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Author Topic:   SURVEY: Underwater LED Lighting

ceshaw posted 02-12-2011 07:49 PM ET (US)
Have any of you guys installed an underwater LED lamp on your transom?
What are your thoughts [about using underwater LED lamps on a boat transom]?
Here's a website that I was looking at. There are a few more, however, I'm using this one as an example of what I'm talking about.
http://www.oceanled.com/oceanled-tv.htmled-tv.html
I think using the LED lamp for attracting fish is an excellent idea I went to the Dallas boat show today and only found one vendor who sold underwater LEDs.
Phil T posted 02-12-2011 08:17 PM ET (US)
Cliff--If you do a search, there are several detailed threads. One or two have great photos (sorry, can't remember the member's name).
Sorry to say, I agree with Tom. Then again, I don't fish and haven't gotten to install my under gunnel lights yet after 4 years.
ceshaw posted 02-12-2011 08:39 PM ET (US)
Thanks Phil. I put in the incorrect info for a search earlier and dint come up with anything. This time I was able to see some great photos.
With these underwater lights, fish will come to the boat within minutes. They also look great to with a serious "wow" factor.
Tom W Clark posted 02-12-2011 08:50 PM ET (US)
The very first person I saw who had a stuffed Garfield cartoon character suction-cupped to the rear window of their car got a chuckle out of me. After seeing thousands of them over the years, the cleverness of that joke got old...very old.
I suspect the "wow" factor of underwater LED lights may not be as powerful before too long.
protek9543 posted 02-12-2011 09:41 PM ET (US)
If I were an avid night fisherman and the lights attracted bait and fish I would use them.
jimh posted 02-13-2011 09:33 AM ET (US)
I have not installed underwater LED lamps on the transom of my boat.
I have seen just one or two boats with underwater LED lamps at a marina at night with the lamps illuminated. The effect created by the underwater LED lamps is certainly cool. Tom's observation is the cool-factor is perhaps related to the current scarcity of such installations. If every boat in a marina had underwater LED lamps and they all left those lamps illuminated at night, the cool factor would be diminished.
dino54904 posted 02-13-2011 09:38 PM ET (US)
I am very familiar with underwater lights made by a company named OCEAN LED. I ran a Marquis with those installed and they make an attractive presentation while anchored or at dockside at night. The good ones are VERY EXPENSIVE and it does not pay to drill holes in your boat below the water line unless you install good equipment in the hole you made. If you want light in the water around your boat to attract fish there are other ways to do that for a lot less money.
Dino
contender posted 02-13-2011 09:51 PM ET (US)
I used to use a car headlight on a 10 ft wooden pole for looking for lobsters at night (bully netting), you just have to have the light in the water before you turn it on. Turning the light on 1st and putting it in the water may crack it because of the heat. Dino is correct the good ones are about $300 (brass through hull and others)...Its all about how you want to spend your money...
ceshaw posted 02-14-2011 09:32 AM ET (US)
Contender, I thought about your technique however with a pole in the water with a light on it....once a fish is on the line that is just something else to snag your line on and worry about. Great idea though and that technique has been around for many years. thanks.
So far I see way more positive things than negative things coming out of this discussion. I'm looking at the transom LEDs from the fishing aspect of things...as I'm in a 13' where room is limited. If I had "gear" all over the place, things would get broke, my fat butt would trip and fall into the water and it would just ruin a good time. Lol.
The "Cool" factor is just a side benefit in my opinion. Though the "Cool" factor may wear off in time, I think the utility aspect of the lights for fishing will last a long time.
Jefecinco posted 02-14-2011 09:35 AM ET (US)
Down here in Lower Alabama a lot of folks like to add a little "zing" to their cars and trucks. Stick-on Buick Portholes seem to be the favorite flavor. So if you just want to add some zing to the boat I recommend the chrome portholes. They are relatively inexpensive and come with adhesive so you can just stick them on anywhere you think they'll look sharp. Some may prefer a little teak trim tastefully placed.
For night fishing the light on a stick approach is far superior to transom installed LEDs.
Butch
ceshaw posted 02-14-2011 01:13 PM ET (US)
Lol, ya okay....I'll get right on those "portholes"....
Jefecinco posted 02-14-2011 07:04 PM ET (US)
Have a look at costalnightlights.com.
Butch
contender posted 02-14-2011 07:18 PM ET (US)
ceshaw: The pole lights we used were for locating lobsters (they were hand held), we also use to tie them off for shrimping. I understand what you are saying about the pole sticking down and getting in the way but, I'm sure you could make something that would be able to tie them off and it could be adjustable and not stick down that far in the water. Alot cheaper and you are not drilling any holes in the boat....good luck
ceshaw posted 02-14-2011 07:53 PM ET (US)
Ya, you're probably right about the pole and light set up. The cost is a bit prohibitive for the transom mounted LEDs at this point as there's only a few companies that offer these. Thanks a million.
20dauntless posted 02-14-2011 09:00 PM ET (US)
I avoid through hulls as much as possible, especially below the waterline. Sinking isn't an issue with a Whaler, but too many boats sink because of through hull failures. If you've got trim tabs, Bennett sells a set of trim tab lights which would avoid the extra through hulls. For $1200 I think I'll pass though.
http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/catalog.php?vID=272&catHome=1&imgCheck=3
Tom W Clark posted 02-15-2011 10:23 PM ET (US)
I agree, but be sure the lights change colors to the beat of your onboard stereo system.

