Courtesy Lights

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Rejoice
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Location: Nashville, TN
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Courtesy Lights

Post by Rejoice »

Has anyone installed outdoor courtesy lihts around the under edge of the bonnet or any where else. Here in Tennessee we are rather primitive and cannot count on dock lights, etc. We have considered running a string of rope lights under the overhang, plugged in to the 100V on the fly bridge.

Any other ideas?
Anne & Dave Mensel
Rejoice
PDQ MV/34-51
Nashville, TN
Stray Cat
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Courtesy lights

Post by Stray Cat »

Consider very low power consumption LED courtesy lights sold by West Marine, Boater's World, etc. running on 12V DC strategically placed.

I picture your lighting is being installed in the 'valance' where the flybridge top extends over the sides of the cabin, just above the cabin windows.

You might even consider finding places for the solar powered garden lamps (we have a bunch in our gardens and love them).
Candy Chapman and Gary Bell in Stray Cat, MV34 hull 12
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Gadzooks!
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courtesy lights

Post by Gadzooks! »

We installed a West Marine "spreader light" on the radar mast. It illuminates the flybridge and rear deck strongly - very useful for use of the transom stairs. It also provides a useful amount of light for the side decks - strongest at the aft end, of course. Would also be good for night operation of the dinghy davits, tho have not yet had occasion to experience that.

Since we trashed the totally useless electric horn supplied with the boat, we had an unused 12 volt wire to the radar mast and did not have to run a new wire. We installed a switch on the flybridge dashboard to control the light.

If I were primarily interested in side lighting, I would consider two spreader lights, one at each end of the horizontal part of the radar mast, tilted slightly outward and forward. Or, one could achieve excellent coverage by installing lights on either side of the flybridge, recessed to be minimally obtrusive. Finally, a battery-powered lantern temporarily clamped to the flybridge railing should be satisfactory providing night docking happens only once in a while.
Mebs and Wally Gilliam
Gadzooks! MV34 #33
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