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Author Topic:   Spotlight ideas for 15 Sport

Alan Hiccock posted 03-13-2002 06:47 PM ET (US)
I really like targeting stripers @ night. Ive been keeping an eye out for a " rail mount" qualty hand operated spotlight for my 15 sport. Something like the old thru-deck chromed brass jobbies years back with a handle you used to turn the light but rail mounted.
I dont really want to drill into the bow and run wires for the remote control type & would prefer a better setup then the "plug in" cigarette lighter" hand helds.
Anyone ever see a rail mount, chromed brass type? The only issue I see with such a light { if one exisits} is my mooring cover might not go over it.
Or any info./ideas would be appreciated
Duncan posted 03-14-2002 12:18 PM ET (US)
I saw a guy coming in from night fishing for stripers. He had rigged a $10 farm tractor spotlight (55 watts) on the end of a 7 foot piece of galvanized electrical conduit (thin walled- 3/4" approx diameter) and snaked the wire down the pipe and put a cigarette lighter plug on the end of the wire. Pretty simple and very effective.
He had it attached via a bracket attached (permanently)to the bottom of his console to accept bottom of the pipe then he attached it to the top of the transom with a velcro strip. This was he could detach it completely and lay flat for transport and storage.
An "Aluminum" section of replacement rail might be more corosion resistant. The added height makes the flood light much more effective. I know from using my Deep cycle battery to light the house during blackouts that it will runn a 50w light for at least 23 hours.
Duncan posted 03-14-2002 12:28 PM ET (US)
Correction: you wand a FLOOD light not a spot light.
These lights all come with a 2" threaded bolt and a nut to attach. With the nut just threaded on the bolt ( nut not screwed in very far) Insert the bolt and nut into the end of the pipe and crush the end of the pipe so the nut won't come out. Twist the light around until the nut snugs up into the crushed area. Then drill a hole BELOW the nut and snake the wire down thru. Have it come out a hole a couple inches above the bottom bracket so the wire isn't in the way when you put the pipe in the lower bracket.
Alan Hiccock posted 03-14-2002 05:21 PM ET (US)
Duncan,
You've given me food for thought. I could rig up a flood/orspot type deck light or something on the rails. Maybe a nice pair of round ones like the ole HD Electraglide lights, one clamped to the front each rail. hmmm
thanks, alan
Charlie posted 03-16-2002 05:55 PM ET (US)
Alan,
This may be a possibillity for you...Nite Tracker 300,000 candle power rail-mounted 55 watt halogen spotlight. Mounted on your rail, hooked up to your auxiliary battery. I don't know how well they will hold up to continuous use. There may be better built ones out there. The cigarette lighter plug could be swapped out for a direct connection to your battery.
http://www.boatus-store.com/icatalog/C488.asp
Jeff
"There are good ships, and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea..."
Duncan posted 03-17-2002 01:59 PM ET (US)
A SPOTlight is, most likely, too narrow a beam of light for his purposes. I'm assuming Alan wants to light up the stern of the boat and the water behind it for landing fish and tying on lures, etc.. If this is the case a FLOODlight will be better as it lights up a wider angle.
Charlie, I thought 55 watts produced about 100,000 Candlepower (same as a conventional car headlight). Is that Halogen or Xenon or something fancy?
I also carry a "Q-beam" ( $20 boaters world 200K CP cheap immitation) in the console for use while underway. It puts out enough light. I am under the impression that the 500,000 CP lights draw too much juice and are overkill; if you need to see a 1/4 mile in front of you ....you're going to fast for nighttime. Shooting at enemy aircraft is another story!
Charlie posted 03-17-2002 11:44 PM ET (US)
Hi Duncan,
Regarding your question about 55 watts producing 100,00 C.P. like conventional car headlights, candlepower is a measurement of illumination upon a surface while watts is a measurement of electricity used. At the same time, illumination produced by a light unit is a function of lense magnification used and/or the method of reflection. An example would be in this combination spot/flood light unit.
www.boatus-store.com/MC_Online/Browse.asp?ShowItem=31270
The 5" Jabsco uses the same amount of electricity and is able to produce 50,000 candlepower in flood mode as well as 100,000 candlepower in spot mode.
You are probably correct is saying that Alan needs a flood light instead of a spot. Unfortunately, there aren't too many flood lights available that come with a rail mount. The Jabsco unit, while a nice one and would work nicely, is not rail mounted and way too expensive to mount on a 15'er.
Here in Long Beach, CA, where we fish structures in the harbor at night specifically for calico and sand bass, I use a Petzel halogen 6 volt headlamp with an adjustable lens. I can change from a spot beam to flood without interupting my fishing rythm.
"May your drinks be cold
And your fishing hot..."

