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Post by atlbimmertech on Sept 29, 2010 22:39:00 GMT -1
Hello all, i have a 1998 stratos 258 that i am looking into mounting some lights up front to run at night with. wondering if anyone has any recommendations for wattage/ candlepower. so that i have bright enough, but not too bright.
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Post by lkn4deer on Sept 30, 2010 0:32:42 GMT -1
do everyone a favor,and just get some of those night-vision goggles ;D
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Post by lkn4deer on Sept 30, 2010 0:50:31 GMT -1
Hey,just kidding on those goggles....but most of the time it's best to run without lights,and alot of the time it will bother other boaters on the lake...some people who run rivers and chanels alot put them on their boat,but only turn them on for a second at a time to see the reflective markers....just get a good Q-beam-plug in
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Post by pbmang on Sept 30, 2010 10:34:21 GMT -1
Like lkn said, don't run with lights on. It will be more dangerous because you will literally blind oncoming boats. I have fished hundreds of nights and all you need on Allatoona is a head lamp to see what you are doing when you unhook a fish. Your night vision will be good enough.
The only time I've ever needed a light when running was when I was coming down the river a few miles above knox bridge. Allatoona is a very easy lake to run, and as long as you know where the few pole markers are, you won't have any problems.
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Post by engtg on Sept 30, 2010 18:31:30 GMT -1
I have heard that it is illegal to run with them on for long period in some states. Don't know about GA. You see them on boats from Alabama and Tennessee. Some call them docking light or running light. Maybe someone that know can clear this up about the law here in Georgia and other states. I am not sure about the boating law on running light.
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Post by soretoe on Sept 30, 2010 23:18:44 GMT -1
There is no requirement for Hrunning big lights for head lights. Just have your required nav lights in working order. When running at night it helps to know the area that you are running in. Pick a distant object that reflects light on the water and head that way. If you lose the reflection slow down because something is in front of you. You can "train" your night vision unless you are a heavy smoker. If you are try to not smoke the nights that you are out. Once you run with those lights on you will ruin your night vision for the rest of the night. That could mean that you miss a fish breaking the surface in your vicinity. Best thing for night fishing is what Mike says TOW Time on the water. Get familiar with where you want to fish in the day time and go out as soon after at night to see how well that works.
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Post by atlbimmertech on Oct 1, 2010 2:19:07 GMT -1
Thanks guys, even though i wont be putting lights on it looks like, that was what i was looking for. thats why i asked before doing. wouldnt want to be blinding anyone on the lake and causing any problems. like a few said tow is important and i havnt ran the lake a lot at night yet and would be nice just to have some more reflection on markers as guidance...
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Post by samsonite on Oct 26, 2010 0:23:02 GMT -1
Just remeber if you us a hand held Q-Beam they get really hot quick, so make sure you lay it blub up you might melt the carpet or seat cover. I use a hand held to spot channel makers at night. Have a mounted light on bow for laoding at night.
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Post by gordon on Oct 26, 2010 16:46:44 GMT -1
I have running lights on my boat. I do not use them normally, they are handy early in the year when there is wood floating everywhere and when I am running rivers. If I do need to use them during a normal night run, I will just flick them on and then off, I try not to use them so my night vision is ok.
I would not run rivers at nigh without them, for this reason, for me they are worth having. If you do, go to the car shop and get a pair for $20, a lot cheaper that the Boating/Marine shop and still weather proof - at least for freshwater.
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Post by mikeinga on Oct 27, 2010 0:00:09 GMT -1
It is illegal to run with anything other than standard nav lights. You can use spot /headlights in a momentary manner only. There are a couple of pontoons with double headlights that run Allatoona at night and they are very annoying.
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Post by gordon on Oct 27, 2010 13:30:21 GMT -1
I did not know it was illegal!
I do not use them on the lake for anything other than momentarily flicking on and off and for docking.
But how are you supposed to run a river like the Etowah without some kind of headlight?
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chase <ºj))))>< <ºj))))><
Full Member
Me: Trolling with big baits:) 90% of fish are in 10% of the water. Find 'em by trolling!
Posts: 274
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Post by chase <ºj))))>< <ºj))))>< on Oct 27, 2010 20:06:50 GMT -1
Mikeinga: I just got my Georgia boater's license (8 hr. course) and the course did not mention anything about it being illegal to use anything other than standard nav lights on a boat. As a retired Georgia law enforcement officer I'm used to researching criminal and traffic laws and to save my life I can't find anything anywhere that says it is illegal in Ga. I also checked Coast Guard regulations and couldn't find anything there either. I'm not doubting what you say, and I agree that blinding running lights are unecessary and dangerous, but I am curious about a law I can't find anywhere on the books. I probably just missed it somehow. Can you help me out my friend? Do you have the OCGA code section or anything else on that particular law? I would like to use it if I encounter those annoying pontoon boats you mentioned Thanks!
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