ideas for aux lighting for boat

[kcolney]

looking for ideas for aux lighting for 24 foot bowrider. would like to use something like rope lighting with converter (hidden ambiant light) but i dont want it to look cheap but would like it to be on the lighter side of expensive.:redface:

just enough light inside the boat to use at dusk or evening to add to the sunset.

anything that would run off the battery would be great as well rather than have to buy a converter.

what have others used?

 

[boat1010]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

There are rope lights that run on 12 volts. I can not remember the web site. I will try to find out were I got mine. They had white red and I think blue. I got the red ones so it would not hurt my night vision. I will look at home and see if I can find the receipt and get back to you. The red ones worked very well. I put them under the gunnels in the main part of the boat. I used the nail down clamps that they use for the regular rope lights in the hardware stores. The 115 volt ones.

 

[boat1010]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

Just do a search for "rope lights" I just did it and it came back with the different discussions about the 12 volt rope lights.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

i use blue LEDS.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

looking for ideas for aux lighting for 24 foot bowrider. would like to use something like rope lighting with converter (hidden ambiant light) but i dont want it to look cheap but would like it to be on the lighter side of expensive.:redface:

just enough light inside the boat to use at dusk or evening to add to the sunset.

anything that would run off the battery would be great as well rather than have to buy a converter.

what have others used?

I would give solar led rope lights a try. They are everywhere for Christmas right now.
Not badly priced either, solar panels is as big as your hand. No wiring to speak of, no shocks.
I bet you might even find some on clearance at WalFart and target after Christmas.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

There are inexpensive lighting kits designed for the underside of cars (think of kids with rice burners) They come in several colors and are designed for the elements. Might fit your app.

 

[Chiliando]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

i use blue LEDS.

Why Blue?

I have seen them in red, blue and white and always wonderd how the blue or red would look.

 

[rbh]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

Why Blue?

I have seen them in red, blue and white and always wonderd how the blue or red would look.

They look soothing and are not hard as white light on the old eyes at night.

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

i use blue LEDS.

me too. I love LED's because they are very efficient = low power drain. I am in process of putting together an indirect interior lighting package for my boat. So far, I have found flexible strips of LED's that are about 18" long and can be wired together to make longer strands. Walmart sells them in the auto dept. They are not waterproof, but I am mounting them in places that will never get splashed or dripped on, short of the boat sinking. Waterproof ones are available on the net, but at premium $.

 

[Chiliando]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

They look soothing and are not hard as white light on the old eyes at night.

Nice.........

 

[NYBo]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

I'm planning on a few strategically placed LEDs. They use so much less power than halogens or regular incandescents that they are well worth the slightly higher purchase price, IMO.

 

[rooke222]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

I just ordered some led strip lighting from ebay http://cgi.ebay.ca/120cm-120-LED-SM...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4a9cf8d13a

They are nice and small and should be bright enough
I am going to hook them up to a dimmer switch.
approx $2 a foot

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

not too sure about dimming led's I think you have to use pulse width modulation as changing voltage may change color and may just turn them off

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

I think I would go with blue as well. Something a bit different.

 

[Nandy]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

not too sure about dimming led's I think you have to use pulse width modulation as changing voltage may change color and may just turn them off

That is correct. A led is a diode. It turns off and on at determined voltage. If you go way over the on value the led might look a bit brighter but you are running the chance to burn it, and yes, you can burn led's. You will have to control the time the led is on to control its perceived brightness. This works because our eyes are not as fast adjusting to the light so if you pulse the led the brightness will change. This will also have an effect on the battery use (not that it will be noticeable on a large marine battery but when used on 1.5v dry batteries it does makes a difference) as if your duty cycle is 50% that means that you are saving close to half the wattage consumption.

 

[DANZIG]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

For cheap LEDs look at you local "big truck" store or maybe a truckstop for LED marker lights.

Inexpensive and they are easily replaced, you can find them most anywhere that sells "big truck" parts.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

Look at these..

A few here on iboats have used these, specifically the led floods, out on the trim tabs for a killer night look under the water..

They have flexible, silicone based products that I would put on mine..But I work for a lighting manufacturer and may sample a bunch of our stuff for my boat...Sheeeesh..Dont tell em!


http://www.oznium.com/marine-led-lighting

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

I just ordered some led strip lighting from ebay http://cgi.ebay.ca/120cm-120-LED-SM...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4a9cf8d13a

They are nice and small and should be bright enough
I am going to hook them up to a dimmer switch.
approx $2 a foot

This is what I did with the exact same product. The camera kind of made the light reflecting off of the seats look brighter than it is....however you can't really use the front lights when under way, but the back ones are sweet.

 

[rooke222]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

thanks Thajeffski - that looks sweet!!!!

how did you attach them?? did you just use the tape on the back?

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: ideas for aux lighting for boat

thanks Thajeffski - that looks sweet!!!!

how did you attach them?? did you just use the tape on the back?

Actually I did at first, but half of them fell off.

What I ended up doing was getting some of this...

Nothing has come off. Also only buy one roll at first, cut the tape in half down the center as you apply it, it'll save some money.

Make sure you've cleaned the area you're taping it to.