Under-gunnel interior light s for 18' OR - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Under-gunnel interior light s for 18' OR

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Under-gunnel interior light s for 18' OR

commodore posted 02-12-2002 07:17 AM ET (US)
I would like to install some 12 volt lights on the inside of my 18', up and underneath the teak on the sides. Low wattage courtesy lights. The would need to be surface mount, and not very large in width/diameter (<3").
Anyone have suggestions?
Thanks
will posted 02-12-2002 09:20 AM ET (US)
I am considering the same thing. I will probably wind up mounting two lights in my console about 6" off of the floor. Check out the round Hella LED lights on West Marine's web site. I have been to a West Marine store and they are very, very nice and use very little power. They also come in amber and red so you won't momentarily lose your ability to see in the dark. I think they retail for $25 to $30 each.
Peter posted 02-12-2002 10:09 AM ET (US)
My former 18 Outrage had the flush courtesy/cockpit lights mounted under the teak gunnels. They were mounted near the stern side of the forward rod holder. It came that way when I got it but the stainless brackets to hold the lights looked like a custom job. The two lights (one port, one starboard) lit up the deck nicely.
Tom W Clark posted 02-12-2002 11:52 AM ET (US)
I think courtesy lights are a great idea, I installed them on my 1983 Outrage 18.
Use a pair of surface mount stern lights for under the gunwale. I used a Perko "Vertical Surface Mount" Stern Light, part # 945 000 CHR (Model # 257006 in the West Marine catalog).
These are very easy to install and use the festoon type bulbs. Run the wire under the teak gunwale boards to the plastic covers hiding the fuel hose and filler and thence to the console. You will need to create a slight mortise for the wires to "escape" out from under the light fixture and this can be accomplished by drilling a shallow hole eccentrically located under the light fixture. I used a 1" Forstner bit drilled about 1/4" deep to accomplish this.
These lights illuminated the entire boat aft of the console. For the forward half of the boat I used flush mounted stern lights let into the hull under the middle stanchion of the bow rail.
I used the Attwood Flush Mount Stern Light, part # 6356D7 (Model # 593434 in the West Marine catalog) though I was not pleased with how they were gasketed and was always fussing with them. If I were to do it again I would use the Perko Vertical Flush Mount, part # 946 DP CHR (Model # 192379 in the West Marine catalog)
To install, take the appropriate size hole saw and drill out the hull at the desired location. I chose to put them under the middle stanchion of the bow rail because it put the light everywhere without many shadows and also because, like many of these Outrages, the base for this stanchion had wobbled loose so many times the wood backing plate was no longer sufficient to hold the mounting screws.
With the foam dug out I was able to drill through the backing plate and install machine screws with washers and nylock lock nuts on the underside. I never had a loosening problem again.
To wire the recessed lights, just run the wire for them under the rub rail and drill through to the light fixture just poking the wire through a small (1/4") hole through the foam to the fixture itself. Bring the the other end of the wire down the rub rail to same location as the fuel lines, wires, ect then drill through the rub rail and run them under the plastic side covers and thence to the console.
With this set up the entire boat is lit with a low level light that I used to tie leaders or bait hooks early in the morning before the sun came up. A single matching push/pull switch on the switch panel at the console turned them on and off in conjunction with an inexpensive dome light I had installed in the console itself. Very simple, very effective.
lhg posted 02-12-2002 02:09 PM ET (US)
Everyone will have their own solution for this, including me! I also think they are great addition to a Whaler, and I used the Guest recessed courtesy lights, since BW was also using these in the 1991 Walkarounds.
They are about $18 each and require a 2" hole since they are recessed. They mount nicely in the sides of the console, underneath the console plywood floor, and just above the teak strip that covers the hold down aluminum angle. They can also be mounted in the "L" shaped plastic side covering piece at the tunnel access.
triblet posted 02-12-2002 03:39 PM ET (US)
West Marine carries some small surface mount
white LEDs. They are about 1.25" x 1/4" x 1/4".
