NEED SPOTLIGHT FOR NIGHTIME NAVIGATION

[foobared]

Hello, I am fairly new to the LED game. I just upgraded my maglite and may be becoming a flashlight geek. I would like some advice on a handheld spotlight for nightime navigation of a small 14 ft. jon boat. I am a duckhunter. I want the best light for the application, not the most powerful or expensive. I currently use a 10 million candlepower 12V spotlight. After spending a little time on this forum I have learned that candlepower equates to how far the light will be thrown, not brightness. I need a light that will throw the beam approx 400-700 yds and be bright at the same time. I find that my current light is more of a long beam of light rather than being bright. Am I dreaming, or is does there exist such a light. Thanks for the kick *** forum!!

 

[Patriot]

Hello foobared and:welcome:

700 yards is a long way but a "15 million CP" Cyclops will just about reach there if it's really dark.
http://www.exploreproducts.com/cyclops-thorplatinum-18millioncandlepower-spotlight.htm



A Costco HID light will out reach the light above by another 200 yards or so. I can see mine pretty well at over 900 yards against a tree line of Ponderosa and Jack Pines.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93175


The down side to these lights is that they have heavy lead acid batteries and are difficult to manipulate. If you're looking for something lighter I'll post some other ideas for you. But without spending thousands of dollars, or modding, nothing else is going to throw as far as these lights.

 

[LumenHound]

What kind of budget do you have in mind for this light?
Will you need to recharge or operate it from your john boat trolling motor battery?

 

[foobared]

Thanks for the replies. I would be willing to spend up to $250 for the spotlight. I threw the 400-700 yds out there because that is what I estimate my 10 million cp spot is producing now. Ideally, I would like a rechargeable spot that is easily manipulated with one hand (the other hand will be on my outboard tiller handle), although I am not against having a 12V spot. I may be dreaming; is a $250 rechargable LED spot that is reliable and troublefree even in the marketplace?

 

[Patriot]

I may be dreaming; is a $250 rechargable LED spot that is reliable and troublefree even in the marketplace?

Nope.

The Wiseled 1500 is rechargeable, produces 1500 lumens, will throw to about 150-200 yards, reliable, trouble free, slightly larger that a 2D maglight, waterproof and made in the Netherlands, but it's not a "spot" and it's about $650 dollars.

Here is the X990 HID light with adjustable beam. This kit allows you to run it straight off of a 12V source or rechargeable batteries. It's among the very brightest hand held lights in existance but once again, it's about double what you were going to spend.
http://www.magnalight.com/pc-174-30...red-battery-connection-and-magnetic-base.aspx

Or you could do this:
http://www.magnalight.com/pc-97-30-...hid-rechargeable-flashlight-click-to-buy.aspx

Plus this:
http://www.magnalight.com/pc-97-30-...hid-rechargeable-flashlight-click-to-buy.aspx

That would give you two rechargeable batteries, and the 12V/24V adaptor.

 

[foobared]

Thanks Pat36 for the effort. I have to correct my previous submissions.

My current 12V spot is a Coleman 400K candlepower halogen spot, 5360 series. I don't remember what I paid for it way back when, but I can't justify spending over $400 on a 13lb spot. The coleman weighs about 1.5lb soaking wet. Again, thanks for the effort, but for now I'm sticking to the old Coleman.

 

[Patriot]

Thanks Pat36 for the effort. I have to correct my previous submissions.

My current 12V spot is a Coleman 400K candlepower halogen spot, 5360 series. I don't remember what I paid for it way back when, but I can't justify spending over $400 on a 13lb spot. The coleman weighs about 1.5lb soaking wet. Again, thanks for the effort, but for now I'm sticking to the old Coleman.

Foobared, that's just the shipping weight bro.

I think the actual weight with battery in the light is about 6 pounds.

If you use it with the 12V power supply which is done by removing the battery and inserting the battery look-a-like with power cord the weight drops to about 4 pounds or so. The X990 will be about 8 times brighter than a so-called "400,000cp" spotlight.

I used to do the same thing as you did with a corded Vector spotlight while spotting animals from a vehicle. When I starting using HID, the X990 in particular, I discovered that I had been driving right past a lot of them without ever seeing them. I use it mostly for scouting deer and elk btw. If it's within your budget, it's very hard to beat the performance. If not, a more powerful halogen spotlight might be an improvement over what you have. I'll do some searching for you.

Ok, here is the most powerful Halogen spot Magnalight sells:
http://www.magnalight.com/pc-22-38-...tic-bases--click-to-compare-and-buy--mul.aspx

 

[Lexus]

Suvlights offered the X990 for $320 quite a while ago. Here is the link. I don't know if he has some left.