When should nav light, anchor light, dash lights be on?

[thetmaxx]

Just curious how other boats are wired up. My 84 wellcraft seems to be factory after removing all the add on stuff over the years and the dash lights are always on with key on. Nav and anchor only work with the key on. Seems absurd to me to leave the key on while anchored?
I already rewired the acc switch to be on all the time so you can use the radio with the key off. (I'll be adding a second battery with isolator) and I'm just going from my dads master craft which has accessory button hot at all times, and his boat the dash lights come on with anchor lights I'm pretty sure.
Anyways like I said, it all works, just curious on your input?

 

[funk6294]

My boat was originally wired with the gauges on with the key as well. When I updated the dash and replaced the gauges I wired them on with the navigation lights and added a dimmer to the gauges so I could see better at night.

 

[bruceb58]

Usually gauge lights come on with the ignition. You don't want them to be on the same circuit as the nav lights since the feed to the nav lights also powers the anchor since some lights are shared.

Anchor lights should not need the ignition on since you only use them when not moving.

 

[MH Hawker]

i put ever thing on its own switch

 

[funk6294]

Last I checked the gauges only come on when the switch is flipped to the running lights. When it is on anchor only the anchor light is on, so I suppose it's all in how you wire it.

 

[spoilsofwar]

On my boat, anchor and nav lights share a three position switch.

Switch up - nav lights (and gauge lights illuminate also)
Switch middle - everything off
Switch down - anchor light (gauge lights are off)

All of this is independent of the ignition switch... If the battery switch is on, the lights work. Don't see why you'd want any of it linked to the key's position.

 

[dlogvine]

On my boat, anchor and nav lights share a three position switch.

Switch up - nav lights (and gauge lights illuminate also)
Switch middle - everything off
Switch down - anchor light (gauge lights are off)

All of this is independent of the ignition switch... If the battery switch is on, the lights work. Don't see why you'd want any of it linked to the key's position.

Same I have on my 1998 Ebbtide 3 position rocker switch, no lights when it is off nav lights/anchor lights in the other 2 positions. Stereo starts working when the battery is turned on, no key needed.

 

[Silvertip]

Every boat I've owned had the instrument back-lights wired to the NAV position of the NAV/AC switch. At the moment I can't think of an instrument that would have to be illuminated at anchor (but doesn't mean such an instrument doesn't exist).

 

[thetmaxx]

OK, maybe the previous owner messed with it more than I saw. Thank you for all your inputs!