Lighting up the night in a boat

[B-man715]

Got an idea going here.

I like to night fish, or at least hang out an hour or two after the sun goes down. But I always have a fear about hitting something (floating log etc) or someone (w/ no nav lights on).

The best solution is to provide more light. I'm trying to figure out what would be best.

The easiest solution would be just hold or mount a spot light. I've done that before, but thinking it would be awesome to really light up the night. Problem is you need a lot of power.

I don't want modify the boat ( screw down lights everywhere, pull new wires everywhere etc ).

I have a Honda 2000 that doesn't get run enough in the summer anyways. I was thinking I could buy a couple off-road spot lights and flood lights then mount them on a portable tripod. Then I would run them off the 12 volt 8 amp battery charger on the generator (in case it rains to prevent sparks )

Has anybody ran stuff off of the charger before? Anybody ever try something similar? Is this idea dumb?

[Scott K]

[TruthWalleyes]

On order. Thanks 4we.

[Alagnak]

I'm interested to see how Scott likes these. As he mentioned- it's kind of weird because you can't really tell how much they are lighting stuff up until there is something to reflect off of. It just takes a bit to get use too.

And Scott- I hope you knocked on wood buddy. You never use/need your trolling motor- until you don't have one on ;-) LOL

[Scott K]

Pete, it has less then 12 hours total of being mounted on my boat, let alone being used. It hasnt been mounted to my boat for atleast 8 years. I am not even sure why I keep it. In fact, I should just sell it, and clear shelf space in my garage.

[Scott K]

I'm interested to see how Scott likes these. As he mentioned- it's kind of weird because you can't really tell how much they are lighting stuff up until there is something to reflect off of. It just takes a bit to get use too.

And Scott- I hope you knocked on wood buddy. You never use/need your trolling motor- until you don't have one on ;-) LOL

The beam on these travel 100 yards pretty decent. and what I did was cross them inward a bit, so the left light, shines on the right bank, and the right light shines on the left bank. Now I know I have only had these on the water one time, and it wasnt very dark out, but the light reflected off both of the banks, and lit up the area well. But, any logs that were on top of the water, lit up like a glowing reflector.

[Scott K]

Just another dumb idea I had, and I am actually going to do it this summer. I have a bunch of those trail tacks, that reflect light. They are like $6 for a box of a 100. I am going to put a glow tack on each side of every log I see in the main channel of the river, so they are easily seen. I figured a couple boxes would cover my fishing area pretty well, and they last for a long time, I have them on my trail to my hunting stand, and they are glowing strong, after 10 years.

So if you happen to travel upstream a bit, and start seeing a bunch of green glowing spots in the middle of the river at night, slow down.

[TruthWalleyes]

You'll be laying tacks full time as the river rises and falls each day.

[Scott K]

Nope, just one on the top of the logs as they come out of the water. I fish enough, eventually it will save me a prop. I mean I go through like 4 props a year, so I see it as a good investment.

[DTro]

Actually thats a great idea and I remember Backwater Eddy always telling me he did the same thing on the Red.

[B-man715]

Well after some digging around I bought one from flea bay. It's basically same same thing as one of your lights, but then has 8 flood lights on each side of the spot lights. 24", 120w and 9000 lumens. The price was the same as one bar from your link.

Should be bright enough to kill anything that looks directly at it

Any more mounting ideas fellas?

[delcecchi]

Holy Cow. Where do you mount Ma Deuce?

[DTro]

I didn't know they made a combo unit like that. I REALLY like that idea with floods on the side and a spot in the middle.

Not bad for 165 bones and free shipping.

Please let us know how it works!

[DTro]

Keep in mind that thing is going to draw 10 amps.

[Scott K]

I seen them when I was searching, and the only reason I didnt get one was, I wanted 2 lights, so I can aim one higher, and one lower for being on plane, and one to shine on the other times.

[B-man715]

Holy Cow. Where do you mount Ma Deuce?

There should be enough room to have two side by side on the bow

Then I'll run a remote hydraulic line to pull the triggers while I'm running the tiller

[Alagnak]

That looks bad azz. Just what I need. More lights LOL ;-)

Let us know..............

[B-man715]

Keep in mind that thing is going to draw 10 amps.

(Insert Tim the tool man Taylor grunts here )

[fishingstar]

helped brother in law mount the same lights but one size smaller. He put them in his rod holders in the front of the bow. he has a two wire plug up under the gunwale that way he can take them off. The rod holders are the cabalas brand so they can be turned 360. Those lights work very good and are well built.

Dan

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Scott, love the lights, but that rusty steel channel has got to go! It cheapens your rig. Ace sells aluminum, not sure about channel though.

It would be a first class setup with aluminum channel

[Scott K]

Ha, ya, I was going to spray it black, to match the lights, but I didnt have any when I was mounting it. I will take it back apart, and spray it once it drys up outside a bit.

[Scott M]

I'll be upgrading the lights this year and have been meaning to make it over to Scott's to have a look. I'll need a hand to get it mounted but I'm likely going in the same direction - LED lightbar.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Nice work and great idea with the light bar set up!

[B-man715]

helped brother in law mount the same lights but one size smaller. He put them in his rod holders in the front of the bow. he has a two wire plug up under the gunwale that way he can take them off. The rod holders are the cabalas brand so they can be turned 360. Those lights work very good and are well built.

Dan

Hey that's not a bad idea either. Thanks Dan

Do ya recall what model he used? How does the light mount to it? Got a pic by chance?

Thanks

-Brandon

[TruthWalleyes]

Mine should be on the door step when i get home today

Might even have it installed by the end of the weekend. I'll post pics when i do.

[CaptainMusky]

Mine should be on the door step when i get home today

Might even have it installed by the end of the weekend. I'll post pics when i do.

You get the flood/spot combo unit? Yes, please post some pics when done.

Im eyeing those up too. Getting my boat out from storage Saturday. Doing an inventory of things I need/want and lighting is tops on the list.