Additional Toon lighting

OldePharte

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 17, 2008
Messages
633
So as not to continue on the "shiny log" thread -

Background - Big lake, big boats, 30mph speed limit at nite, and me not wanting to be run over. Also, regulated by both state water patrol and US Coast Guard (occasionally).

My original question had to the addition of "friendship" lights along the exterior of a 'toon, basically to make it more noticeable while running at night.

After looking at the USCG requirements, it looks like it would be possible to add a string of red lights on the port side and a string of green lights on the starboard side as long as they come close to the arc requirements. Then a string of white lights along the stern. The lights would be "tucked" under the upper railing so as not to interfere too badly with the ole night vision.

Anyone with any enforcement experience to this set up? Seen anyone even trying this and getting by?

I'll still talk to the water patrol folks next month to get their input.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Additional Toon lighting

mu suggestion would be go to led lights on the existing required lighting, they are much brighter, and draw far less power. http://www.orcagreen.com/

i have also installed leds as courtesy lights on deck. for boarding.
 

OldePharte

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 17, 2008
Messages
633
Re: Additional Toon lighting

Tasha - I was planning on going with rope LEDs. Thanks for the link. It looks like that they will be making pier lights. Here, we need blue lights on the corners of those docks on the main channel. While we are not on the main channel, many owners are installing them anyway. Something about drunks operating boats, above the night time speed limit, and then blaming the dock owners for not lighting their docks so that the crash could be avoided.

On our patio, we installed white rope lights on the over head porches and they give a softer and more even lighting to the patio below w/o attracting the bugs. And they use less power!
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Additional Toon lighting

we have the same problem with drunk boaters, go fast boats, and docks, even during the daylight hours.
 

partyboat21

Cadet
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
21
Re: Additional Toon lighting

i added clear rope lighting to the interior of our boat along the walkway and it gives it that, walking into a dark movie theater at nite effect. ive had alot of compliments with that. as far as the exterior- try docking lights?
 

mthieme

Captain
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
3,270
Re: Additional Toon lighting

I purchased rope lighting and ran it under the rail of the deck on the front porch. It burns about 5 watts per foot and I've got 85' of it. I don't consider it economical. Also, a section burned out after two years.
I also ran about 50' of blue around the grandson's bedroom - decorated in nautical of course. While the bulbs haven't burned out, they use 5.5 watts per foot and the outer casing has spots where it appears to have melted leaving it unsightly. I'm sticking with high intensity bulbs/fixtures.
 
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