bimini nav light

[gatorcop1]

Just got a 1993 Lowe Family 200 pontoon w/ a 70 hp Johnson. I am new to the pontoon scene. My bimini nav light is on the front of the bimini, which to me seems weird. The wiring goes through the square tubing bimini frame from the starboard side, beside the console. Is this set up normal for some models? Every other pontoon I see has the nav light at the back of the bimini, which seems right to me.

 

[Trktrd]

Re: bimini nav light

I have a 1989 Lowe 189. Has the exact same setup.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: bimini nav light

Every boat in this size range must be equipped with an all-around white light. Where it must be located I would need to look up. I used to have all of this stuff memorized. From a practical stand-point, it should simply be able to be seen from any direction while under way or at anchor at night. Additionally, it should be located near the back of the boat so you can see the length and proporations of the boat based on the location of the white light and the starboard and port lights.

I would think that if the light is on the front of the bimini, but still near the back end of the boat, it is probably fine. It may even be legal if it is in the dead center of the boat for that matter too.

Again, I used to know all this stuff. I attended navigation training when in the US Navy and was qualified OOD, but that was in the mid-90's.

 

[Trktrd]

Re: bimini nav light

FWIW I've owned several cabin cruisers and they all had the white (anchor) light mounted atop the windshield frame.

 

[Dieseldaddy]

Re: bimini nav light

I also have the same exact mounting on my 98 playbouy 24 ft

 

[OK Toon]

Re: bimini nav light

I've got the same placement on my 2003 Lowe Suncruiser. It looks like the new Lowe pontoon boats are now starting to have the light on the back frame of the of the bimini.

My only thought is that someone at Lowe decided if it is dark enough to need the NAV lights on, you wouldn't need to have the bimini opened up. Once the bimini is closed, the light is then at the back of the boat (but with the bimini open, the light is about middle of the boat).

Just be careful with the wires that run through the bimini frame. We had a section of wire that was looped and sticking out forward of the frame. With the bimini frame opened, it was pinching the wires between the sections of frame. In no time, the vibration caused the bimini frame to rub through the coating on the wires which allowed the wires to come in contract with the bimini frame. The first time I went to turn on the lights, it popped the breaker on the dash and actually damaged the voltage regulator/rectifier on the motor. I've now made sure the wires are propperly routed through the bimini frame and I watch that area really close every time I open or close the bimini.

 

[Old Screwball]

Re: bimini nav light

My anchor light is on the rear of my bimini. I had to reenforce the bracket so the light staff would stay up with the pirate flag I have mounted to it.... Kept blowing down.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: bimini nav light

Both front and rear edge of the bimini are acceptable.