I got a couple I'm going to use as interior
console lights, by and by.
Chuck
Jim Bennett posted 02-12-2002 09:59 PM ET (US)
My $.02.
Am also planning similar lights on my 73 OR 21, more like combination of some of the above. Plan to use 3 Hella oval LED's, one under bow deck and one each side behind RPS and all mounted underneath and directed downward so as to avoid glare. Also plan to put two round lights on each side of console at base. I also have an Aquasport 175 Osprey down here in Florida and its console lights light up the inside of the console as well as the floor outside. No brand name on these lights ao am going to contact local Aquasport dealer to try and get a couple.
Outrage18 posted 02-14-2002 11:18 AM ET (US)
Can anyone post pictures of their lights
and how they are inslalled. If I go ahead and add them, where do you connect to power to? Do you connect directly to the battery or just tap into another power line for the GPS?
-Paul
tabasco posted 02-15-2002 04:49 PM ET (US)
Has anyone done courtesy lights on a Montauk and if so where were they installed and what kind?
Tom W Clark posted 02-15-2002 05:22 PM ET (US)
tabasco,
Most of the above described techniques would work on a Montauk. You could mount lights in the hull as I have explained above and you certainly could install them in the console as others have in their Outrages.
triblet posted 02-15-2002 07:34 PM ET (US)
You certainly don't connect direct into the
battery. I'd pick up power from an existing
fuse, run it to a new switch, and thence to the
lights.
Chuck
commodore posted 02-17-2002 03:58 PM ET (US)
I have purchased and mounted 2 lights on both sides, but now I am puzzled about the wiring to the helm. The starboard side is easy, just pull the wires through the tunnel where the radio antenna and nav lights go. But on the port side, where the fuel fill and vent hoses are, pulling through the wiring there will only get me to the inspection plate. How do I get the wires up behind the helm and tie them to the switch and the starboard wires? I can't figure it out!

Thanks,
Boilerman posted 02-17-2002 05:16 PM ET (US)
I'm having tunnel trouble as well, Has anyone snaked from fuel/vent area back to console on '86 outrage?

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Under-gunnel interior light s for 18' OR
commodore	posted 02-12-2002 07:17 AM ET (US) I would like to install some 12 volt lights on the inside of my 18', up and underneath the teak on the sides. Low wattage courtesy lights. The would need to be surface mount, and not very large in width/diameter (<3"). Anyone have suggestions? Thanks
will	posted 02-12-2002 09:20 AM ET (US) I am considering the same thing. I will probably wind up mounting two lights in my console about 6" off of the floor. Check out the round Hella LED lights on West Marine's web site. I have been to a West Marine store and they are very, very nice and use very little power. They also come in amber and red so you won't momentarily lose your ability to see in the dark. I think they retail for $25 to $30 each.
Peter	posted 02-12-2002 10:09 AM ET (US) My former 18 Outrage had the flush courtesy/cockpit lights mounted under the teak gunnels. They were mounted near the stern side of the forward rod holder. It came that way when I got it but the stainless brackets to hold the lights looked like a custom job. The two lights (one port, one starboard) lit up the deck nicely.
