my garage. Really makes a difference with the sun (and the search light).



https://amazon.com/Gaffer-Tape-Black-GAFFERS-CHOICE/dp/B01CIODTOO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1532794165&sr=8-3&keywords=gaffer+tape+"1+inch"

Mark
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