Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

[mickjetblue]

Most boats I see have the bow light mounted on the level surface of the bow,
and in the middle of the front of the boat.

I also see many bow mounted trolling motors that are mounted within a foot
or two of the bow light. The mounting of the bow motor housing is usually
about 4" high, give an inch or so.

Should the bow light be mounted on a small platform to raise it above the
trolling motor housing? How else can it be visible on the horizontal plane when
the trolling motor housing is an obstacle blocking its line of sight?

 

[DJ]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

It SHOULD be.

Many boats designed to have a trolling motor (bow) have pedestal bow lights.

Like this one.


http://www.iboats.com/Stowaway_Bow_...393977288--**********.245803613--view_id.2840

 

[kandil]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

you would get a folding light that rise up the bow light

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

this is how i solved the problem.

 

[arks]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

I installed running lights on my 14' Jon. The trolling motor made it necessary to use a removable pedestal bow light (about 6" tall). To protect the socket from water when not in use, I bought a rubber stopper with safety cable. Works great, and the light is never in the way.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

this is how i solved the problem.

Took me a while to see it, but isn't it supposed to be at the tip of the bow so while navigating at night your boat doesn't look like it's half as long to others?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

I thought about your question long and hard for my boat and couldn't come up with a good solution for a deck mounted bow light, one way or another it would be blocked by the trolling motor. Also, I didn't want to fuss around with a pedestal bow light (something to loose or break,, "kids") so I'm going with separate side marker lights mounted to the sides of the windshield consoles.

Something like this;

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

thats probably a valid point on a 300' long freighter but for the purposes of navigation I dont think the boat appearing 4 or 5' shorter than it really is is going to make a difference. If someone is trying to pass you with only 5' to spare you are in a heap of trouble.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

thats probably a valid point on a 300' long freighter but for the purposes of navigation I dont think the boat appearing 4 or 5' shorter than it really is is going to make a difference. If someone is trying to pass you with only 5' to spare you are in a heap of trouble.

Good point.

I wished some people up my way would even just use lights at night period, especially while anchored. Was heading home after a night of fishing, thought this other boat had headed back to the launch to go home. I was going slooooow because it was just that dark and the only thing that allowed me to avoid him was the backlight of his fishfinder that I barely got a glimpse of.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

they are required to have their anchor light, just more reinforcement for mandatory boating license.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Bow light visibility and trolling motors?

they are required to have their anchor light, just more reinforcement for mandatory boating license.

EVERYONE in Sask. needs their operators card by Sept '09. Wonder how many people will actually do it though heh