Oil lamps

How to choose an oil lamp

For on board, choose a lamp with a gimbal suspension (Ship's Lamp, Captain's Cabin) that stays upright as the boat rolls, and a smoke bell if it hangs under a wooden deckhead. For home, terrace or table, the table and wall versions — Old Danish, Petrolux — and the DIETZ hurricane lanterns, which cope with wind and rain. Check the wick width (in "lines", e.g. 10''') and the glass: both are common spares we stock in spare parts, also for lamps decades old. Use pure lamp oil only. First lighting, wick trimming and cleaning in oil lamp maintenance; the comparison with bulkhead and electric lamps in the ship's lamps buying guide.

Frequently asked questions about oil lamps

What fuel do they use?

Lamp oil (purified liquid paraffin), which burns clean and odourless. Never use petrol, alcohol or crude kerosene. Fill the reservoir to about three quarters and let the wick soak for a few minutes before the first lighting.

How do I care for an oil lamp?

Trim the wick straight and short, clean the glass chimney with a dry cloth and keep the reservoir closed when not in use. Our oil lamp maintenance guide explains it step by step; original wicks, chimneys and burners are under spare parts.

Are they safe on board?

With common sense, yes: place them on a stable surface or in a gimbal, away from curtains and sails, and never unattended. Delite and E.S. Sørensen lamps have been aboard Scandinavian boats for decades.