mounting navigation lights on STV

[dal290la]

Anybody out there have any suggestions for a clean way to mount navigation lights on an STV? Removable or permanent mount? I do not like to drill the fiberglass but may have to. Please let me know your thoughts and any pictures you may have.:)

[Rickracer]

You can use a Perko or Attwood type mount on the dash, and the same out back. That way, you can stow the lights when not using them. :cool:

[stvhelm]

these are neat lights. the pic shows the starboard light under the rub rail. the rear light is a removable drop in. I to need lights cause many days Im coming back in the dark. glare is a factor. there is no glare mounted this way.

[BLUElixir]

I'm going to put lights on my Euro sometime soon.

Helmut, do you know what brand your front lights are? Are you happy with them or would you rather have a different brand?

For the rear I really want to put on a PowerLight. They power up like a retractable FM antena on a car. Flip the switch and it extends and when you turn it off it retracts flush with the deck. Eddie Marine sells them but that is the only place that I have found who carries them. http://www.eddiemarine.com/cart/details.asp?SubCategoryID=509&CategoryID=56 They are expensive!

Another option for the front is a flip up type light. I'm not sure who makes them (maybe attwood?) but you can get them in chrome or white and I think that someone makes colored bezels for them.

Here is a link to Eddie Marine's Light page for some options: http://www.eddiemarine.com/cart/catalog.asp?CategoryID=56&CategoryName=Lights

[Rickracer]

...I can probably save ya some buck on them. We do handle lights like the one Helmut has too. :cool:

[sho305]

On one of my old boats, I had a light like this: http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=858&hvarTarget=search

May not be the best for you due to the ugly base, but it was very handy and I'll get another. I could shine it anywhere, in the water, in the boat, or slip it in the base for docking hands-free. Then I could hide it under deck in the daytime. I had the base near the bottom of the windshield in easy reach, and it was wired to a dash switch. My old one would switch from spot to flood on the light, but I can't find one on the net. It did kinda blast anyone on the dock.

Maybe one could rig a flush mount for the base somehow.

[Techno]

I'm mounting my anchor light to the top of my cowling. It gets it out of the way, is always ready and should project a shadow where I sit. Just hope it is also higher than the cover.
Need to re-fill the holes but the thing is using LEDs as is the bow lights so they never fail.
Just a suggestion, replace the bulbs with LED bulb replacers.

You can make your own nav lights using hi output LEDs since you can get them in the 3 colors. Chunk of plastic, cast acrylic or plexi, and shaped to what you want. Clear where you want the light and opaque where you don't.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/technostv/hpbimg/lightw.JPG

[dal290la]

Great suggestions!!!Thanks Rick, Helmut and Adam, for the help.
Rick, I will be in touch to order in the next week or so, as soon as I make my decision on which lights to go with. I hate drilling glass but sometimes you have to. How much does the retractable light weigh? I have put a hydraulic lift on my rear cowl. Push a button and up it comes. So a light that did the same would be a cool conversation piece.

Rick & Helmut beautiful boats.....I aspire to the euro ;)

[Firestarter]

Helmut and others, I know that those lights are illegal, here in Canada, I hear the same for the states, what is up, because I love them.

RT

[dal290la]

Here's another view
what you see here is the pop-up cleat and the hole for the bilge pump......not my idea for the ideal location??? However if I were to mount the retractable light on the other side it might look symetric???? What do you think?

[dal290la]

You won't believe this but the engine cover has a hole in the top with a rubber gromet and what looks like an electrical connection. It is about 3/4". In the engine cover bolted to the engine is a very securely mounted threaded bolt. It looks like the previous owner had a light that slid through the cover and screwed to the bolt. Has anyone ever seen or heard of this before? Or can tell me the function of this device? I will take a picture in the next few days to show you what I mean.

[natzx7]

I have seen lots of fishin guys mount their aft nav light to the top of the cowl, I guess because the pole type gets it the way of fishing lines. I think its a good way to chance a water leak through your cowl.

[BLUElixir]

Firewalker, are you talking about the front nav lights that are separate; one on each side of the hull? I have never heard that they were not legal but would be interested in knowing where they are illegal in the states.

dal290la, Do you have any pictures of your hydraulic rear hatch? I would love to see how you did it. I would like to put in a ram to open the hatch on my Euro.

You might want to check on the mounting options for the PowerLight. I don't know if you can mount it on a surface that is not horizontal or close. I have an old brochure that I will try to scan. It also has dimensions.

One more thing.... I also hate to drill through fiberglass. Its so permanent..... I was taught to cover the gel-coat with duct tape and drill with high rpm but not much force. This is supposed to help prevent chips in the gel-coat around the hole that is being drilled.

[dal290la]

Adam, thanks for the suggestions and comments.
I like the pop-up bow light that Rick suggested.
Rick, how large a hole has to be drilled for that installation?

I will take a picture of the hydraulic setup and the switch this week.

