Rope lights under the gunwales

[TBarCYa]

For anyone that boats in the early morning or evening, I would definitely recommend some LED rope lights hung under the gunwales. I just did this yesterday on my 2008 Maxum 1800mx and while I haven't been on the water with the lights yet, in the driveway they put out enough light to illuminate the entire cockpit and because they're blue and under the gunwale, they don't create any glare that would affect navigation. Hopefully I can take some pics tonite and post tomorrow.

 

[Thad]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

I have thought about doing that for a few years. However we already have interior lights and my wife says we are not out enough at dark to justify me adding more stuff to the boat. I tell her it will look better than the lights we already have. Post pics when you can so I can prove to her it IS better.

 

[SS194]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

What's a gunwale?

I've got courtesy lights that do just that, light up the interior. It is by far my favorite feature of the boat.

Even at dusk it makes a huge difference. I especially use them once I get back to the driveway, when it's well after dark and I need to unpack. Very convenient.

Steve

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

This is not my boat nor is it even the same style of boat, but the effect is the same. The gunwale is the side of the boat where the deck meets the hull.

 

[SS194]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

I'm going to change my color to blue now....very nice looking.

Do you have a picture of your boat?

Steve

 

[joza]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

Nice... that looks cool. I'm looking for some amber lights to install in my boat when I get the that point. I thought it would look cool, but the photo just cements it. I'm fu&$ing doing it. Thanks for the post!

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

Hopefully I will be posting pics of my boat with the lights on tomorrow. I didn't get a chance to take a pic last nite when I was testing it.

BTW, the rope lights I bought were $16 each on ebay and are 6'6" long and they will cut custom lengths if needed.

 

[SS194]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

They just plug into a 12v system?

Doesn't get any easier than that. Like I said, I've got courtesy lights. Just one bulb on each side side. They get really stinking hot. I've been wanting to replace them with LED's and add two more. I like this idea so much better.

Steve

PS... Are these the guys???

http://www.cbconcept.com/led-166warmwhiteropelightpackage-2-2-1-1-1.aspx

How do you order? Two individual 6'6" sections?

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

That's who I ordered from. The only thing I didn't like is that they didn't come with any clips to mount them but I picked up 12x 1/2" cable clamps at a home improvement store for $1.20 and was all set.

I ordered two of the 6'6" kit but supposedly they will make custom lengths. Based on what I read, they can make them longer in 3'3" increments and you can link multiple strands together. I ran one down each side and connected them to an unused accessory switch on the dash. There are no plugs tho and I had to wire it all myself. The kit comes with the ballast and about 5' of wire but I still needed to add some to get to the port side.

I haven't left them on long enough to see if they get hot but since they're LED, I don't imagine that they will. Even better is that both of these together probably draw less power than a standard incandescent courtesy light so you should be able to run them longer without draining the battery.

When I get home tonite, I will get the pics and leave them on for a while to see if they get hot.

 

[SS194]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

That's exactly what I'm looking for.

I'll go take some measurements and see how much I need.

Still want to see those pics when you get them

Steve

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

My camera doesn't take very good pictures in low light but here goes... I had them on for about 15 minutes and they weren't even warm.

 

[werthert]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

Hey, whatever floats you boat.



Looks nice, esp on a center console.

 

[SS194]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

I'm excited! It looks great! Mine ship out tomorrow

Steve

 

[joza]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

Mine ship out tomorrow as well. I ordered the amber lights. My boat will be orange and white when I'm finished. It should look pretty sweet. Thanks for the tip and the links!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

I ordered a couple sets of red and white from that place and they light up the boat well. I 5200'd the ends so moisture doesn't get into the wiring since the harness and cap didn't seem too water tight, actually removed the ends, applied 5200 and put back on.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

Mine ship out tomorrow as well. I ordered the amber lights. My boat will be orange and white when I'm finished. It should look pretty sweet. Thanks for the tip and the links!

No problem. That's what this place is for!

 

[Toxarch]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

The home improvement stores carry clear plastic tracks to hold rope lights and attach with double sided tape. The tape works OK, but it would be better with a couple of screws. I think the track they carry is 6 feet long (can be cut) and holds 3/8" rope lighting. You can squeeze 1/2" rope light into it, but it's a pain on your thumbs getting it to go in.

The advantage in using the track is that the rope won't sag over time from the heat of being outside. And be sure to add an inline fuse somewhere to be safe.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

The track is a good idea. I used cable clamps because I could hang them on the bolts that hold the trim in place so the lights followed the contour of the trim. I hadn't considered the lights sagging over time tho.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

I used a set of the HF fiberglass wire snake kits to hold the wires and rope lights up under the gunnels of my boat. Screw/lock-tite the fiberglass rods together, run it under the gunnels and zip-tie everything to the rod. I have big metal wire clamps under the gunnels every 18" or so and the fiberglass rods hold everything up and from drooping.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=65327

(I was going to use a set of old fiberglass tent poles, but these rods are thinner and strong enough to hold everything up.)

 

[jkust]

Re: Rope lights under the gunwales

Which dash switch did you connnect them to?