Chris,
I semi copyed your light--I found a "tractor utility" light at Walmart for about $9, and put a magnet in its base--can be put on the anchor as you suggest--and have that available if I had to use it comming into my bayou. But even with the darkenss of the bayou, that has not yet been necessary.
Now, as for spotlighting the bridges of commercial vessels--I would be extremely cautious about that. The reason the tugs stoplight the banks, is that the tows are pushed head of the tug. We will see up to 9 barges ahead (more commonly 3 to 6)--and at 100 to 150 feet in lenght--this is a considerable tow--they have to see marks and banks way ahead to avoid running aground. We just pull out of the channel, usually behind a marker, and let the tug and spotlight go past.
I agree that there are some places it is best not be out at night, but there are plenty of other places where it is a delight to be on the water in the evening hours and is generally quite safe. Generally I run at displacement speeds (less than 7 knots) after dark--the only exception is open ocean or up "my" (Perdido Bay) local waters, where it is extremely rare to see another boat on the water at night. But even there, one has to have an extra set of eyes searching the water, as well as being able to check the radar regularly.
There are some quite good 2.5 generation night vision monoculars such as the Fujinon PS910. I only have a generation 1 night vision scope--and although it will show objects well, it is not sharp.
I semi copyed your light--I found a "tractor utility" light at Walmart for about $9, and put a magnet in its base--can be put on the anchor as you suggest--and have that available if I had to use it comming into my bayou. But even with the darkenss of the bayou, that has not yet been necessary.
Now, as for spotlighting the bridges of commercial vessels--I would be extremely cautious about that. The reason the tugs stoplight the banks, is that the tows are pushed head of the tug. We will see up to 9 barges ahead (more commonly 3 to 6)--and at 100 to 150 feet in lenght--this is a considerable tow--they have to see marks and banks way ahead to avoid running aground. We just pull out of the channel, usually behind a marker, and let the tug and spotlight go past.
I agree that there are some places it is best not be out at night, but there are plenty of other places where it is a delight to be on the water in the evening hours and is generally quite safe. Generally I run at displacement speeds (less than 7 knots) after dark--the only exception is open ocean or up "my" (Perdido Bay) local waters, where it is extremely rare to see another boat on the water at night. But even there, one has to have an extra set of eyes searching the water, as well as being able to check the radar regularly.
There are some quite good 2.5 generation night vision monoculars such as the Fujinon PS910. I only have a generation 1 night vision scope--and although it will show objects well, it is not sharp.