Adding overhead lights to bimini advice?

Loneranger

Loneranger

Well-Known Member
May 2, 2008
1,068
Knoxville TN
Boat Info
2000 SeaRay Sundancer 270
Engines
7.4l Mercruiser w/ Bravo III
http://www.boat-project.com/otherproj/proj-s.htm

Look at the 6th project in the above link. I have tried something similar but my bimini is such that I cannot get a magnet under a zippered part like he has.

I would like ideas on permanently attaching a preferably battery operated LED light or two to my bimini. I obviously do not have an arch or it would be easier and could hard wire them easier. I suppose I could hard wire a light to the bimini but it would be tough and difficult to keep from looking too ghetto.

I would love some ideas even if you have not actually done this project yourself.

John
 
You could use one of those lights like the link has or even smaller ones that are LED like I have seen at lowes or menards and use this stuff to attach it and detach easily.

http://www.uline.com/BL_6418/3M-Dual-Lock?pricode=WF356&gclid=CO_u69zMoa4CFaYAQAodmUZWPQ

I would use the clear type, not the black so its less noticed when the light isn't mounted.

I would have the end that is attached to the canvas sewn into the bimini pole pocket (but the tape may stick on its own) and simply use the double sided tape on the back of the light. This stuff grabs very nicely, its on my iPass in my car and I use it to hold down a flat panel tv on a counter top in my boat. Its never moved on its own, only when I choose to take it off.

These lights would work well, and cheap,
sylvania-dotit-1.jpg
 
How bright are you looking for these light(s) to be?

I have one of those camp lights you linked to, although not in my boat, and they are decently bright. Because they're not LED's, they give a more "overall" (non-directional) light, as opposed to the ones Carver linked pictured - although I do have some of those puck lights, as well, and like them.

Aesthetics aside (that's a personal thing), the one concern I would have with that camp light is the metal backer plate rusting. Maybe encase the plate in resin to avoid the rusting - it would be a more permanent solution than painting/powder coating. Although, another mounting option for that light is putting the backer plate on the outside (topside) of the bimini.

My first thought, and this comes more from something I've been thinking about for my own boat, is small LED's that can be installed into the bimini bow (or atleast close to flush), run the wire through the bow, bring it out at the bottom near the mount, use a quick disconnect, then run it right into the hull side (still near the bimini mount).

Check out this website for LED choices: oznium dot com This is a snapshot of one of their webpages:

led's.jpg
 
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I'm wondering if maybe an LED rope light might work. It's light enough the someone could stitch it right to the top with fishing line or something and small enough it would likely be able to fold right up when you close the top. If someone were smarter than me they might be able to route the 12V wiring down inside one of the tubes and make a real clean installation.

LEDropelight.jpg
 
Currently I have lights similar to the ones in the below link. I attached the bottom to the bimini fabric with the included double sided tape. It does not last long and forget about it staying on while underway.

http://www.amazon.com/Fulcrum-LED-3...PM36/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1329415499&sr=8-2


http://www.buy.com/pr/product.aspx?sku=218372633&sellerid=30885553


The link above is to a holder for the rope light to hold it in place but then I would have to hard wire it as Dennis suggested. My anchor light on my pontoon boat was wired the way Dennis suggested. There was a molex quick connector where the bimini attached to the gunwale.

I think if I hard wired the lights in I would step up to use something like these from lumitech:

http://www.lumiteclighting.com/caprera.html

I was thinking maybe use some bimini jaws like these to figure a way to attach more permanently a battery operated puck light. Or drill into the bimini tube and screw the light into the tube but there is not much metal to thread and to through bolt you will get into the cloth I think.

http://www.bosunsupplies.com/products2.cfm?product=DL7801
 
Lazy Daze said:
How bright are you looking for these light(s) to be?

My first thought, and this comes more from something I've been thinking about for my own boat, is small LED's that can be installed into the bimini bow (or atleast close to flush), run the wire through the bow, bring it out at the bottom near the mount, use a quick disconnect, then run it right into the hull side (still near the bimini mount).
Click to expand...

I am not looking to read by them but I would like to be able to eat at the table without guessing what I am eating.

I like the idea of mounting small LED in the bimini itself - interesting... I suppose I could see about running wire and connecting to the switch that turns on the cockput lights that are below the gunwale.
 
John,

This is an easy one. Use the LED hanging lights linked below attatched to the bimini frame with WM velcro strap through the light hanger. The Admiral picked up ours at Dick's Sporting Goods. They have two settings one is great for basic lighting, while the other is bright enough to read by. Battery life has been very good for our purpose of a couple hours here and 3-4 there.

MM

6f2235fa.jpg


http://www.gadgettown.com/led-tent-light-hanger.html?ref=ls

http://www.tmart.com/48-LED-Portabl...referral&utm_term=J01357&utm_campaign=product
 
I think those Lumitech ones would end up blinding you.

The rope lighting idea or even "tube" lighting could work nicely (check out that Oznium website - they have a bunch of cool stuff). They could fastened with your idea of a hinged-jaw bimini mount (which, by the way, are available MUCH cheaper than the pricing in your link).

