New bimini lights

fsbk366

New Member
Mar 19, 2012
15
Lake Lanier, GA
Boat Info
2000 Sundancer 260
Engines
Mercruiser
The two little floor lights on my 2000 260 did not light up my cabin nearly enough, so I came up with a plan.

I bought some 12v cool white LED rope lights from Sailor Sams (two 4' long lengths), along with all the wire connections needed (about $80). Then I picked up a thick clear shower curtain at Kohls ($7) and some thick UV protected thread ($3).

I cut the shower curtain into about 3" wide strips, then folded in and sewed about a half inch in on each side. That makes the edge look a little cleaner. I then sewed the strips right up into the bimini canvas. Cut and finished the wires as clean as I could. My only issues is that Sailor Sams only has white wire, which is very visible on my black bimini canvas. Other than the two small holes I put in my bimini pole (to hide the wires), this mod is 100% reversible.

They throw a ton of light. Sorry for the blurry images. I took the pics without the flash so you could see the true light.

DSCN1285_zps92ac1058.jpg



DSCN1287_zps5f4bf235.jpg
 
Wow! That looks great. Can you do a closer up shot of them so we can see how the shower rod contraption looks?

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Where did you run the wires too?

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The curtain material just looks like a 2" strip of plastic. Wires run into the bimini pole, then I just have loose wire plugging into the cig lighter. Not the most clean, but reversible, which was my goal. I'll take some pics in the light when I can.
 
I did same thing on my bimini but I used the led tape lights that normally adhear to a surface. To connect them to the bimini tubes I used 1 inch pvc and cut rings out of it and cut 1/4 inch slots in them to slip over the tubes. I put the tape lights on the tubes and held them on with the pvc rings. I ran the wires off the lights down the base of the tube and drilled a very small hole thru the top of the rail on the starboard side and hooked it into my anchor light wiring so it is on when I'm anchored and fishing. When I turn them on it's like daylight in my boat and easy to deal with tying knots, cutting bait, or landing fish. I also installed the lights on the sides and in the splash well and they are hooked to the bimini lights as well. The only thing I have found is that the lights on the side of the boat yellows because of the sun here in Vegas, It burns everything to a crisp. The bimini lights are enclosed in the bimini cover and not effected by the sun. My boat is a 17.5 foot Bayliner cutty cab.
 
Just a tip to take no flash/night photos is to hold the camera rock steady by leaning against something/tripod. Or set the phone down to frame the pic and activate the timer. Flash usually washes out the light your trying to photograph.

And DAMN those are bright but look good!
 
Very cool...but a bit too bright for me. I look best in dim light.
 
Yes, would love to see some pics with a bit more detail. I've been trying to come up with something like this for dinning at the cockpit table of our 320. Good job!
 
Right now the wind is blowing hard and I'm busy with my sons Eagle Scout Ceremony but as soon as I can get past all that I will have my son help with pictures and getting it posted, I am not computer savy enough to do it by myself. But it is pretty simple to do you jut have to be inventive.
 

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