The Chatham Lighthouse in Action
Dated images of the preexisting rotating beacon in fog, snow, darkness, heavy weather, and other observed conditions.
Documented from water and shore
The visual record.
Begin with the offshore video comparison, then explore approved images and their documented context.
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Offshore comparison
Barely visible in clear conditions. What happens when visibility deteriorates?
These approximately 30-second nighttime views were recorded offshore of Chatham in similar, clear conditions. May shows the preexisting beacon’s intense, broad sweep and recognizable glow. In September, the replacement LED is reduced to a small, faint point—barely distinguishable even before fog, rain, snow, or heavy weather make the light most important.
The safety concern: a navigational light must do more than register as a tiny point in clear weather. May’s beacon projects a broad, conspicuous sweep; September’s LED is barely visible under favorable conditions, raising an urgent question about its usefulness when visibility is poor.
Powerful sweep and broad glow
· Offshore of Chatham
The preexisting beacon dominates the view as its intense rotating beam sweeps across the scene.
Barely visible—even in clear conditions
· Offshore of Chatham
The replacement LED can be detected as a faint, localized point, but it lacks the former beacon’s broad sweep and conspicuous glow—despite the clear conditions.
This recording was made vertically, so its player is taller to show the complete frame at a legible size. Brightness and color are unchanged.
Video: Sam Lawrence / American Lighthouse Foundation.
Even allowing for the limitations of nighttime camera footage, the contrast visible in these two recordings is pronounced. The clips do not by themselves measure performance in fog or heavy weather; they document why mariners are concerned about relying on a light that is already difficult to distinguish in clear conditions.
Community evidence
Documented views from the water and shore.
Open any approved image for a larger view and its documented context.
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About the collection
Reports and pictures from the water and shore.
Approved pictures linked to first-hand observations sit alongside a documented comparison of the preexisting rotating beacon and the new LED lantern. Contact information, exact photo GPS and precise fishing locations are never displayed.
The New LED Lantern as Seen in the Lighthouse
Dated firsthand views of the NEW LED lantern from shore, the water, and nearby viewpoints, with the observed conditions.
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