[MakoMatt]

I have gotten some pretty good advice here in the past, so here we go again.

I would like to install ****pit lighting in my boat this year, both AC & DC, the Coleman battery powered lantern thing just doesn't cut it. To that end what fixtures, advice, etc. you guys have on this?

Also, anyone interested in getting a portable generator, what I plan on using is a Honda model EU1000i. I purchased this 1000KW unit last year, $750, and it is mint, very light, compact, about the size of a briefcase, and runs as quite as a church mouse.

MakoMatt

 

[MakoMike]

Matt,
On my current boat I have the perko lights, which do a good job. On my old 23 footer, I rigged DC "christmas tree" lights under the gunnels, which really lit the ****pit without throwing any light on the water. A commercial lighting place should have them. Currently I also have to DC spotlights, mounted in the tower, which really throw a lot of light, but they also light the water.

 

[Leprechaun]

Another way to go -

I used under-the-combing lights that throw the light down onto the deck without any posibility of glare coming up into your eyes.

Its not the installation, but the ****pit lighting itself that's unique on my boat.

What I did was I went to Boater's World and bought two of those $7.99 12V fluorescent "Trouble lights", you know - the ones with the thin fluor bulb in the clear plastic tube - and I took those and strap-mounted them under the combings on either side of the ****pit and hard-wired them to a Cole-Hersey push-pull switch and thence into my accessory circuitry. They are fairly weather-tight as provided, but I added a schmear of silicone sealer where the wire enters the rear grommet for added insurance.

They've worked beautifully for 7 seasons now and I would think they'll keep working for at least that long in the future, as my dock buddy has them under his gun'nels for better than 10 years now.

Cheap. Effective. Long-Lived and draw spit for power. I can fish an entire night with them on and not see even the slightest voltage drop in my aux system battery.

Worked fantastic for me and I recommend them highly.

Sometimes you gotta think outside the "Marine-overpriced" box.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[loonzter]

Hey Lep are those lights 12v or 110v?

 

[Leprechaun]

"What I did was I went to Boater's World and bought two of those $7.99 12V fluorescent "Trouble lights", you know - the ones with the thin fluor bulb in the clear plastic tube"

MM - ya must have missed the voltage.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[bassavant]

Lighting on a Grover

Matt: Funny you should ask...
On my 26' Grover, I installed two 3"x5" 12v spreader lights, one on each side of the cabin. I mounted them outboard of the cabin top, where the teak stanchions tie in. Bonus points for the following: You don't even have to drill new holes - you just remove one of the three bolts that secures the stanchion to the fiberglass and replace it with a longer one that goes right through the mounting bracket for the light. You can aim the lights down and out over the water for attracting bait and the overspill illuminated the cocpit. Very effective, and easy to do. Additional bonus points: You can now run the wiring under the cabin top (put a little drip leg in where it ducks through the canvas) and run it under the teak trim cover under the cabin roof that houses the courtesy light wiring. I used to bring a third fully charged battery on canyon trips. I found one fully charged 31 series battery would last just about until daybreak running these lights, GPS, colorscope and radio. When the lights got too dim, we would pick up the chunking rigs, and start the dawn patrol on the troll. I would do this again, no question.

 

[STRIKERTHREE]

i would go with led lights there brighter use less power and last longer than typical bulbs

 

[loonzter]

Sorry Lep, blew right past it and didn't realize. I've been thinking what I could use to solve the problem of fishing in a small boat at night to provide ilumination for unhooking fish and tying rigs without guests asking me to shine my headlamp their way so they can see. These lights will mount low enough to prevent shining on the water where they could potentially spook jittery fish. I'll pick a couple up. Thanks, John

 

[Capt.XXX]

Mood Lighting...

Hey Lep,

You should get pink inserts for those fluorescent lights you have under the combing, and then all you need is a tiny disco ball installed under your canvas top.

I think that would be Awesome! Then you can install those velvet waiting line ropes at your slip and have a cover charge! Only Beautiful People would be allowed to fish with you!

LOL!

- Capt. Freddy

 

[622158]

I was just about to do the same

I also will be installing all new cabin lighting and am glad that I read Strikers post.

Thats the ticket! LEDs! Red LEDs are cheap and give off lots of Lumins when combined in mutiples. The RED wont ruin your night vision.

They are waterproof and dont wiegh spit so I can cut down the load above waterline for stability.

I think I will rig up a few hundred of them in various ares like cabin overhead, under the seats for storage and walkways, in the head and in the cabin as well as around the helm in the pilothouse.

at 10 milliamps per LED at 12 vdc they could be run from a small nicad aux battery bank and charged with solar cells

 

[Hipshot]

Beachmooose,
Don't forget to install one in your butt, so you know where to stick your head at night!

 

[Leprechaun]

WOW Capt. XXX, GREAT IDEA! ! !

Little tiny disco balls, that would be cool.

But tell me, would you think that they should be larger or smaller than a set of "Leprechaun Balls?"

Because sadly, those are pretty small.

Pretty small indeed.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[STRIKERTHREE]

beach moose you mocking me ???

 

[622158]

Mocking?

Some of the friggin idiots that reply cant get their own heads out of their butts.

I think LEDs are are Great Idea.

A quick check revealed that a lot of manufactures think LEDs have lots of potention in Automotive ,Avaiation and Marine Industies.

I was going to install conventional incandesent and even was looking at that Rope Lights to string 30ft down each side of the cabin interior and under the seats for evening party cruises.

Cheack this out!

http://www.ledlights.com/dualdock.htm

 

[STRIKERTHREE]

when you said, you were gonna install a few hundred thats what threw me off yeah leds are great they are brighter than conventional bulbs and they last a **** of allot longer also..... sorry to question your post

 

[MakoMatt]

Thanks guys, anyone know of any 12v rope lighting and how do you think that might work mounted under under the gunnels in the ****pit?

MakoMatt

 

[Capt.XXX]

Matty mount it w/ tie wraps!

Lep, How about a little mirrored disco-ball shaped like a 12oz diamond sinker?

WAY COOL!

 

[Leprechaun]

Makomatt - where are you located? Do you want to come to Seaford Harbor and look at mine?

If so - come late in the evening so you can see how they work.

PM me.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[622158]

Light by numbers

One LED will not give you an awful lot of Illumination.

Based on the theroy of 1 candle gives one candelpower but two candles will give you three candlepower and three candles will give you five candlepower ect...

It will take Hundreds of those little LEDs to light up the boat. Look at an Cars tail lamp or one of the New HARDLEY ABELSONS brake lights. They have dozzens of LEDs in just that one brake light.

Maybe I'll draw up some designs and send them to LED companies for Marine Applications. Bow, Stern, Cabin, Masthead and even underwater Fishing Lights.

Hey! I'm gonna rig some LEDs with watch batteries in a clear plastic Squid jig and see if it makes the fish bite. I have a bunch of B-2 Suids that glow Posphosent and work great for Stripers at night for about 10 mins after you expose them to intense light. This may keep them going & going & going.