Swim Platform Lights - Again

Hampton

Air Defense Dept
TECHNICAL Contributor
Nov 26, 2006
7,628
Panama City, Fl
Boat Info
2008 44 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins QSC-500's
Straight Drives
I've done some searching, and though there are much more expensive lights available, I just can't justify them. Anyone have any pluses or minuses for these lights? I'd like to get blue bulbs or blue lenses, if able. I plan on using the Aft Accessory switch on the dash. Any words?

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?r=view&i=24927
 
I looked at those too. My concern was that because the lights were not actually in the water it would attract more bugs rather than illuminate the water below. Scott
 
Love them. It's SeaRay's OEM product. Our boat came with them. This is what we have noticed so far... much cheaper, no bugs, and no cutting holes through your hull. On our boat they are connected to the aft accessory switch. Good luck with your choice. Brian
 
Scott,

I read that. Several of our local boats have the factory lights. They're really nice. The bug thing hasn't been a factor. If they are, I like the idea of attracting them away from the cockpit, concentrating them in one area, and then blasting them all at once with the blue can of Raid "Flying Insect" spray that I keep on hand.

Besides - how smart are bugs? I don't think that light originating above the water will attract them any more than light reflecting off the bottom of the swim platform that originated from below the water. Also, several hundred dollars less. Also, I can install these at the beach instead of at the boat yard.
 
John.....if you go with the platform lights, I'd really like to know how you like them. I don't do enough night boating to justify several hundred dollars for thru hull lights. But, I could justify a couple hundred for the transom lights if they even come close to the thru hulls. Scott
 
Sure - I think I'm going to do it. We spend several nights per month out on the boat backed up to the barrier island. There's usually 5 - 20 Sea Rays out there with us. My 340 is average in size. Almost 1/2 have the lights. I'm really jealous. There are soooo many awesome creatures out there.

I'd like to get blue, but I don't know if there's an inexpensive way to do it. I wonder if I can stain the lens or just change the bulbs.

I need to hear from someone who has done the work themselves.

Thanks in advance for a reply.
 
Being cheap and power-conscious I ordered a set of Ebay 120139339388 truck reverse LED lights for $50 and mounted them on the transom about 6" below the waterline. They aim down at the transom/boat waterline combined angle of maybe 15 degrees and are wired/fused directly to the battery with a switch hidden in the transom shower door for easy access from the cockpit or swim platform. Haven't tested them yet, hopefully next weekend.
 
Saw a bunch of boats this past year at the Caladesi customer appreciation which had these on them. I didn't like the end result.

because they are mounted above the water the light reflects off the water versus penitrating the water like the submerged lights and if you're sitting on the dock behind one of these you also tend to get a bunch of light reflected in you're face.
 
Sorrento 25 said:
Being cheap and power-conscious I ordered a set of Ebay 120117161909 truck reverse LED lights for $50 and mounted them on the transom about 6" below the waterline. They aim down at the transom/boat waterline combined angle of maybe 15 degrees and are wired/fused directly to the battery with a switch hidden in the transom shower door for easy access from the cockpit or swim platform. Haven't tested them yet, hopefully next weekend.


truck reverse led lights.. and these are water proof?
 
$50 + shipping for the pair. Supposedly they are waterproof but I added a bead of silicone around the seam, and then around the lights on the boat. The wires come out the back and are sealed with 5200 along with the screws.

DSC01495%20(Small).JPG
 
Of Truck Reverse LED lights

Sorrento 25 said:
Being cheap and power-conscious I ordered a set of Ebay 120139339388 truck reverse LED lights for $50 and mounted them on the transom about 6" below the waterline. They aim down at the transom/boat waterline combined angle of maybe 15 degrees and are wired/fused directly to the battery with a switch hidden in the transom shower door for easy access from the cockpit or swim platform. Haven't tested them yet, hopefully next weekend.

So how'd that work out? Any issues? Mine is a '97 250DA and I really like the notion of swim lights. LEDs draw such low current that it seems a good fit!

Thanks!
 
Mine were tested for two days in the water. The illumination is very good, but I compared them to Hurleys an a yacht and they seem to have a narrower beam vertically. The illumination horizontally is excellent and the light projects back a good 15-20 feet. In retrospect I probably would have liked to mount them on aluminum tabs so that they could be angled down a bit more, but we weren't in the cleanest water either. They also have some condensation inside despite my extra sealing efforts but still work fine. Seal them very well including over the screw heads if you intend to use them in salt water. Still no regrets for $50 though!
 
I don't wanna burst anyone's bubble, but unless you boat in swimming-pool clear water like the Keys or Bahamas those puny little LED's aren't going to light up the water.

I've got two 50w HID Xenon underwater lights (which are extremely bright and not inexpensive at $800 each) and they barely get the job done.

There's no shortcut to high-intensity underwater lighting, be it HID Xenon or LED- it's expensive. You can go with something less, but you may not be pleased with the end result. If possible, check out someone else's boat with similar lighting so you can see what the result is going to be.
 

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