Advice on mounting spotlight

[ericcarr2000]

I recently purchased s Jabsco Spotlight and was really wanting to mount it on the bow rail at the very front where it comes to a point. My problem I'm having is how in the hell do I route the wiring so that it is hidden as much as possible?

 

[GA_Boater]

A pic of the light and bow rail would help.

Otherwise use silver duct tape.

 

[ericcarr2000]

Lol,

 

[StingrayMike]

Why not mount it to the bow itself so you can run the wires under the gunwale?

 

[alldodge]

Here is a pic where the guy mounted one for the same boat. Looks like the wires go down the starboard side

 

[ericcarr2000]

I thought about mounting it on the bow pulpit but I really would like to mount it at the front of the bow rail like in the picture but I'm concerned about routing the wires though.

 

[Grub54891]

I've done a couple by running the wires inside the rail. It's a bit tricky, drilling through under the stanchion, up in to the rail. Then fishing the wire up to the light. Once I used a string, and compressed air to get the string through, and by golly it worked. Just be sure to seal the stanchion base and the hole in the upper rail really well so you don't have any leaks.

 

[StingrayMike]

Cant tell in the pic, but are those wires for the light, or is that a folded down antenna behind the light?
anywho...
also looking at the pic, the pulpit would not be that good cuz of the anchor. running the wire through the rail would work like Grub says. Normally when i have to run cables in pipe, I tape a small screwdriver bit onto the end of the string, feed it into the pipe and use a strong magnet (wrapped in tape to keep from scratching the pipe) to pull the string to the end. It looks like your run would be pretty easy,just have to get it into the cabin. Not sure how you could do that without having the cable exit out of the pipe, then drill a hole into the cabin, or ifyou could unbolt thelast section, pull it out of the way, drill ahole in the bottom of the rail mount, then under the base drill a hole to feed the cable through. if the cable was external, you would only have to get a perko grommet to seal the hole.

 

[alldodge]

I thought about mounting it on the bow pulpit but I really would like to mount it at the front of the bow rail like in the picture but I'm concerned about routing the wires though.

I would do it like Grub mentioned and use air with a string. Drill one hole either under the rail in about the area shown, then have it come out at the end of the rail. Move the rail to one side and drill a hole next to the helm, seal it good and reinstall the rail.

 

[Scott Danforth]

we use air and string all the time on pull wires at work. especially when feeding 30+ feet of wire. works great.

I would drill two 1/2" holes, get a few grommets and some black RTV.

drill holes

run string

install grommets

pull wire

seal with a dab of RTV

 

[ericcarr2000]

Gotcha. Looks like I have yet another task to do in the spring then. I'll definitely try to run it through the bow rail though.

 

[Grub54891]

Never thought about a magnet and string. The rails are stainless so that would work also. If your rails come apart at each section with set screws or rivits, it would make the job pretty easy.

 

[ericcarr2000]

Ok I just got back from looking at the rails along with the wires...does anyone know what the inside diameter is of the bow rails? The connector that is at the end of the wires is pretty close to the thickness of the bow rails. There's probably only 1/8 or 1/16 of an inch play between them.

 

[Grub54891]

Can't tell you id of the tube, but sound's like the plug must be made smaller. You should be able to use a small pick, and release the pins from the plug. I've done that before myself. Be sure to mark or write down which hole they came out of. Now the whole works should be small enough to run through the rail. I have tools for releasing the pins. Possibly radio shack would have the tool,If they are still in business where are.