Considering to install underwater lights.

S

spectrader

New Member
Oct 30, 2011
18
Melbourne Beach, Florida
Boat Info
1989 Sea Ray Express Cruiser
Engines
Twin Cats
I am giving some consideration to installing under water lights underneath the diving board of my 460 Sea Ray. For those who have gone before me, your advice on products sourcing, pitfalls, what to do and not to do would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I'll chime in...start with your budget. You can literally spend a couple of grand or more on multicolored light show lights, installed by a shop with a haul out, or DIY some stuff under your swim platform or on your trim tabs for $50-100. I think most people will agree that the ones that mount under the swim platform lose a lot of efficiency from reflecting off the top of the water but they are the cheapest. The ones on the trim tabs have the advantage of being underwater but wired to an above the water line connection, so they aren't quite as big a deal. I think I spent $1500 two years ago on mine, including through the hull mounting of two nice arrays. However, mine look like candles compared to some of the ones we've been out next to...I'm not sure if technology changed that fast, or I got caught at the top of a technology wave that has become a trough. Still, nice blue underwater look...if you get blue, be prepared to take some possible crap from LEO's if you use the lights while underway...depending on your jurisdiction. Look through the threads here, there are guys that have made their own that look pretty impressive.
 
I have white LED's on my boat and they are pretty far down (see picture), its like having your own private aquarium at night. On our Halloween cruise last week we had two big schools of fish and a bunch of shrimp swimming around in the lights. I had never see "shrimp in the wild" before, pretty cool watching them swim around.
IMG_0565.jpg
 
I have bought 2 of Lumitec Seablaze 3 White Led Under Water Light to install this winter when I get a chance. They were about $200 a piece. I have read alot about underwater lights before this purchase. These seemed to be at a good point on the "value" curve for these lights.

John
 
Loneranger said:
I have bought 2 of Lumitec Seablaze 3 White Led Under Water Light to install this winter when I get a chance. They were about $200 a piece. I have read alot about underwater lights before this purchase. These seemed to be at a good point on the "value" curve for these lights.

John
Click to expand...

John,
I am anxious to see how they turn out. Those exact ones were recommended to me by a couple of people but I was afraid to pull the trigger on them because they were so affordable!! Let us know how you make out. What will you be using to seal the screw holes? These are the surface mounted units right?
 
JediJD said:
I'll chime in...start with your budget. You can literally spend a couple of grand or more on multicolored light show lights, installed by a shop with a haul out, or DIY some stuff under your swim platform or on your trim tabs for $50-100. I think most people will agree that the ones that mount under the swim platform lose a lot of efficiency from reflecting off the top of the water but they are the cheapest. The ones on the trim tabs have the advantage of being underwater but wired to an above the water line connection, so they aren't quite as big a deal. I think I spent $1500 two years ago on mine, including through the hull mounting of two nice arrays. However, mine look like candles compared to some of the ones we've been out next to...I'm not sure if technology changed that fast, or I got caught at the top of a technology wave that has become a trough. Still, nice blue underwater look...if you get blue, be prepared to take some possible crap from LEO's if you use the lights while underway...depending on your jurisdiction. Look through the threads here, there are guys that have made their own that look pretty impressive.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input. How long will the bulbs last? Btw--Mine is currently out of the water for annual maintenance so I figure the timing is right should I choose to undertake this endeavor.
 
Loneranger said:
I have bought 2 of Lumitec Seablaze 3 White Led Under Water Light to install this winter when I get a chance. They were about $200 a piece. I have read alot about underwater lights before this purchase. These seemed to be at a good point on the "value" curve for these lights.

John
Click to expand...


John, where did you buy these lights from?
 
I'm thinking LED's are going to last longer than the boat.

spectrader said:
Thanks for your input. How long will the bulbs last? Btw--Mine is currently out of the water for annual maintenance so I figure the timing is right should I choose to undertake this endeavor.
Click to expand...
 
Spectrader - JediJD made a very good point earlier in the first response to your question..... what is your intended installation point? Is "installing under water lights underneath the diving board" above water installed on the platform or below water installed on the transom?
 
tdschafer said:
John,
I am anxious to see how they turn out. Those exact ones were recommended to me by a couple of people but I was afraid to pull the trigger on them because they were so affordable!! Let us know how you make out. What will you be using to seal the screw holes? These are the surface mounted units right?
Click to expand...

They "feel" solid and seem well made. They are surface mount with a central hole for the wire to be feed in to the bilge. They wire straight to power and a switch (no controller needed). I do not have any coring in my hull. I will epoxy the edge of the larger hole drilled for the wire and I have 4200 caulk that I will seal everything with. I will use 4200 instead of 5200 in case there is a problem I will be able to remove them without as much trouble. I probably will not get them installed until this winter sometime. I originally was going to put them on the coabalt but my wife and kids had a good point that if we are ever on the water at night it is usually in the sea ray.

John
 
Loneranger said:
They "feel" solid and seem well made. They are surface mount with a central hole for the wire to be feed in to the bilge. They wire straight to power and a switch (no controller needed). I do not have any coring in my hull. I will epoxy the edge of the larger hole drilled for the wire and I have 4200 caulk that I will seal everything with. I will use 4200 instead of 5200 in case there is a problem I will be able to remove them without as much trouble. I probably will not get them installed until this winter sometime. I originally was going to put them on the coabalt but my wife and kids had a good point that if we are ever on the water at night it is usually in the sea ray.

John
Click to expand...

John,

Sounds like a good plan to me. If you have the time, maybe snap a few pics along the way. It would make a good tutorial for those doing the install after you! Thanks.

Todd
 
We install lots of lights here. If it was my money I would get the Ocean LED Hybrid Series like this -http://www.boemarine.com/Products/004-000001/

There is nothing worse than having a light fail. Its a real pain in the arse to get it fixed if you keep your boat in the water. We have had good luck and reliability with Ocean LED. They also have a coating on the lens which deters growth which is a major plus.
 
CSR_Admin said:
We install lots of lights here. If it was my money I would get the Ocean LED Hybrid Series like this -http://www.boemarine.com/Products/004-000001/

There is nothing worse than having a light fail. Its a real pain in the arse to get it fixed if you keep your boat in the water. We have had good luck and reliability with Ocean LED. They also have a coating on the lens which deters growth which is a major plus.
Click to expand...

Yes but they cost $1000 a piece, 5x the price of the lumitech. Ocean LED are real proud of their products. Also the hybrids are sealed units. They would have to be entirely replaced if they ever did fail just like the lumitechs would.
 
Loneranger said:
Yes but they cost $1000 a piece, 5x the price of the lumitech. Ocean LED are real proud of their products. Also the hybrids are sealed units. They would have to be entirely replaced if they ever did fail just like the lumitechs would.
Click to expand...

Opps they are only about $750 so down to only 4x the price.
 
They sure look sweet :). GL with the instal.
 
The coating does work. You will still get growth but it just wipes off with the sweep of a hand or brush. It won't stick to the face.

I realize the Ocean LED's are more. My point was that underwater lights get to be a very expensive thing to fix if they fail. If one fails the boat looks dumb with just one on. So you can go through the summer without using your $200 lights, and have to haul out later to fix them (more labor), or you can spend some more upfront for a more reliable light. I have been through the routine of using cheap lights, and have had customers do the same. I don't think any of us will make that choice again.
 
I second that thought; the cheaper made lights that do not have the coating are hard to clean. One learns real quick it was a bad deal when they go to clean them. Even the boat just running through the water can sand the lights from all the sand and settlement in the water; another reason to make sure they have a good marine grade quality coating.
 
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