[Firestarter]

Bluelixir, yes those are the ones I am talking about. You cannot see them from the front of the boat.

RT

[BLUElixir]

Sorry for these large file sizes!

[BLUElixir]

I just called the toll free number and talked to a very nice sales rep. She said that they don't have any in stock but both the 4' and the 5' are around $100. Thats $75 cheaper than Eddie Marine. I don't know if Rickracer can get these but it would be best to check with him before ordering from the factory. I don't want to cut out a fellow S&Fer! The email address at the bottom of this page was marked out when I got it. They don't have a web site.

[Techno]

If anyone is going to put a light on top of the cowl make sure it aint a filament bulb. It will last a couple minutes and them burn out from the vibration.
As for leaks ... never heard of sealant? What about mounting anywhere on the boat, you still want it sealed.


__________________

[dal290la]

Excellent pictures Adam thanks....
This is a really cool light but a few things worry me:
1. Vibration as Techno referred to, even if mounted in some location under pop-up.
2. Having adequate clearance below deck for retraction.
3. Or I could mount it on the flat part of the cowl but the fuel cell is very close.

Any ideas...I don't think I can find a spot that will allow for a 24" clearance unless I mount it on the incline. I will measure.


:confused:

[sho305]

A car antenna has a spacer to mount on any angle surface, but that is bigger. I would think you could get one cut out of plasic or alum to change the angle to your liking, though it would stick up a little then depending on how thick it had to be. Unless they don't have much threads on the retaining nut, need to know about that first(thickness allowed for mounting surface). I'd call them and see if they had an angle spacer for it, and ask about LED bulbs too. That is a pretty cool deal:cool:

[dal290la]

Here is the other side with the bilge hole below the popup. I was thinking of mounting in this location on the other side, depending on clearance below and hieght when extended. It should reduce the worst vibration and I will definitely check on LED bulbs. My experience in the past, not to be a pessimist, is that these things always look cooler than they perform:D

[BLUElixir]

I don't know if I said it before but cool boat!

It looks like it might be a challenge to mount a powerlight on your boat. I do know this thought. They seem to be a quality piece. Cobalt boats installs them at the factory and I personally feel that Cobalt is a very quality builder. One thing though is that they don't have nearly the vibration that we do.

One question off the subject... Those are Pop-up cleats right? NOT the pull up cleats. On yours you press the button and they spring up? Do they ever pop up when you are running and the hull is vibrating? I like those but was concerned with them popping up while running. Do you like them?

[STV_Keith]

My STV has the standard, stupid looking front bow light. I don't like it, but the front deck is curved, so it'd be a pain to try to put in one of the pop-up units.

When I got my boat, it didn't have a rear light, so I got a 36" one and mounted it into the rear deck plate just in front of the motor. It sticks up above the motor when in place, and when removed you really don't see the mount. Deck plate could be removed and the wiring unplugged to be completely transparent if necessary.

[dal290la]

Adam, thanks for the boat compliment. I like the popups for mouring and looks but they are a pain when running. They popup and then begin to rattle. I have begun to carry clear tape to hold them down. The stuff you don't realize when you want something because it is cool. Doesn't always mean it is functional.

Keith, nice looking boat, I like the light small clean out of the way. I saw one of the S&F readers rigs, river rocket, that had the side markers mounted up by the helm. Didn't like it. I think I might go with the popup light.......I just hope it doesn't keep popping up after every wave......like the cleats. The cleats aren't that bad, you have to hit some punders before they pop.
Here is the link

http://www.eddiemarine.com/cart/catalog.asp?CategoryID=56&CategoryName=Lights

[BLUElixir]

I'll steer clear of the pop-up cleats

"Hydrovector" here on S&F has a flip up bow light like on the Eddie Marine Page. Its on his Euro. You might ask him how he likes his. One thing is that you might have to crawl out on the deck to flip up the light if your out on the water. Some top decks are pretty thin and sometimes slippery. If you slip on the deck, your fall could crack it. Just some thoughts....

[Techno]

Thats not true that if you fall on the deck you'll crack it. If your walking on it, it already is cracked.
On mine you just kind of slither and no cracking sounds.

[sho305]

I think if I had a stv; I'd get this sleek bow light and figure out how to make the stainless white, and a white gasket. Maybe powder coat the SS cover? Likely auto paint would be ok even, and install (or make) with 3m 5200 for a gasket. Spend my money on a LED bulb for it. Popup would be cool, but I would not want to hear cracking sounds...or have to hassle with it since I am out at night sometimes.

http://www.attwoodmarine.com/Products/parts.asp?ProductID=888&path=navlights&category=3&gtype=1&group=2&subgroup=0&categoryname=Navigation+Lighting&typename=Sidelight&headername=Navigation+Lighting

I know I've seen a white one but can't find one now.

Could you use a boat tender pole to pop the pop-up type?

Another popup site/page I found: http://www.fishing-catalog.com/AcconMarine/PopupLights.htm