CONTINUOUSWAVE

[To replace the original white all-round lamp,] I purchased a [new white all-round pole lamp] from West Marine. This lamp's wires are red and black.

Q1 : Can I simply just cut [the electrical wiring now on the boat] where the [existing two-pole electrical connector for the pole lamp is], then connect the black [wire on the boat circuit] to the black [wire on the new lamp] and the white [wire on the boat circuit] to the red [wire on the new lamp] and remount the lamp?

Q2: Will this work?

Q3: Can I just buy a two-pole connector and splice it into the circuit?

A1: Yes, assuming the new lamp has an incandescent light bulb; polarity won't matter.
A2: Yes
A3: Yes; having an electrical disconnect for the pole lamp will make it much simpler to remove the pole lamp from the mounting fixture when the lamp is not needed.

[Because the topic of this discussion is small boat electrical wiring, this thread has been moved to the SMALL BOAT ELECTRICAL discussion.]