adding lights

[prayingmantis]

Hi everyone. Now that it's the middle of winter and football is officially over I have started to work on the boat. I have a '88 Blue Fin Sportsman 1950. I'm looking to put some lights on it. Some of the launches that I use here in western NY are pitch dark. I have looked a little and there are so many different lights out there. What would be the best one to get ? Thanks for any help

 

[wrench 3]

Are you looking for running (nav) lights, fixed docking lights, spot light, etc.?

 

[prayingmantis]

I think docking lights or spot light. If there is something I can have fixed and have a enough light to see where I am going when Im coming into the dock. Or maybe a spot light that I can move the direction of the light

 

[UncleWillie]

First be sure you understand that it is illegal to add Running/Head lights to a Boat.
When under way it is Red/Green on the Bow and an All-Round White well above the stern. That is it!

You can add Docking/Spot/Flood Lights for use when docking only.
That means for use when no more than 50-100 yards from the dock. Not a mile out!

The simplest option is a rechargeable hand held spot light for under $35. Best if at least 2 people are on board.
At the other extreme is a bow mounted, remote controlled, Pan and Tilt, Stainless Steel, Search light at $500+.
With dozens of options in between.

What is your budget, and how much effort are you willing to do?

 

[prayingmantis]

Ok thanks for the info. Im not looking for something that I can drive around with like a headlight. I seen some lights that I think were a 4 or 5 bulb led light which I could put on either side of the bow and run off toggle switches. I wasnt sure if they would be good enough. I just want something bright enough to see where Im going but not too bright to blind someone. I really dont want to spend a ton of money but I dont want a piece of crap either. I want to do it right the first time. As far as effort goes I spend more time on my boat than I do my truck.

 

[kmarine]

I have a Stanley 35 dollar led rechargeable spotlight that I love. as far as utility lights Led accessory lights are great. available at farm and fleet type stores or truck stops. mounting the lights where they do not blind anyone is the difficult part. lights mounted on the boat are best when docked but often make seeing anything from the boat more difficult when under way. running lights with a spotlight works best.

 

[UncleWillie]

There are three parts to the Docking light question. Lighting the dock while approaching it, Keeping it out of other boaters eyes, and lighting the pier after arrival.
The answer is to mount a movable light up very high and point it down.

I have a had held light that works as long as I can get someone else to point it where I request.
Your Post has me looking at the RAM-B-152 Spot light.
I don't have any part of the boat that is over my head while standing, but the Windshield frame is an option.
I anticipate fabricating a clamp to hold it to the frame for night use, and storing it when not needed. Clean and neat.
I already have a windshield frame clamp that I use to mount a Mirror to monitor the Skiers/Tubers during water sports.

Mounting it high would allow pointing it down in front of the bow and the ball joint would allow lighting the Pier during unloading.
Mounting it on the Windshield near the helm would allow adjusting it without assistance.
Plus it could be pointed aft if needed for engine repairs or dismounted and hand carried anywhere in the boat.

The bulb is a standard replaceable PAR-36 bulb available in 1600+ lumen LED versions.

 

[prayingmantis]

Ok. Thanks for the help. That spotlight will be perfect. Not to mention a lot cheaper than some of the other mounted lights I have seen. They also have a suction cup to mount it on the windshield. Thanks

 

[UncleWillie]

Ok. Thanks for the help. That spotlight will be perfect. Not to mention a lot cheaper than some of the other mounted lights I have seen. They also have a suction cup to mount it on the windshield. Thanks

I just found one on ebay for $26 with a broken Power plug. A $3 Fix!

 

[airshot]

I have a bow mounted remote controlled spot/flood light on my boat and it works well, however I find myself using the handheld more often due to convenience.
Have some type of quick mount (suction cup) to hold it in position when needed, but you will find that handheld unit your best option.

 

[JimS123]

I live in WNY as well. Back in the '60's when I was young and foolish I mounted a removable spotlight on the bow. It had a 6' cord so you could remove it from its bracket and hand hold it.

First of all, every time I NEEDED to use it there were other boats around and I learned in a hurry what it was like for a young kid to get yelled at by old boaters. Secondly, it truly wasn't worth a crap. There was so much reflection off the front of the boat that it was blinding.

Someone hand holding a high candlepower flashlight cantilevered over the bow would provide the most visibility. If your purpose is to see the dock at the launch ramp, there might be some utility there. If your purpose it to see debris in the water so you don't hit a log, forget it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

YEP^... lights aren't worth a crap on the water... ALL they do is reflect off every ripple in the water and ruin your night vision and everyone else's around you... there is no way to mount them so that they don't blind other boaters..... the ONLY time you should be using lights on open water is to locate navigational aids IE reflective markers, signal other boaters, or identify landmarks...... as for avoiding debris, that's simple... at night operate at idle speed and protect your eyes from all sources of light... ie dim or turn off the dash lights... make sure navigation lights don't shine on the boat or in your face....

When docking or loading on the trailer docking lights can be useful but you should be within about 100 feet of the dock or trailer before turning them on.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I use a free harbor freight LED flashlight 95% of the time for coming in the channel at night. I keep it in my pocket, and it is just bright enough for me to see the markers, crab pots, bridge, and docks. for the 5% of the time when I really need more light, I have a 300,000 cp hand-held spot light that my father originally bought 35 years ago. It sits below on a hook.

 

[bonz_d]

Not taking a side but I'm going to throw fuel on the fire here with a link to another one of these topics on a different site.. I know this topic was just discussed here about a month ago also.

http://www.tinboats.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=32811

 

[Water logged]

Seems to me the lights discussed in the other forum would have a tendency to attract bugs and LEOs.

Glenn

 

[TexMonty]

I use a hand held spot sometimes, but as mentioned sometimes they are hard to use by yourself and maneuver the boat. They make some really powerful head mounted lights these days. I use my headlite for everything - hunting, working on things in the dark and they work as well to see well enough to trailer a boat and it keeps your hands free. All the sporting good stores carry them.

 

[s.hadley81]

I would look up a stream light waypoint on Amazon I been using stream lights for years for work and play I use the way point just to see once in a while at night because it tends blind you then your eyes have adjust to the dark but great for just seeing for quick spurts but the waypoint comes in two different models one is rechargeable and the other has a 12v cord if you have an acc port plus they're water resistant

 

[bonz_d]

The only reason I could see using those light would be bow fishing for carp at night. As even on small tight rivers I think it would be more of a hindrance than help while trying to navigate. Guess I'm spoiled in that all waterways in Wisconsin are No Wake after sunset and I don't have to worry about another boat coming at me at WOT.