Mounting Anchor light to Pontoon top BOW ??

[Canufixit2]

I'm looking for comments on HOW to mount the light through the Bimini fabric.

I've just purchased an expensive replacement Bimini top canvas that fits great. My light was wired through the second from rear bow tube and exited in bow center under where the light mounts. The Light base was installed as follows; three holes were poked into the original canvas - one for the wire and two for the mounting self tapping screws that attached the light base. The base was tightly screwed through the Canvas top into the bow trapping and holding the material from moving. Obviously the positioning of the holes must be done when the canvas is "UP" and stretched taught to prevent the fabric from moving /shifting/wearing/tearing. All worked well.

NOW.... with my new Top I need to re install my light. As my new top is polyester I am planning mounting it the same - but creating the small holes for the screws and wire using a "soldering Iron tip" to seal the threads and help strengthen the hole edges.

Now my question - is this sufficient to prevent the thinner polyester from tearing /wearing from top up/down movement.?? Should I install a gasket material to cushion and allow some movement in the fabric under the mount - or just well tighten it down. Am I over thinking this?? I just want to do this once and not have the "holes" I made and / or the light mount base damage my $400 New Bimini top ?? Thanks ALL !!!

 

[Texasmark]

Most running lights are green, red, and white. Green and red at the bow marking Starboard and Port, passing port to port....red to red, and white, required to be 360 degree visible is at the stern and there is a separate switch position on the light switch for stern light only for anchoring.

Only other white lights are for navigation and there is a pair of lights that are lined up for passing vessels in channels and such. The forward light is lower than the aft light and with those lights oncoming vessels can determine the exact position of the vessel approaching. Been 60 years plus since I was around such...running barges up and down the Intercoastal Waterway and Old Muddy, the former being very narrow in places and passing at night was a bit tricky.

 

[Canufixit2]

The bimini on my toon had a hole for anchor light on the rear bow. Yours doesn't have this?

Edit: There was a hole in the cover too so the light was still useable with the top down and in its cover.

Nope. No holes in Top for Wires or screws.

 

[Canufixit2]

Most running lights are green, red, and white. Green and red at the bow marking Starboard and Port, passing port to port....red to red, and white, required to be 360 degree visible is at the stern and there is a separate switch position on the light switch for stern light only for anchoring.

Only other white lights are for navigation and there is a pair of lights that are lined up for passing vessels in channels and such. The forward light is lower than the aft light and with those lights oncoming vessels can determine the exact position of the vessel approaching. Been 60 years plus since I was around such...running barges up and down the Intercoastal Waterway and Old Muddy, the former being very narrow in places and passing at night was a bit tricky.

The Light I am installing is for the combination stern and anchor light. (R + g Nav lights are already mounted on bow sides). All white 360 deg. The light is on a 12" approx max pole attached to Bimini so it is the highest point on the craft. 18 foot Pontoon.

 

[GA_Boater]

The Light I am installing is for the combination stern and anchor light. (R + g Nav lights are already mounted on bow sides). All white 360 deg. The light is on a 12" approx max pole attached to Bimini so it is the highest point on the craft. 18 foot Pontoon.

Almost all of us knew that. LOL

I wouldn't be pokin' any holes in my 100 dollar top, let alone a 400 buck job.

Question - Is this a folding pole and will it fold flat against the top bow? Also will it fold to either port or starboard?

 

[Canufixit2]

It is a folding pole. Perko 1134DP0CHR White All-Round Pole Lights https://amazon.com/gp/product/B000KOTQ2E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Folds Bow to stern direction.

 

[Canufixit2]

Well ..... I really hate to poke holes and possibly have the fabric rip at the light mounting point due to strain/stress due to open and storing the Top.

I'm considering two different approaches;

- Buying a "long" battery powered, led light / pole and attach it to the outside of the Bimini frame below the fabric. I use the Pontoon (inland small lake) rarely at night. So.... this may be the easiest way to ensure the cover is not damaged after paying the big $$'s. Light pole will easily be removed and stored and not interfere with the Bimini top operation, Boot cover or Boat cover. Then Light will be over the highest point of the boat/Bimini.

- Doing the same - but with at permanent fold down light. i.e. mounting a high pole 12V light that attaches to the side of the Bimini frame and can be "up" or folded down against the Bimini frame - again without interfering with the Bimini, fabric, frame, boat cover.

Thoughts??

 

[wrvond]

Your original plan to make bolt holes through the fabric with a soldering iron seems like a good one to me. As long as the holes are large enough to avoid rubbing the fabric edge on the screws.
Or, make a hole large enough for the entire light to fit through and sew binding tape around the edge to protect it.
These have the advantage of leaving the light mounted in the OEM position and don't require rigging something up to make it work.
However, of your latest two ideas, I'd prefer the mount that allows the light to be removed and stowed. Then you don't have to worry about it getting caught on anything when raising or lowering the bimini, or even stowing it flat.

 

[GA_Boater]

Doing the same - but with at permanent fold down light. i.e. mounting a high pole 12V light that attaches to the side of the Bimini frame and can be "up" or folded down against the Bimini frame - again without interfering with the Bimini, fabric, frame, boat cover.

That was the purpose of my Q about the pole folding horizontally to the bow in both directions. Your reply had the fore and aft folding and only a 90[SUP]o [/SUP]light pole flip, so that wouldn't work on the vertical side.

Unless the mount can be rotated and the light pole can do a 180[SUP]o[/SUP]. The link to you Perko light doesn't seem to have those two things in the description.

Any way, mounting vertically on the side frame would do the trick with no holes in the fabric. The light pole length probably doesn't have to be all that long so the mount clears the side fabric and the light is above the highest top frame bow when flipped up.

 

[cptbill]

According to the person that does canvas work for me "heat up an all with a lighter then poke it into the hole but don't hold it there to long, that stops the fabric from fraying" always worked for me, no fraying no leaks

 

[Canufixit2]

OK, I found a solution - at least for me .... Not wanting to poke holes in my cover AND the fact that I use the pontoon very infrequently at night I found this .... http://www.navisafe.com/project/1-navilight-360-2nm/
Battery sourced, Magnet base and will attach to the Bimini through the material using just the magnet. Also, I purchased an adapter to mount it to my Scotty fishing pole holders with an extension pole - I can add to the Rear of the boat - but not 100% to regs. If required I just pop the light off the pole and using the magnet mount the light to the Bimini top.

Thanks All !!!
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