I probably use my lights as much for boating as around the house/yard and am just getting into high-end lights. Last night I trialed my new T40cs as my boat(assist) light on the Narragansett bay. (I have the new 840 lumen model). The bay is quite the proving ground for lights as it is big, dark, and filled with boats and other obstacles (especially on the night of July 4th fireworks). There are big buoys that are generally easy to spot but plenty of small bouys and moorings that are just above water level and often without any reflective surface. Then there are the lobster pot markers- small plastic bottles (often dark colors) - propellers hate them - randomly strewn throughout the bay. Here's what I learned on my night out with the family.
1. As any boater knows, you try to use a light like this a rarely as possible and use your (night adjusted) eyes instead so the on-to-Turbo UI can be a problem- for anything IN the boat i used my quark with its nice low mode.
2. When you think you see something in your way or you need to find a channel marker fast the on-to-Turbo is great.
3. The holster that comes with this light was a total nightmare!. Because of the "tactical ring" and (i think) the lanyard attachment hook, it was downright impossible to get this light out of the holster without two hands and a lot of pulling and tugging. I gave up and stuck it in my front pocket for the rest of the trip --Can you remove the tactical ring?? I hope so. This rendered the holster almost useless.
4. Even though i chose this light for its reletively high amount of spill (compared with some other throwers) I found that in a boat- unless the light goes right off the tip of the bow- spill is a bad thing as it lights up the (white) boat interior and the reflective light is bad. I love this light but if you want a good light for finding markers from the console of a boat, one of those laser-like (?aspheric) lights sound like they may be better.
5. Overall the throw was really good, although I don't really seem to get the "500 meters" advertised -- i think the air is pretty misty so that probably explains that. I've previously used one of those West Marine 1milllion candle power monsters that i liked but it was large, heavy, and only lasted about 30 mins. Getting the same beam from something i can put in my pocket is amazing.
6. the front/side switch was also a good thing as I was often reaching around the windshield and this fit my grip better.
Overall - with the exception of the holster - I love this light. Problem is I need the holster (or something like it) so I can get the light out of my hand quickly without damaging it. Any thoughts?
I hope the salt water doesn't destroy this light and i have it for many years.
1. As any boater knows, you try to use a light like this a rarely as possible and use your (night adjusted) eyes instead so the on-to-Turbo UI can be a problem- for anything IN the boat i used my quark with its nice low mode.
2. When you think you see something in your way or you need to find a channel marker fast the on-to-Turbo is great.
3. The holster that comes with this light was a total nightmare!. Because of the "tactical ring" and (i think) the lanyard attachment hook, it was downright impossible to get this light out of the holster without two hands and a lot of pulling and tugging. I gave up and stuck it in my front pocket for the rest of the trip --Can you remove the tactical ring?? I hope so. This rendered the holster almost useless.
4. Even though i chose this light for its reletively high amount of spill (compared with some other throwers) I found that in a boat- unless the light goes right off the tip of the bow- spill is a bad thing as it lights up the (white) boat interior and the reflective light is bad. I love this light but if you want a good light for finding markers from the console of a boat, one of those laser-like (?aspheric) lights sound like they may be better.
5. Overall the throw was really good, although I don't really seem to get the "500 meters" advertised -- i think the air is pretty misty so that probably explains that. I've previously used one of those West Marine 1milllion candle power monsters that i liked but it was large, heavy, and only lasted about 30 mins. Getting the same beam from something i can put in my pocket is amazing.
6. the front/side switch was also a good thing as I was often reaching around the windshield and this fit my grip better.
Overall - with the exception of the holster - I love this light. Problem is I need the holster (or something like it) so I can get the light out of my hand quickly without damaging it. Any thoughts?
I hope the salt water doesn't destroy this light and i have it for many years.
