Installing hull lights??

[Dante04SRT]

Due to the fact that we use our boat close to dark sometimes, and even afterwards, I'd like to install some hull lights. Has anyone installed these on their own boat?

I am a bit concerned about getting them in the correct distance from the bow "V" so that they don't appear cross-eyed.

Any ideas? Pics?

 

[gcboat]

Re: Installing hull lights??

Personally, I would shy away from them. Since I have no idea on your possible docking / loading situation I just prefer to let my night vision do its thing. If you feel that some extra light is necessary for your piece of mind then in my opinion a 12 volt handheld spot would probably save you a lot of time and money. Other options would be to install some spreader lights on your rail - would look tacky but do pretty much the same thing.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Installing hull lights??

I thought about installing bow lights also, but didn't because they would be focused directly in front of the boat and in snotty conditions the light beam would be bouncing up and down. Since the hull lights would be in a fixed position you couldn't shine the light close to the boat and further away to check for debris in the water. I've seen that the narrow beam lights throw off an area of low visibility where they are not directed,,, shine it far away and it's difficult to see things close to the boat that are directly in the path of the light beam.

As gcboat suggested, I've found the hand held flood light works well for me.

Hopefully someone who has bow lights will chime in...

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Installing hull lights??

Bow lights are great for docking, not much else. If there is any moon at all I think you can see better with night vision, and it gets bleached pretty quickly from bow lights shining off the water.

Anybody else on the water is looking for your navigation lights, and having a white light forward is confusing and possibly even illegal? If you get them leave them off underway. If you are worried about debris you should slow down, and occasionally stop and use the spot light.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Installing hull lights??

They are intended to be used to aid maneuvering at low speeds in tight quarters. You will find them more annoying than helpful at higher speeds - although enough people use them that way.

 

[wvit1001]

Re: Installing hull lights??

I've threatened to take my pellet gun out with me to shoot out the lights of some of the people running with their docking lights on. Some people seem to think they are headlights and turn them on when the sun goes down, it seems to mostly be the pontoon boats around here.

They ruin the night vision of everyone coming towards them and nobody can see their red/green lights at all.

I keep a couple of flashlights in the boat and a spotlight.

 

[abj87]

Re: Installing hull lights??

I agree there all but useless unless your 10ft from something, that's why there called docking lights. Even then they only light up the bottom of the dock...that's real useful. Plus there prob illegal to use because they interfere with the nav lights.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Installing hull lights??

They are called dock lights for a reason. Like others have stated, if for some reason you more light at night, use a hand-held spot momentarily. You will loose your night vision for a while afterward, so use it wisely.

Also realize that at night, you can not see very good looking straight at an object. You must look slightly left or right at the object of interest.

 

[wvit1001]

Re: Installing hull lights??

If your out on a cloudy or moonless night you need to know the lake or river very well and be going slow, very slow.

A couple of years ago here on Lake Wylie a cabin cruiser was motoring along in the dark and ran over three people sitting in a bass boat. The bass boat didn't have any lights on. The guy and two girls in the boat didn't want anyone seeing them partying since the girls were underage. The man in the cruiser didn't even know what he had hit. One of the girls was killed and the other ended up loosing an arm. The guy that was in the boat came out with only bruises. The man driving the cruiser ended up with a broken jaw from hitting the windshield.

You never know what is sitting out on the water. Always expect the unexpected.

 

[zach103]

Re: Installing hull lights??

go with some sweet lights that go on the transom. i think they would light it up around you. but dont blind ppl around you

www.coastalnightlights.com

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Installing hull lights??

If you have never used a several hundred thousand candlepower q beam you don't know how valuable they are. The ability to point at whatever structure or marker you encounter is very important.
I agree with most of the previous posts, and feel docking lights are specifically designed for certain hulls.

 

[abj87]

Re: Installing hull lights??

If your out on a cloudy or moonless night you need to know the lake or river very well and be going slow, very slow.