Tom W Clark	posted 02-12-2002 11:52 AM ET (US) I think courtesy lights are a great idea, I installed them on my 1983 Outrage 18. Use a pair of surface mount stern lights for under the gunwale. I used a Perko "Vertical Surface Mount" Stern Light, part # 945 000 CHR (Model # 257006 in the West Marine catalog). These are very easy to install and use the festoon type bulbs. Run the wire under the teak gunwale boards to the plastic covers hiding the fuel hose and filler and thence to the console. You will need to create a slight mortise for the wires to "escape" out from under the light fixture and this can be accomplished by drilling a shallow hole eccentrically located under the light fixture. I used a 1" Forstner bit drilled about 1/4" deep to accomplish this. These lights illuminated the entire boat aft of the console. For the forward half of the boat I used flush mounted stern lights let into the hull under the middle stanchion of the bow rail. I used the Attwood Flush Mount Stern Light, part # 6356D7 (Model # 593434 in the West Marine catalog) though I was not pleased with how they were gasketed and was always fussing with them. If I were to do it again I would use the Perko Vertical Flush Mount, part # 946 DP CHR (Model # 192379 in the West Marine catalog) To install, take the appropriate size hole saw and drill out the hull at the desired location. I chose to put them under the middle stanchion of the bow rail because it put the light everywhere without many shadows and also because, like many of these Outrages, the base for this stanchion had wobbled loose so many times the wood backing plate was no longer sufficient to hold the mounting screws. With the foam dug out I was able to drill through the backing plate and install machine screws with washers and nylock lock nuts on the underside. I never had a loosening problem again. To wire the recessed lights, just run the wire for them under the rub rail and drill through to the light fixture just poking the wire through a small (1/4") hole through the foam to the fixture itself. Bring the the other end of the wire down the rub rail to same location as the fuel lines, wires, ect then drill through the rub rail and run them under the plastic side covers and thence to the console. With this set up the entire boat is lit with a low level light that I used to tie leaders or bait hooks early in the morning before the sun came up. A single matching push/pull switch on the switch panel at the console turned them on and off in conjunction with an inexpensive dome light I had installed in the console itself. Very simple, very effective.
lhg	posted 02-12-2002 02:09 PM ET (US) Everyone will have their own solution for this, including me! I also think they are great addition to a Whaler, and I used the Guest recessed courtesy lights, since BW was also using these in the 1991 Walkarounds. They are about $18 each and require a 2" hole since they are recessed. They mount nicely in the sides of the console, underneath the console plywood floor, and just above the teak strip that covers the hold down aluminum angle. They can also be mounted in the "L" shaped plastic side covering piece at the tunnel access.
triblet	posted 02-12-2002 03:39 PM ET (US) West Marine carries some small surface mount white LEDs. They are about 1.25" x 1/4" x 1/4". I got a couple I'm going to use as interior console lights, by and by. Chuck
Jim Bennett	posted 02-12-2002 09:59 PM ET (US) My $.02. Am also planning similar lights on my 73 OR 21, more like combination of some of the above. Plan to use 3 Hella oval LED's, one under bow deck and one each side behind RPS and all mounted underneath and directed downward so as to avoid glare. Also plan to put two round lights on each side of console at base. I also have an Aquasport 175 Osprey down here in Florida and its console lights light up the inside of the console as well as the floor outside. No brand name on these lights ao am going to contact local Aquasport dealer to try and get a couple.
Outrage18	posted 02-14-2002 11:18 AM ET (US) Can anyone post pictures of their lights and how they are inslalled. If I go ahead and add them, where do you connect to power to? Do you connect directly to the battery or just tap into another power line for the GPS? -Paul
tabasco	posted 02-15-2002 04:49 PM ET (US) Has anyone done courtesy lights on a Montauk and if so where were they installed and what kind?
Tom W Clark	posted 02-15-2002 05:22 PM ET (US) tabasco, Most of the above described techniques would work on a Montauk. You could mount lights in the hull as I have explained above and you certainly could install them in the console as others have in their Outrages.
triblet	posted 02-15-2002 07:34 PM ET (US) You certainly don't connect direct into the battery. I'd pick up power from an existing fuse, run it to a new switch, and thence to the lights. Chuck
commodore	posted 02-17-2002 03:58 PM ET (US) I have purchased and mounted 2 lights on both sides, but now I am puzzled about the wiring to the helm. The starboard side is easy, just pull the wires through the tunnel where the radio antenna and nav lights go. But on the port side, where the fuel fill and vent hoses are, pulling through the wiring there will only get me to the inspection plate. How do I get the wires up behind the helm and tie them to the switch and the starboard wires? I can't figure it out! Thanks,
Boilerman	posted 02-17-2002 05:16 PM ET (US) I'm having tunnel trouble as well, Has anyone snaked from fuel/vent area back to console on '86 outrage?