Flash lights

A flashlight is a portable device providing strong, directional illumination useful for nighttime sailing, diving and similar activities.

Applications

These devices are found aboard every vessel likely to sail at night, as well as in the gear bag of divers, workers and mechanics, among others.

Technologies

The flashlight body holds the batteries, which may be rechargeable. The bulb is often set in a reflector. Light-emitting diode (LED), incandescent, halogen, xenon, krypton and other bulb types are used. Some flashlights are simple cylinders, while others have a handle on top or a pistol grip to facilitate aiming. In some models, the batteries are housed in a separate unit. Most, but not all versions used aboard boats are watertight.

How to choose

Power is usually expressed in watts (W) or candelas, though sometimes in beam range. Water resistance is defined by IPX standards on a scale from zero to eight, the last being perfectly watertight. LED bulbs use less energy than other types, but their beam is less powerful than xenon or halogen models.