Personally, I like the idea of hard wiring them. But, I would probably install a separate switch so I would have more control of my lighting options. If you didn't want to hardwire, you could use a small battery holder - maybe install it (don't laugh, it's just a first thought) inside a very short section of PVC pipe than you can cap and paint, then attach to the bimini bow with something as simple as zip ties. Again - that's just a quick thought.

Myself, I'm kinda liking the idea of installing directly into the underside of the bow - it would provide for a nice, clean install. I think the "LED Holders" in that picture above would work nicely - just drill and tap threads into the bimini bow (there's plenty of meat there for these little things). The only thing I'm not sure of is how many of those to use for enough light. But, they're so cheap that you could buy a bunch and just temporarily stick them up there to experiment.

But then again, something simple and self contained would be just as functional - just a little more "obvious". But that's all a personal preference.
 
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Pietro said:
What about these?

View attachment 24005


They are made by an Italian company. I guess they have a distributor in the USA but there's nothing on their web site. You may try to send them an e-mail

http://www.forestiesuardi.it/index....atalogo=1&stampa=0&mostre=0&links=0><img src=
Click to expand...

I think those are the most elegant ones I have seen yet. They are wired but I can do that. I like the attachement that is made to fit the curve of the bimini - of course I probably will not be able to find them state side.

John
 
HIFI said:
This may be too hokey for you but it works :

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanCom/detail.asp?product_id=2000000032

The magnet and the steel mounting plate can simply sandwich your clothe top.
Click to expand...

These look like I could screw the magnet base into the bimini support easier than the circular ones i have tried.

Mine had a base that double sided taped to the cloth. The base contained the magnet that stuck then to the light. I had failures of both the double sided tape and the magnet on mine. I can overcome the double sided tape by screwing the base to the pole but the magnet pulled from my light also. I may have had a poor quality specimen. I guess I could do like the first link i posted and remove them when underway (ugh.).
 
MonacoMike said:
John,

This is an easy one. Use the LED hanging lights linked below attatched to the bimini frame with WM velcro strap through the light hanger. The Admiral picked up ours at Dick's Sporting Goods. They have two settings one is great for basic lighting, while the other is bright enough to read by. Battery life has been very good for our purpose of a couple hours here and 3-4 there.

MM

6f2235fa.jpg


http://www.gadgettown.com/led-tent-light-hanger.html?ref=ls

http://www.tmart.com/48-LED-Portabl...referral&utm_term=J01357&utm_campaign=product
Click to expand...


I might give one of these a try. They are certainly cheap enough. Do you leave yours attached when underway?

I guess I should have stated initially that the ones I used worked great when anchored but if left up while underway they failed. I was hoping I could come up with a more permenant attachement.
 
Loneranger said:
I might give one of these a try. They are certainly cheap enough. Do you leave yours attached when underway?

I guess I should have stated initially that the ones I used worked great when anchored but if left up while underway they failed. I was hoping I could come up with a more permenant attachement.
Click to expand...

I once upon a time had similar hopes but these have proven reliable for us and without an arch the simplest solution. They really cannot come down if the Velcro strap is properly secured. You may need to keep them from sliding to the side and down the bimini pole. The carabiner on the ring in the photo pushes into the face of the light and the weak link would be the strength of the plactic loop the carabiner is attatched to. For a tighter fit I sometimes put the Velcro through the plastic loop without the carabiner. I have not left them up for travel as we are often on the big water of Lake Michigan, they would be just fine on calmer water.

MM
 
I like that light, Pietro. It's a nice, clean look.

I did find this one (battery operated), but it is not as nice looking as Pietro's.

http://www.seasense.com/products/30/flypage/details/2371

That is the manufacturer's website - I'm not sure what kind of pricing they offer, but I'm sure you can get this light through online retailers.
 
Lazy Daze said:
I like that light, Pietro. It's a nice, clean look.

I did find this one (battery operated), but it is not as nice looking as Pietro's.

http://www.seasense.com/products/30/flypage/details/2371

That is the manufacturer's website - I'm not sure what kind of pricing they offer, but I'm sure you can get this light through online retailers.
Click to expand...

Loneranger said:
Yeah I like this one. I may find a price and give it a try.
Click to expand...

I doubt it is bright enough as it only has 9 LED's. They better be bright for it to work compared to the 24 or 48 LED's in the one I use.

MM
 
I bought three that were 9'' - 10" installed them front, center and back on the bimini with velcro ......so easy. they were like $10 battery operated at Home Depot
 
Carver370 said:
Check out http://www.yachtlights.com

There is somewhere on their site where they have the LED lights that people mount in the underside of their bow rails.

Also this site has a lot of LED fixtures that are hard wired http://www.atlanticmarineinc.com
Click to expand...

http://www.yachtlights.com/RAIL2-and-Mini-RAIL2-LED-Strip-Lights_p_565.html

Here they are. I like them.

The more I think about this the more I think hard wiring them may be best. I'm sort of tired of fishing wire right now though. Now give me ideas to get wire to it with a clean look.
 
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