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Author	Topic: SURVEY: Underwater LED Lighting
ceshaw	posted 02-12-2011 07:49 PM ET (US) Have any of you guys installed an underwater LED lamp on your transom? What are your thoughts [about using underwater LED lamps on a boat transom]? Here's a website that I was looking at. There are a few more, however, I'm using this one as an example of what I'm talking about. http://www.oceanled.com/oceanled-tv.htmled-tv.html I think using the LED lamp for attracting fish is an excellent idea I went to the Dallas boat show today and only found one vendor who sold underwater LEDs.
Phil T	posted 02-12-2011 08:17 PM ET (US) Cliff--If you do a search, there are several detailed threads. One or two have great photos (sorry, can't remember the member's name). Sorry to say, I agree with Tom. Then again, I don't fish and haven't gotten to install my under gunnel lights yet after 4 years.
ceshaw	posted 02-12-2011 08:39 PM ET (US) Thanks Phil. I put in the incorrect info for a search earlier and dint come up with anything. This time I was able to see some great photos. With these underwater lights, fish will come to the boat within minutes. They also look great to with a serious "wow" factor.
Tom W Clark	posted 02-12-2011 08:50 PM ET (US) The very first person I saw who had a stuffed Garfield cartoon character suction-cupped to the rear window of their car got a chuckle out of me. After seeing thousands of them over the years, the cleverness of that joke got old...very old. I suspect the "wow" factor of underwater LED lights may not be as powerful before too long.
protek9543	posted 02-12-2011 09:41 PM ET (US) If I were an avid night fisherman and the lights attracted bait and fish I would use them.
jimh	posted 02-13-2011 09:33 AM ET (US) I have not installed underwater LED lamps on the transom of my boat. I have seen just one or two boats with underwater LED lamps at a marina at night with the lamps illuminated. The effect created by the underwater LED lamps is certainly cool. Tom's observation is the cool-factor is perhaps related to the current scarcity of such installations. If every boat in a marina had underwater LED lamps and they all left those lamps illuminated at night, the cool factor would be diminished.
dino54904	posted 02-13-2011 09:38 PM ET (US) I am very familiar with underwater lights made by a company named OCEAN LED. I ran a Marquis with those installed and they make an attractive presentation while anchored or at dockside at night. The good ones are VERY EXPENSIVE and it does not pay to drill holes in your boat below the water line unless you install good equipment in the hole you made. If you want light in the water around your boat to attract fish there are other ways to do that for a lot less money. Dino
contender	posted 02-13-2011 09:51 PM ET (US) I used to use a car headlight on a 10 ft wooden pole for looking for lobsters at night (bully netting), you just have to have the light in the water before you turn it on. Turning the light on 1st and putting it in the water may crack it because of the heat. Dino is correct the good ones are about $300 (brass through hull and others)...Its all about how you want to spend your money...
ceshaw	posted 02-14-2011 09:32 AM ET (US) Contender, I thought about your technique however with a pole in the water with a light on it....once a fish is on the line that is just something else to snag your line on and worry about. Great idea though and that technique has been around for many years. thanks. So far I see way more positive things than negative things coming out of this discussion. I'm looking at the transom LEDs from the fishing aspect of things...as I'm in a 13' where room is limited. If I had "gear" all over the place, things would get broke, my fat butt would trip and fall into the water and it would just ruin a good time. Lol. The "Cool" factor is just a side benefit in my opinion. Though the "Cool" factor may wear off in time, I think the utility aspect of the lights for fishing will last a long time.
Jefecinco	posted 02-14-2011 09:35 AM ET (US) Down here in Lower Alabama a lot of folks like to add a little "zing" to their cars and trucks. Stick-on Buick Portholes seem to be the favorite flavor. So if you just want to add some zing to the boat I recommend the chrome portholes. They are relatively inexpensive and come with adhesive so you can just stick them on anywhere you think they'll look sharp. Some may prefer a little teak trim tastefully placed. For night fishing the light on a stick approach is far superior to transom installed LEDs. Butch
ceshaw	posted 02-14-2011 01:13 PM ET (US) Lol, ya okay....I'll get right on those "portholes"....
Jefecinco	posted 02-14-2011 07:04 PM ET (US) Have a look at costalnightlights.com. Butch
contender	posted 02-14-2011 07:18 PM ET (US) ceshaw: The pole lights we used were for locating lobsters (they were hand held), we also use to tie them off for shrimping. I understand what you are saying about the pole sticking down and getting in the way but, I'm sure you could make something that would be able to tie them off and it could be adjustable and not stick down that far in the water. Alot cheaper and you are not drilling any holes in the boat....good luck
ceshaw	posted 02-14-2011 07:53 PM ET (US) Ya, you're probably right about the pole and light set up. The cost is a bit prohibitive for the transom mounted LEDs at this point as there's only a few companies that offer these. Thanks a million.
20dauntless	posted 02-14-2011 09:00 PM ET (US) I avoid through hulls as much as possible, especially below the waterline. Sinking isn't an issue with a Whaler, but too many boats sink because of through hull failures. If you've got trim tabs, Bennett sells a set of trim tab lights which would avoid the extra through hulls. For $1200 I think I'll pass though. http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/catalog.php?vID=272&catHome=1&imgCheck=3
Tom W Clark	posted 02-15-2011 10:23 PM ET (US) I agree, but be sure the lights change colors to the beat of your onboard stereo system.