A couple of years ago here on Lake Wylie a cabin cruiser was motoring along in the dark and ran over three people sitting in a bass boat. The bass boat didn't have any lights on. The guy and two girls in the boat didn't want anyone seeing them partying since the girls were underage. The man in the cruiser didn't even know what he had hit. One of the girls was killed and the other ended up loosing an arm. The guy that was in the boat came out with only bruises. The man driving the cruiser ended up with a broken jaw from hitting the windshield.

You never know what is sitting out on the water. Always expect the unexpected.

that's a sad story but its there own fault for being outside of a designated anchorage with out an anchor light.
If you really want to see whats around you at night you need radar, but for most people its not practical.
I do quite a bit of night sailing and boating and the best thing is to pick your conditions carefully, go when the moon is full and the clouds are scarce. but still you run the risk of hitting an unmarked object, but that's a risk you have to take if you run at night.

 

[turborich]

Re: Installing hull lights??

My friend is going to install some on his boat, I have some small halogen lights mounted in front of the windshield in my boat. It came that way.

After going to the lake at night I was very surprised by how many people don't use their freakin navigation lights!!! We almost ran into a small boat just sitting in the middle of the lake without any lights on! Many others were driving without lights. This was around 10:00 PM. It was dark! Where were the rangers at?

I think the lights would be a good idea for around the dock, trailer, or perhaps if you needed to see what's in front of you. The hand held spot light would be good too.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Installing hull lights??

My friend is going to install some on his boat, I have some small halogen lights mounted in front of the windshield in my boat. It came that way.

After going to the lake at night I was very surprised by how many people don't use their freakin navigation lights!!! We almost ran into a small boat just sitting in the middle of the lake without any lights on! Many others were driving without lights. This was around 10:00 PM. It was dark! Where were the rangers at?

I think the lights would be a good idea for around the dock, trailer, or perhaps if you needed to see what's in front of you. The hand held spot light would be good too.

I agree....i have 500K "headlights" mounted in the hull of the Scarab,not practical for a # of reasons...first they blind anyone approaching me, second unless your cruising at 3 knots,they bounce,3rd,cant see peripherally,only dead ahead, hand held is the best,and only under cloudy pitch dark conditions...night vision and intermittent use of hand held. Save your money,in hull's cost 4-6 hundred for a good set.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Installing hull lights??

Like the other posters before me......I have to say that I see the use of these lights abused all the time. If you need headlights.....please stay in your car and stay off of the water. If you truely want info on installing docking lights, please post a specific question as to what part of the installation concerns you most: the electrical part or the thru-hull part. There are lots of consideration to be taken into account.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Installing hull lights??

You'd be better off with a high-power hand-held spotlight with a red filter/cover. That won't mess with your night vision.

 

[arboldt]

Re: Installing hull lights??

I've threatened to take my pellet gun out with me to shoot out the lights of some of the people running with their docking lights on. Some people seem to think they are headlights and turn them on when the sun goes down, it seems to mostly be the pontoon boats around here.

They ruin the night vision of everyone coming towards them and nobody can see their red/green lights at all.

Headlights on pontoons seem to have become popular the last few years on our small inland lake. When looking across the water, can't see their nav lights at all, and they blind my night vision. I wish they were outlawed.

Our lake is small enough (1.3 mi diameter) with no inlet or navigable outlet that there isn't much night traffic other than party barges, or just drifting watching the stars. It's shallow enough (thus warm enough) it's never been a fishing lake unless you like 4" bullheads.

 

[turborich]

Re: Installing hull lights??

After reading all of these replies I would like to know, Is it illegal to use headlights, driving lights, or whatever they are called at night? Most people that I have asked don't really seem to know. I tried finding info on the NV boating website but it only listed what was mandatory, the red/green nav lights in the front & the white in the rear. Said nothing about front white lights. They seem to be an annoyance from what you guys have said. Is their an actual law on this?

 

[wvit1001]

Re: Installing hull lights??

The law says that your red/green light must be visible. If the front lights blind other drivers so that they can't see your running lights then they are illegal.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Installing hull lights??

What do you guys think of the permantely mounted spot light on the bow deck? I like the idea of remotely controlling light than having to hold one and point. A spotlight install is on my list of things to get soon very specifically to find markers at night. thanks!!