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Old 11-26-2018, 12:18 PM   #1
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Thinking about mounting underwater lights to bottom of swim platform.

On our Mainship I had two underwater lights mounted. We loved them but they failed within a couple of months...got super dim. Luminex said no problem, we’ll exchange them under warranty, but that would require me to have the boat hauled out. Not doing that again. So I’m thinking of building a bracket to clamp to the bottom of the swim platform that will hang the lights below the water line and running the wires up the ladder and into the boat. No holes, bracket would be out of sight, and if I need to get to the lights, I can just unbolt them.

Thoughts? I know they will probably take a beating, so they’d have to be strong.

I’d love to hear some ideas.
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Old 11-26-2018, 12:20 PM   #2
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Looks like the swim platform legs actually are underwater already, so I would need much of a bracket.
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Old 11-27-2018, 09:03 AM   #3
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I find it more interesting when the lights are pointed down, lighting up the sea bed. Only seen this done once.
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Old 11-27-2018, 09:18 AM   #4
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I have thought about putting a couple on for a few years now and never got around to it, but if I did I would do exactly as you have described. I don't like putting holes in the boat below the waterline in less I really have to. I have even thought of a couple floaters that you just deploy over the side when wanted.
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Old 11-27-2018, 09:18 AM   #5
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Stainless flat stock, bent at 90 degrees to mount lights, then another 90 degrees to mount under platform. Verticle side against the hull for stability.
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Old 11-27-2018, 09:23 AM   #6
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Greetings,
Mr. 91. Hmmm....Seems your trim tabs might pose a bit of an interference problem depending on location and any bracket, as you surmised, will have to be robust enough to survive prop wash and any other turbulence occurring in your transom area.


I've considered exactly what you intend to do. Mount on a bracket attached to the swim platform. I do not have trim tabs but most probably similar strength requirements.


The simplest and most straightforward mount I've thought of comprises of a bracket which will allow any lights to be hinged out of the water and lay flat on the top of the platform to be deployed when desired. The Admiral nixed that idea BUT, I'm still hinting...
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Old 11-27-2018, 12:29 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tiltrider1 View Post
I find it more interesting when the lights are pointed down, lighting up the sea bed. Only seen this done once.
I have thought about mounting lights to my swim platform, pointing down, for the same reason. I would much rather light up the water right under me, than to try to light the whole ocean!
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Old 11-27-2018, 12:47 PM   #8
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Some good ideas here. Interesting through to aim them down. Of course they’d need to still be submerged. I wonder how much of a difference it’ll make because the light scatters so much.

Having them retract out of the water would mean they’ll stay much cleaner. That would be a huge plus.
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Old 11-27-2018, 03:40 PM   #9
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Let em float


Quote:
. "THE GREEN LANTERN 12V LED Green Underwater Night Fishing Light AMERICAN MADE! Specifications: 1. Color: Green 2. Lamp length: 7 inches 3. Wire length: 15 foot. 4. Power: 10 Watts 5. Input Voltage: DC 12V 6. Input Current: <1 Amp 7. Lumen: 20000 lumens 8. LED bulbs quantity: 65 5630 Style Leds 9.Warranty: 60day Features: 1. Awesome underwater fish attractant. 2. Fully weighted. 3. Perfect for boats, docks and piers. 4. 50,000 Hours of continuous use; 5. Compact size for easy storage. 6. Industrial-grade, fully-submersible design 7. Weight: 10 ounces.."
https://www.ebay.com.au/p/12v-LED-Gr...a1815bfffc63cc
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Old 11-27-2018, 06:52 PM   #10
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I like the hing idea, Or a bracket that would allow the light to slide down and be pinned into position and then pulled back up and pinned out of the water. That may take up less room on the platform.
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Old 11-27-2018, 07:53 PM   #11
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I wonder if wiring inside the tubing presents any shock hazard if you happen to be using the swim ladder for it's intended purpose ?
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Old 11-27-2018, 08:52 PM   #12
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I wonder if wiring inside the tubing presents any shock hazard if you happen to be using the swim ladder for it's intended purpose ?
Yeah I guess. But it would be no more risk than your car. It’s only 12 volts! Honest, rubber grommets in the metal holes for the wires should prevent any damage to the wire insulation. I think.
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Old 11-27-2018, 08:57 PM   #13
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The flip up idea is interesting. It would keep the lights clean for sure. But I’m pretty damn lazy. I want to be able to flip the underwater lights on without spilling my beer.

I think I’ll just mount them to the swim platform brace where it attaches to the transom. Should be super easy to do and easy to remove.
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Old 11-27-2018, 09:09 PM   #14
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I am thinking of underwater lights. I was looking at some WM lights that only require a 1/4 hole in the transom. But if mounted to the bottom of the swim deck or the top of the trim tab I could run the wires through the same hole my davit wires run, hence no holes in the transom. mmmmmm

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...66?recordNum=3
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