how are you lighting your boat?

rcl700

rcl700

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 8, 2008
Messages
161
I'm looking to set up some lighting for my pontoon for night fishing. Just thought Id ask how all of you are doing this. Normal light bulbs seem to drain my batteries so I was thinking of LED but I'm not sure if they would be bright enough. I like to beam the light on the surface of the water so that I can see my floats or rod tips also helps to bring in bait.

I run 24v marine batteries to my trolling motors and another cranking battery for my outboard.

I was thinking of getting some light tubes to mount just under the deck on the outside of the pontoons.

another option may be florescent tubes

I'm not sure which ones ( LED or FLORESCENT) are better on the batteries and which of these options are more cost effective.

maybee spot lights would be better?

What do you think?:rolleyes:
 
Bifflefan

Bifflefan

Commander
Joined
May 27, 2009
Messages
2,933
Re: how are you lighting your boat?

Go with the LED's.
There are a few posts on here about lighting with pics. Do a search for LED or lights, lighting. They will come up eventually. Most are really neat.
One guy put LED's on the trim tabs I really like those.
 
trendsetter240

trendsetter240

Lieutenant
Joined
Jun 22, 2009
Messages
1,458
Re: how are you lighting your boat?

bifflefan said:
Go with the LED's.
There are a few posts on here about lighting with pics. Do a search for LED or lights, lighting. They will come up eventually. Most are really neat.
One guy put LED's on the trim tabs I really like those.
Click to expand...

Agreed. LEDs are more efficient and durable than fluorescents. I wouldn't want one of those fluorescent tubes to break on my boat..glass everywhere!


LEDs are more expensive but worth it in my opinion.
 
F

fishrdan

Admiral
Joined
Jan 25, 2008
Messages
6,989
Re: how are you lighting your boat?

Check out LED rope lights, they might work good in a toon

For fishing lights, I like the submersible fluorescent lights as they draw little power and throw off a lot of light. I use 2 of them while night fishing and they do a good job. One thing I noticed, I had an old set of 12" lights and bought a set of 18 (maybe 24") since I wanted more light, with out putting out another light. Well, the new 18" lights were not any brighter than the 12" lights. I guess the power supplies put out the same wattage... :rolleyes: I think they make it easier to see the rod tip (bobber) since the water 10-15' away from the light is all lit up and you are not getting any reflection from surface light. I got the 12" lights at Walmart and the bigger ones at BPS, something like $20 each.

Oh yeah, fluorescent light transformers don't like getting wet so make sure to keep them out of the water. I dropped 1 in the water and the next outing I fried the power supply. $1 transistor didn't like the water, easy fix,,,, at home.
 
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