Re: Light Bar for wakeboard towers
I guess this is one of those accessories that I just "don't get." Though I'm certain for many people it's all about getting 'the look' by putting as much junk hanging from the tower as possible. I'm not saying thats you though...you state your intent clearly.
I'm sure every state and locality is different, but I know in my state it is illegal to exceed 10 mph between sunset and sunrise. At that speed, I can see very clearly and safely long after sunset and into dusk. Not sure how late you stay out though...
I also know it is illegal in many localities to have any type of "headlights" on at night, because of how blinding they will be to other boats. DEFINITELY check your local laws. You may be completely illegal if you install these. But maybe not.
Also, as someone who has used bright spotlights, etc for navigating during late night fishing, I can attest that there is nothing more blinding than having bright lights shining within your interior, ESPECIALLY if the lights are located behind the windshield (like a light bar that would spill light from above your head). It creates large number of reflections and junk on the windshield, plus light hits my white bow seats, reflect back, and the pupils shrink up almost instantly. So all they accomplish is to make the dark night even darker. Though it DOES make it very easy for me to find my misplaced beer...
So IMO, any effective "headlights" put on a boat MUST be forward of the windshield AND the entire interior, and/or installed in such a way that NONE of the light will ever spill into the interior of the boat. So I guess I feel the tower is the absolute worst place to mount bright lights, unless they were to face backwards. Which would defeat your stated purpose.
If you want navigational headlights for your boat that shine forward, the better option IMO would be to install a pair of thru-hull mounted headlights, which you often see on the front of higher end boats. Then again, these are usually considered "docking lights", not especially bright, nor aimed properly (which is impossible anyway because of varying degrees of bow lift at different speeds), and they are often illegal to have turned on while under way. Again, local laws vary.
For what you're describing, I believe the #1 option would be a simple hand-held spotlight. It needs to be operated by someone sitting in the very tip of your bow, so the light doesn't reflect off your interior and blind you as a driver.
