docking lights

[fish4life]

im thinking bout putting lights on the front of my boat for at night running,found some offroad lights at walmart.Do any of u guys run these and if u do can i see some pics,im clueless on how to mount them.i see them on the hull up front of boats. but is there a certain mounting point where u think they could soaked and beat up?Need some help here.

 

[fish4life]

anybody??

 

[kthomas65]

go to cleveland boat center they have the lights and hangers real good lights there made for night running.

 

[TightlineT]

Fishnfun or Franklin Marine have running lights. I bought mine at Franklin and mounted it to the side of the trolling motor. I started to get the lights that mount under the front of the boat, but didn't want something hanging down there to get in the way if I was fighting a fish. Not sure if that would have been a problem or not, but am satisfied with the light I have now. Hope this helps.......Jim

 

[Carl Guffey]

<font face="georgia,palatino" size="2">Just so you know. Docking lights are illegalfor navigationaluse in Tennessee (or anywhere else) unless you are only using them to dock. If you turn them on while running the channel you might get a ticket. If they should come on while you are approaching another craft, they are not like head lights on a road, the glare will blind the other craftimmediately and could potentially cause an accident.</font>

 

[xrfoxracer]

your right, but only 9 out of 10 bass boats use them while running the channels... i think thats a law that is enforced by individual discretion...

I bowfish and run gennys and metal halides on the bowfishing boat... and technically we are not suppose to run the big lights in the channel and actually got stopped for it and he just told us to make sure and shut the genny down when navigating...

But the lights for the bass boats are not going to blind someone if the operator doesnt just leave them on while approaching another boat... just flick on flick off just to check to debris!!

Just gotta use some common sense thats all!!

 

[xrfoxracer]

Those lights are not as blinding as 3 millon candle spot lights that some people are out there using...

Thats a pretty stupid law for them to be illegal to run navigating... and im sure that our game wardens are not going to ticket anyone thats using alittle sense and not being a dumb ass with them!!

 

[fish4life]

yes,especially at hiwasses where i fish.im thinking just at night for them,so i dont nail a log or anything in the water.

 

[Carl Guffey]

<font face="georgia,palatino" size="2">emoLaugh emoZipped </font></p>

 

[mmarcum6]

I have been blinded enough by inconsiderate folks with the running lights full on the whole time. I will never put headlights on my boat and only use a small spot light most of the time. It is not just a Tennesse law but an international maritime law that says you can not run them except for docking. I understand on and off use to locate bouys, but to run them full time really messes with your night vision and put you at more of a risk.

 

[fish4life]

yes i understand.im going to probably take those lights back,and get a spotlight i can mount to the boat.Thank you guys for the great info.

 

[Hook1]

Big problem made easy. I fished alot of evening dogfights last year and before I had a GPS I got a little scared running after dark. I stopped by Kmart and bought a little cheap 12V spotlight. It was only 12 bucks and put out 50,000 candelight power I think. I like not having to make sure I have a light thats charged up. Plug into a 12V outlet and just flick it on to check the surface and for bouys and turn off. Like I said this was before I got a GPS and made life easy. You dont need 5 million lumens to light up a bouy. Some of the lights I've seen out there are worse than a barge light!

 

[Buoy-Master]

I use a docking light. Sometimes two. But I never just leave it on.

I'll spot the next green or red buoy and run towards it keeping an eye on my GPS. When I get close, I'll shoot it again and pass it up....find the next one down after a few seconds. Those lights are bright...TOO bright but if used right, you wont bother anyone.

I'd rather see another headlight coming towards me and blink mine on and off.

 

[BulletTJ]

I have one docking light mounted to the underside of my trolling motor bracket. I have a switch mounted to it. I understand it is not legal to run with them on. I will flash mine on and off looking for the channel markers or if I think I see something in front of me. Several years ago we would have hit a anchored house boat if I hadnt had the light. The house boat was anchored in a cut through and it didnt have any lights on. I saw something stepped on the head light switch and just barely got stopped in time to miss the boat. I may get a ticket for the light some day but it saved me that night and I guess I will just pay the ticket if I ever get one. I feel safer with the light and I prefer to keep both hands on the wheel so I am not a big fan of waving a spot light around. JMHO

 

[Liveliner]

Suggestion - Do not put any holes in your hull. Get an aluminum flat bar long enough to extend across your bow and to protrude out on each side to have room for your new lights. You can actually use the holes where you TM is mounted to secure the Light bar to your deck. Mount the TM back over the bar with spacers equal to the thickness of the light bar so it will remain level. Mount your new lights below the bar completely out of your way. Caution - With the lights there, you will need to use caution how you approach the dock.
Personally I use a rechargeable handheld.
As mentioned, When approaching a boat ... Turn that Retina Blisterer off.

 

[Punisher]

I run a spot light at night not to see where I'm going but to look for the BIG DANG LOGS floating and everything else out there too