If you want something similar to the A6, I actually recommend the Convoy S3 with the SST-40:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1106058070.html
Very bright, decently throwy, better thermal design, and tons of modification potential 
If you want an A6 clone, that’s one thing.
But pick out what you want first: tailswitch only / sideswitch only / both; UI; reflector vs TIR lens; flood vs throw; color temp; CRI; etc.
There are so many options out there that once you figure out the checklist, you can get pretty close to what you really want.
It's good to have you here, FloopCooper!
I have the A6 and S2+ myself and like both of them. I wouldn’t call them throwers thou, actually pure “flood” lights is more what I’d think of them. For me the strong point about the A6 is the Bistro UI, I still like that UI about the best of all lights I have. The strong point of the S2+ is the choice in led’s, it also makes it a bit harder to find the perfect one but that’s all part of the hobby. I recently got me a S2+ with the 519a 4500K and like that one a lot if you want high CRI.
The warmer led’s do work well in humid conditions thou, they may look less bright than the colder variants but actually reach better in foggy or very humid conditions, the colder led’s tend to white out in those conditions.
So ask a bunch of geeks what you’d need and the answer will be “all of it” and a bit more but you really can’t go wrong with any of these.
I placed an order (left a hello for Simon if he’s still there) for a Convoy S2+ SFT-40.
I’m sure in a few months I’ll have collected a few more of the recommendations. I’d love to try a high CRI light next to see if the sea life looks better, then maybe a small FW3A after that. Might do a Convoy 3 eventually to see if it hold up alright around the water like I use them.
Thanks for all the input, I’m definitely going to keep looking while I wait on this first delivery.
Nice choice with the SFT-40.
That's my favorite emitter, though otherwise I prefer the A6.
Would a Zebralight SC64W HI outperform an A6?
No in raw brightness, and maybe the tailswitch+UI differences, but otherwise, the A6 is just worse.
IMHO, the A6 is much better quality than the S2+.
Are you referring to looks, actual function, or both??
Have you ever used a C8?
It's takes a single 18650 and has significantly more throw than the BLF A6.
Many brands, including Convoy, have one in their lineup. Price can be very reasonable.
For boating, I'd probably want both an S2+ and a C8 (or their 2170-battery equivalents). For close work, such as helping a flipped kayak, the S2+ would be best. For spotting boats or buoys in the distance, the C8. I'd also want a headlamp, but that's a whole other story.
On a budget, I might skip the S2+, and go with a headlamp for close work, and a C8 for everything else.
Both, feels better. The switch also feels better.
Remarkable. My A6 is not (size-wise) compatible with any other of my lights, but the switch + PCB can be swapped with that of all of my S2+ and C8 lights.
OK, thanks for your opinion on that. :+1:
Mine is completely different, I rarely even use any of my A6’s… the S2+’s gets the nod.
BUT hey, variety is what it is all about. We all like different things.
Order through Simon got cancelled. 
No shipping option where I live… even though they charged a shipping fee originally. I’ll have to order it to mainland USA and coordinate receiving it from a relative or something.
Thanks for all your help with the choices - excited to eventually have a decent light again.
Welcome FloopC! I must say, your job sounds tantilizing! I live near the ocean, but have a desk job Can you share anymore details of why you shine lights into the sea? Sounds exciting!
I too was going to recommend the S2+. SFT-40 is a great led. Best of luck with your search sir.
I work for a kayak tour company, so each night we take people out in see-through kayaks and point out the sea life (sea-turtles, sting rays, tarpon etc). It’s great for a while, or part time, but I think you’d get tired of the manual labor and dealing with tourists (I sure have). Follow your dreams though - there are lots of jobs out there and you can even make your own (if it’ll make you money haha).
I guess this cancelled order gives me time to make sure the SFT-40 S2+ is what I want… but I really just want anything decent here in my hand asap haha. I’ll likely place another order today to the mainland.
I think so because it means you get to see the difference between the S2+ and your A6, and the difference between the beam profile of an XP-L and an SFT-40, which are 2 good starting comparisons to experience in order to understand more about the options that are available to you.
If you go for more extreme changes, or too many changes at once, it’s harder to understand what’s going on.
Not sure where you would buy from though, could be worth starting a separate thread to find out if anyone knows which companies/stores deliver to your country.
Sounds like you need a holster and a lanyard with a floaty thing attached. Convoy sells a holster for the S2. The driver with the sft-40 will step down with higher temperatures because it needs to. Many other S2 drivers won’t get as hot as fast with say a SST20 4000k. I don’t know which will work better for looking down into very clear ocean water. Usually the tighter the beam is the farther it will penetrate in water. The sst20 has a nice tight hotspot. So a lot depends on how long of a period you’re going to run this for. With the cost of shipping and other things you may need to get both.
Sorry your order got canceled, did you message the owner Simon through AXpress, he is very accommodating. Or you can find him on the forum.
I have both S2+ from Simon and A6 from BadBang I bought the A6 at time when quality went down the drain.
A6 quality is inferior, moonlight never worked, it has a very nice beam though, when it works. very unreliable, fits perfectly in a headstrap,
The S2+ is very elegant, and no complains, I have a few versions, XML2, XPL- HI love the 4000 and 2700 SST-20. For shining in the distance you might want the 5000-6000. Unfortunately, I dont have the SFT-40.
He also makes a UV version, and deep red or green , if that helps in the dark,
You can get the headstrap for an extra $2, that way you can keep your hands free while kayaking. You don’t want to get pulled over by the kayak police 
