A reliable, powerful spotlight is a critical piece of safety gear for any sailor venturing out after dark, whether for making a night landfall, checking sail trim, or navigating a crowded anchorage.
When we tested five popular rechargeable spotlight models, we discovered that the brightest light on paper, measured in lumens, wasn’t always the most effective. The design of the reflector, which shapes the beam, proved to be just as crucial for long-distance performance.
We put these lights to the test on the water, seeing which could best illuminate a channel marker from 1.2 miles away. For sailors, key considerations like being waterproof, the ability to float, and power-conserving features are paramount.
Streamlight Waypoint 400
This rugged spotlight feels solid in the hand, is fully waterproof (IPX8 rated), and floats, making it an excellent choice for on-deck use. Its most user-friendly feature is a simple selector lever for high, medium, and low beams, allowing you to choose a setting without annoyingly toggling through all of them to turn it off.
It produces a tight “pencil beam” that lit up our test marker post from 1.2 miles away, perfect for spotting distant aids to navigation. It also includes rings and a foldout bracket for hands-free use. Our one gripe was a charging port cover that was difficult to seal securely without pliers.
- Price: $159.99
- Max Lumens: 1,400
- Weight: 1.5 lbs.
Goodsmann Sirius
With a high 3,000-lumen rating, the Sirius is rugged, waterproof, and it floats. Instead of a long-distance beam, its three LEDs create an extremely bright and wide beam covering about 150 degrees.
While it couldn’t illuminate the marker post at 1.2 miles, it did light up the reflective tape. This makes it ideal for tasks like scanning the water surface in a man-overboard situation, navigating a tight channel, or lighting up the entire foredeck to check the anchor. Its battery life is excellent, but like many others, it uses an inconvenient toggle-through switch for its settings.
- Price: $99.99
- Max Lumens: 3,000
- Weight: 1.08 lbs.
Goodsmann Artemis
The Artemis is a compact, tough, waterproof light that floats. It struck a good balance between a long-range beam and useful peripheral illumination. It successfully lit our 1.2-mile target, though not as brightly as the Waypoint.
Two features make it stand out for cruisers: a trigger lock to prevent it from being accidentally switched on in a locker, and a USB output port to serve as a backup phone charger. A built-in stand adds versatility. The only significant drawback is the common toggle-through power switch.
- Price: $59.99
- Max Lumens: 2,000
- Weight: 1.97 lbs.
Streamlight Stinger 2020
This light feels incredibly solid, milled from a durable aluminum body. However, for use on a sailboat, it has two major flaws: it is only water-resistant, not waterproof, and it does not float. Its beam is a broad flood of light, useful for work within 100-200 yards, but it barely reflected from our long-distance target.
On the plus side, its batteries are replaceable, extending its service life, and it comes with a solid wall-mountable charger that could be useful at a nav station. Given its limitations, it’s not well-suited for on-deck work in rough conditions.
- Price: $159
- Max Lumens: 2,000
- Weight: 12.3 oz.
Yierblue YB 953 Rechargeable Spotlight
The lowest-priced light in our test, the Yierblue is lightweight and floats. Its focused pencil beam performed surprisingly well at a distance, nearly matching the Streamlight Waypoint. It also comes packed with features, including a handy side-mounted floodlight, a small tripod, and a USB port for charging devices.
Unfortunately, its durability is a concern. The plastic bezel is unarmored, and despite being advertised as waterproof, our test unit leaked immediately. While the company offers a lifetime guarantee, its lack of reliability makes it a risky choice for a primary safety light.
- Price: $37.79
- Max Lumens: 800
- Weight: 1.7 lbs.
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