led bow lights

Since last spring, I have been slowly putting my crappie boat together. Started with a very beat up Princecraft 16' hull, and added a older, but good-running Evinrude 35. Then a Minn Kota 55 trolling motor, and I started fishing her.

Front deck, middle floor, rod holders, and more. I have been adding things ever since.

The latest addition has been LED running lights. The stick light was easy, I just swapped to an LED bulb. But the nav lights i found on ebay for about $10. They turned out great!Attachment 255875

Looks great

Man that looks awesome. How did you run your wires?


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I drilledd a 1/2" hole in the rail, and fished the wire from the console to the nose of the boat. That was by far the hardest part, as the rail was very small inside.

I cleaned bow area, then warmed it up, then sprayed some 3M adhesive on as "primer". Then I warmed it again and applied the lights and pressed and rubbed to set firmly. They locked down tight! Was worried most about the adhesive bond. Once that was done, i wired it up, tested it, then stuffed the excess wire and filled the nose with clear silicone. Turned out good

I drilledd a 1/2" hole in the rail, and fished the wire from the console to the nose of the boat. That was by far the hardest part, as the rail was very small inside.

I cleaned bow area, then warmed it up, then sprayed some 3M adhesive on as "primer". Then I warmed it again and applied the lights and pressed and rubbed to set firmly. They locked down tight! Was worried most about the adhesive bond. Once that was done, i wired it up, tested it, then stuffed the excess wire and filled the nose with clear silicone. Turned out good

Those look sharp. Good job.

I give you a hearty well-done! I think it is awesome you are taking on such a great project and it is turning out so well. You should be proud! Double thumbs up!

:biggrin

They are brighter than the incandescent lights.

And while talking about lights...

I noticed some little waterproof stick-on lights on Amazon for $3.99 a pair. Dimensions of 5/8" wide, 6" long and about as thick as a piece of cardboard. Kind of like a sticker


I thought I'd use them inside the hatches of my bass boat, but when they arrived, WOW, I couldn't believe the light output of these little things!


To add strong, use-able light anywhere you want, stick a pair of these babies on. It is a flood beam. It gives a big circle of light, bigger than your whole boat. And I mean the kind you can read or tie flies with.

Here is the link.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....L._SL1000_.jpg

They look like stickers... until you hit the switch. Awesome little lights.

Yesterday, I used one as a backup light on my ATV. Very impressive. Here are some pictures of the install:
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...9&d=1483736508
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...7&d=1483736508
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...106_181820.jpg
Kawasaki ATV Forum
Kawasaki ATV Forum

The last picture is of the ATV at night, from about 75' away. That helps put the light output in perspective.



-TH

And while talking about lights...

I noticed some little waterproof stick-on lights on Amazon for $3.99 a pair. Dimensions of 5/8" wide, 6" long and about as thick as a piece of cardboard. Kind of like a sticker


I thought I'd use them inside the hatches of my bass boat, but when they arrived, WOW, I couldn't believe the light output of these little things!


To add strong, use-able light anywhere you want, stick a pair of these babies on. It is a flood beam. It gives a big circle of light, bigger than your whole boat. And I mean the kind you can read or tie flies with.

Here is the link.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....L._SL1000_.jpg

They look like stickers... until you hit the switch. Awesome little lights.

Yesterday, I used one as a backup light on my ATV. Very impressive. Here are some pictures of the install:
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...9&d=1483736508
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...7&d=1483736508
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...106_181820.jpg
Kawasaki ATV Forum
Kawasaki ATV Forum

The last picture is of the ATV at night, from about 75' away. That helps put the light output in perspective.



-TH

And while talking about lights...

I noticed some little waterproof stick-on lights on Amazon for $3.99 a pair. Dimensions of 5/8" wide, 6" long and about as thick as a piece of cardboard. Kind of like a sticker


I thought I'd use them inside the hatches of my bass boat, but when they arrived, WOW, I couldn't believe the light output of these little things!


To add strong, use-able light anywhere you want, stick a pair of these babies on. It is a flood beam. It gives a big circle of light, bigger than your whole boat. And I mean the kind you can read or tie flies with.

Here is the link.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....L._SL1000_.jpg

They look like stickers... until you hit the switch. Awesome little lights.

Yesterday, I used one as a backup light on my ATV. Very impressive. Here are some pictures of the install. The light is mounted just above my tail light:
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...9&d=1483736508
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...7&d=1483736508
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...106_181820.jpg
http://www.kawieriders.com/forum/att...106_183350.jpg

In the last two pictures above, one is looking at my ATV at night, from about 75' away, and the last picture is looking back when I hit reverse.

I'm only using a single LED light. Not sure what I'm going to do with the second light, yet. I'm thinking I might put it under my console, so I can turn it on, tie knots or whatever, and then turn it off, without blinding everyone on the boat.

-TH

For what it's worth, the LED nav lights are still working flawlessly 5 years later. No issues, no dying diodes, no corrosion. I had someone challenge the legality of them because their placement. But that placement was to give the 135 degree viewing range aft as required, and they have passed the test. I'm about to install a set of these on another boat I'm working on.

That is the beauty of LED's. Efficient, durable and bright

Thanks for that post. i have been thinking of doing the same on my old alumacraft. Now I know I will. :check

I recently purchased an old Starcraft, and it's missing about 6" of rub rail on one side. I plan to slide the rub rail back and insert these lights. Two problems solved at once. With single-digit temps, it might be awhile before I get to that, but I'll post pictures here once I get it done.