BOW LIGHT REPLACEMENT

[lukethorwart]

I would really appreciate it if someone could answer a quick one for me.<br /><br />The boat is a 1998 Bayliner Capri 1800.<br /><br />My bow light was knocked off into the water (oops) so now I need to replace it. I bought a Perko bow light that looks like it should replace it but when I took the screws out of the old light and tried to remove it, it only lifted about 1/2". In other words, there isn't much slack in the wiring system. I was able to get wire cutters in underneath it however and snip the wires. <br /><br />Now I have wires that are only about 1/2" exposed from inside the boat. It goes without saying that I'm not going to be able to connect the new light's wires to these "in place" wires with any sort of success. <br /><br />Am I missing something obvious as to how to make this new connection? It seems impossible to get up into to the tip of the bow to be able to do any type of work without some serious disassembly of the entire boat. Is there an easy way to replace this bowlight?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Luke

 

[byacey]

Re: BOW LIGHT REPLACEMENT

carefully strip the insulation off the wire, solder a new length of wire the same guage to it. then slide a couple peices of shrink tubing over the joint (one at a time) and shrink them using a heat gun and slide the repaired splice back under the deck.

 

[Boatist]

Re: BOW LIGHT REPLACEMENT

Follow the old wire back to the switch and you will likely find some extra lack along the way. If you do then work the extra wire up to the bow and wire it from the outside. <br /><br />If not then follow Bill's advice.

 

[lukethorwart]

Re: BOW LIGHT REPLACEMENT

Any advice on how to get up under the tip of the bow? It seems nearly impossible to get my arm up there? <br /><br />It's awfully inaccessible, am I missing something here?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[byacey]

Re: BOW LIGHT REPLACEMENT

Can you snake a fishtape or a coathanger wire through the hole to where you can reach it under the deck?