instrumentation lighting

[Tony Walker]

Here is a question.

Do any of us Rinker owners use our boats at night?

Reason for the question is that the night lighting of the instrumentation that I have is really bad.  None of my gauges (white background) can be read easily, even with the panel light intensity turned up to max.  It turns out that by shining a green LED flashlight on the gauges, they are the most readable, realizing that "red" is the one color that has no effect on "night vision"

Is it my eyes or is this the way that it is?  Anybody done anything to improve this situation?

Thank you in advance for any information about this.

Tony
Salt Shaker 342

[ParkRode360]

Tony, mine isn't that bad, can still read them at night with the intensity up -- though I *do* have to turn down the chartplotter to almost min, as it'll screw up my night vision...

[Dream 'Inn]

The problem with mine isn't the gauges, it's that the helm switches stay light up full bright.  Kind of ruins the night vision, but no choice to having them on.

[Talon]

I run at night all the time (thank god for radar). The panel lights and chartplotter screen are independently adjustable, so I normally kill the panel lights and just run with the chartplotter going. My depth guage can't be dimmed and it is really the only one I need for running at night.

[Banker's Hours]

Mine are also hard to read. I have the 350 EC with red back lighting. We use the boat quite a bit at night. What i have found is the darker it is, the easier they are to read. We return alot at early evening and they are hard to read but if we return late at night or stay on the hook, they become easier to read. Maybe I am just old and it takes longer for my eyes to adjust!!

Banker's Hours
350 EC
Kentucky Lake

[Dan&Darci]

George - the Raymarine has a "night pallette".  Is that too bright?

[mflauer]

Tony, mine isn't that bad, can still read them at night with the intensity up -- though I *do* have to turn down the chartplotter to almost min, as it'll screw up my night vision...

Several times I've been out at night and I forgot to dim the chartplotter and it's too bright especially compared to the gauges so it's hard to read the gauges and then having problems with night vision too. When I remember to dim it the gauges aren't too bad to see.

[Talon]

I also have to make sure to either cover my stereo remote or turn the radio off completely. Since the remote cannot be dimmed, it will cost you night vision if you do not do something about it.

[ParkRode360]

That's what I use, Dan --and being in the river there's alot of yellow on the chartplotter -- tends to mess me up. I've dimmed it down, but still need enough brightness to see the channel bouys. 

It's not terrible, I think it's more I just should redo everything in the future.  Maybe get a second C80 on Ebay, and use that for engine displays....  after I win the lottery! ;)

[Talon]

Personally, I'd add an E80 if I were you :)

[ParkRode360]

Talon, I'd agree! ;) Heck, I'll just win a bigger lottery!