No matter how many lights you have hard-wired into your boat, every boater would be well-served to carry aboard some type of handheld illumination device. You never know when you’re going to need to navigate through a bunch of moored sailboats at the marina after dark, or find that loose wire connector in the bilge. Here are three types of handheld lights to consider.
Spotlight: West Marine Heavy Waterproof Rechargeable LED Spotlight
The Bright Side: A spotlight’s concentrated beam is great for picking out buoys at a distance. A handheld, such as this one from West Marine, does the trick. Its rugged aluminum case has an IP67 waterproof rating and floats. Its three settings harness 10,000 lumens. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries provide three hours of use at full power, six hours at low power.
The Dark Side: It takes six to eight hours to fully recharge and is not the best choice for lighting up the deck or poking around in the bilge.
Price: $174.99; Buy it now at West Marine
Flashlight: Streamlight ProTac HL 6
The Bright Side: A must-have for making repairs in a dark bilge, the Streamlight ProTac HL 6 can also help spot navaids or pick out a slip number on a dark dock, but not as well as a spotlight. The LED lights are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and can create a beam that extends over 1,857 feet on its highest setting (5,300 lumens). Cased in aircraft-grade aluminum, it can handle being dropped on deck, and has an IPX7 waterproof rating.
The Dark Side: The beam is narrower than a spotlight’s, so it won’t provide the full scope of your surroundings.
Price: $133.65; Buy it now on Amazon
Read Next: Top Spotlights for Boaters
Floodlight: Milwaukee M18 Rover Dual Power Floodlight
The Bright Side: Floodlights cast a wide beam but not necessarily over a great distance. They are great to light up an area close to the boat, such as for landing a fish or as a help in docking. The handheld Milwaukee M18 Rover has both lithium-ion batteries and an AC adapter so that you can plug it into a 120-volt system. It provides up to 4,000 lumens and can run for three to 12 hours. It can be rotated 120 degrees, and the durable case features keyholes, so you can hang it overhead.
The Dark Side: Its IP54 rating is water-resistant, not waterproof.
Price: $149; Buy it at West Marine
