Underwater Lights

[JLR]

When the boat is South this year, it will be hauled to paint the bottom and r&r the wheels, as usual. I am giving some thought to adding a few underwater lights in the stern. Although we usually dock bow in, it seems like the thing to do these days. What is the current wisdom on what to choose, how many, what voltage (boat is 24v) and the like. I am disinclined to add any major holes in the bottom of the boat but have no idea how the trim tab mounted lights do. Also, I have no idea of the pricing on any of this. So, any current wisdom or experiences would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[SeaEric]

There has been lengthy discussion on this subject at YachtForums.com You may want to head over there and use the search function to read the threads. Here is an example: http://www.yachtforums.com/threads/best-underwater-lights.19560/

 

[JLR]

Thanks Eric. I will review that in detail but was hoping for some more recent information from members here who may have had good or bad experiences with the process.

 

[SEVEN]

I just installed the 12 series Aqua Luma. Very satisfied. A bit pricing at 895.00 each but I only needed two for the stern. You change these from inside. Never need to haul out to repair or replace. Look them up.

 

[thoward]

When the boat is South this year, it will be hauled to paint the bottom and r&r the wheels, as usual. I am giving some thought to adding a few underwater lights in the stern. Although we usually dock bow in, it seems like the thing to do these days. What is the current wisdom on what to choose, how many, what voltage (boat is 24v) and the like. I am disinclined to add any major holes in the bottom of the boat but have no idea how the trim tab mounted lights do. Also, I have no idea of the pricing on any of this. So, any current wisdom or experiences would be appreciated. Thank you.

I am changing mine in Nov. I went with the Shadow Caster SCM 10 surface mount(small wire hole) and they have been disappointing at best. I like blue because it is easier on the eyes while fishing at night. White seems to do a better job of attracting fish(at dock). I am leaning towards OceanLED. I do not like cutting a big hole in the transom however, when a light fails in less than a year but you only pull every 2 years, it may be worth it. Much of the choice is budget dependent.

 

[JLR]

Keep em coming. I appreciate the experiences. Budget aside for a moment, it seems to me that the worst possible scenario is installing the lights and then adding to that cost, the haul out (if that type of installation) just to replace or repair the lights. Hauling my boat is a little difficult in the area I boat in the summer so I need lights that are reliable and that do not require a haul out if I run into trouble. Frankly, I do not like the whole idea but a request has been made that will be honored.

 

[Dan Mapes]

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Do not install any system that will require the boat to be hauled as a part of repair. Our Ocean LEDs did not last long enough to justify the cost and they cannot be replaced without a haul.

 

[captddis]

I have the Aqualuma going on 8 years and no issues. I have my diver smear vaseline on the face to keep the barnacles off.

 

[SEVEN]

I didn't want to scare you off with the price of $895 each. They do carry less expensive last year models that won't cost as much or less light out put. I went with the latest model. Nice thing is you can upgrade with just a twist of the lamp and two wire connections. Scary thing is you have to cut a 3 inch hole for each light. They install just like a thru hull does. I am very very please with mine. Simple, easy, and the blue lights are beautiful. Friends say they are sexy. Look out.

 

[JLR]

Is this the brand that Pascal had so many problems with?

 

[Cbm]

I went with seablaze x the have a duel led white and blue I installed 6 two on the side and 4 on the back very bright . The only disappointment was one failed called they have a one year warranty so I called they will send out a new one exchange but I told them I would have townsite for haul out they sent me a email so that next year they would still warranty the light

 

[Mike36c]

I know it's touchy to single out a manufacturer here so let me just say I recently handed a five gallon bucket which contained two Ocean Lights, drivers, etc. at a cost of over $6K to recycling.

 

[Mike36c]

I know it's touchy to single out a manufacturer here so let me just say I recently handed a five gallon bucket which contained two Ocean Lights, drivers, etc. and cost me over $6K to a recycling company for scrap. Zero product support.

 

[JLR]

I think imparting bad experiences is just as helpful, if not more so, than endorsements. I tend to be risk averse and prefer not to get involved in parts from manufacturers with whom others have had problems. Can anyone comment on the trim tab mounted lights versus the through hull ones. I am not using these for anything other than decoration. Although, when I am up North, I cannot imagine what Long Ilsnad Sound water looks like up close and personal- even if shaded in blue.

 

[Cricket]

To me the trim tab lights are a joke, especially for a Hatteras or any other big boat. Mike36c, do you mean OceanLed? I have 4 OceanLed's on the Hat and 2 more on a CC for at least 7 or 8 years without any issues, they're the ones using a 1" hole and mount from the outside.

 

[SEVEN]

Really take a close look at Aqua Luma. I can't say enough good things about the lights. I should be a rep for them.

 

[Dan Mapes]

To me the trim tab lights are a joke, especially for a Hatteras or any other big boat. Mike36c, do you mean OceanLed? I have 4 OceanLed's on the Hat and 2 more on a CC for at least 7 or 8 years without any issues, they're the ones using a 1" hole and mount from the outside.

I'm wishing. Ours blew out on one side after a few hundred hours. No help from OceanLED.

 

[Pascal]

The first lights I use where from abissylight and they kept failing. I replaced them with lumitech sea blaze x.

First I installed three on the transom then two years later added one on each side of the hull, a couple of feet from the transom corner. Looks really nice.

The SeablazeX are surface mounted and only require a small hole for the wire.

For side mounted lights you have to drill a hole to run the wire thru but on the transom if possible I would much prefer to run the wire up above the water line and then come thru if possible. I d also prefer to epoxy a mounting block to screw the lights in so you avoid any below water line penetration. In our case due to the transom shape and having a stern fuel tank agaisnt it, there was no way to run the wire above WL... No big deal.

The SeablazeX I instwlled are blue or white. Single wire, smart light... Flick the switch once, they a white, fligh it another time they alternate, then a third time and they re blue.

We usulaly set them to white in the bahamas where the water is clear but here in Miami with more silt I usually set them to blue.

If you spend most of your time in murky water like the ICW, most bays on the east coast , save your money and forget the lights...

 

[Pascal]

Here is a link to the side light set to blue

https://instagram.com/p/1so2Wzy79N/

Whole set up in blue

https://instagram.com/p/2OGRaEMcBY/

And the stern lights in white over a very shallow bottom (a couple of feet under the wheels) pic taken from the top deck

https://instagram.com/p/uG9B6HMcO4/

 

[Mike36c]

To me the trim tab lights are a joke, especially for a Hatteras or any other big boat. Mike36c, do you mean OceanLed? I have 4 OceanLed's on the Hat and 2 more on a CC for at least 7 or 8 years without any issues, they're the ones using a 1" hole and mount from the outside.

My friends and I purchased lights for three boats a few years ago at price well into five figures. Some of the LEDs in our clusters started to fail immediately and the company was notified. After a couple years of correspondence and discussions at FLIBS the rep who we were dealing with left the company and we were on our own. What we pretty much learned is that if the company warrantied all of the bad early lights they would go under. No deal for new lights just have a nice day. These were the large Ocean LED lights (4010 I think). I've since installed Lumitechs.