tabasco posted 03-18-2002 07:34 AM ET (US)
Alan-
Go to Costco they have a great deal. 1,000,000 CP rechargable spot light for $17.00 Its the same as the one West marine is selling for $50.
I bought one this weekend and it 's fantastic.
You can go to www.costco.com to find out the location of a store near you........not sure if they have it available in their on-line store.
Alan Hiccock posted 03-18-2002 11:11 AM ET (US)
Tabasco, I'll check that site, @ that price you cant go wrong.
Duncan,
Im considering the light to use for shining the bouys and help me get home safely, I have a lantern type thing to light the deck.
thanks for the comebacks,
Alan
mudpuppy posted 03-28-2002 02:29 PM ET (US)
I put a spot (not a flood, but still applicable) on the starboard bow of my 15 SuperSport Limited to help putting down or picking up decoys at dark.
It's ugly but convenient and it works. I picked up a joystick-operated spot with a cig plug adapter pretty cheap at WestMarine (GoLite(sp?) brand)--it was a display and the box was missing. I screwed a threaded 3/4 " galvanized plumbing floor flange onto the gunwale step up at the bow where there is a piece of wood under the gelcoat.
I mounted the spotlight base to a small square of marine plywood and mounted that to threaded floor flange. I have two lengths of threaded pipe, 1 foot and four feet, that I use as poles to mount the light. If the Bimini top/duck blind is up, I use the taller one so I can direct the light off the stern as well. Otherwise, and when I'm cruising under power, I use the shorter one as it places less stress on the flange at the bow.
I installed a switched auxilliary plug socket as far forward on the starboard side of the console unit as I could.

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Author	Topic: Spotlight ideas for 15 Sport
Alan Hiccock	posted 03-13-2002 06:47 PM ET (US) I really like targeting stripers @ night. Ive been keeping an eye out for a " rail mount" qualty hand operated spotlight for my 15 sport. Something like the old thru-deck chromed brass jobbies years back with a handle you used to turn the light but rail mounted. I dont really want to drill into the bow and run wires for the remote control type & would prefer a better setup then the "plug in" cigarette lighter" hand helds. Anyone ever see a rail mount, chromed brass type? The only issue I see with such a light { if one exisits} is my mooring cover might not go over it. Or any info./ideas would be appreciated
Duncan	posted 03-14-2002 12:18 PM ET (US) I saw a guy coming in from night fishing for stripers. He had rigged a $10 farm tractor spotlight (55 watts) on the end of a 7 foot piece of galvanized electrical conduit (thin walled- 3/4" approx diameter) and snaked the wire down the pipe and put a cigarette lighter plug on the end of the wire. Pretty simple and very effective. He had it attached via a bracket attached (permanently)to the bottom of his console to accept bottom of the pipe then he attached it to the top of the transom with a velcro strip. This was he could detach it completely and lay flat for transport and storage. An "Aluminum" section of replacement rail might be more corosion resistant. The added height makes the flood light much more effective. I know from using my Deep cycle battery to light the house during blackouts that it will runn a 50w light for at least 23 hours.
Duncan	posted 03-14-2002 12:28 PM ET (US) Correction: you wand a FLOOD light not a spot light. These lights all come with a 2" threaded bolt and a nut to attach. With the nut just threaded on the bolt ( nut not screwed in very far) Insert the bolt and nut into the end of the pipe and crush the end of the pipe so the nut won't come out. Twist the light around until the nut snugs up into the crushed area. Then drill a hole BELOW the nut and snake the wire down thru. Have it come out a hole a couple inches above the bottom bracket so the wire isn't in the way when you put the pipe in the lower bracket.
Alan Hiccock	posted 03-14-2002 05:21 PM ET (US) Duncan, You've given me food for thought. I could rig up a flood/orspot type deck light or something on the rails. Maybe a nice pair of round ones like the ole HD Electraglide lights, one clamped to the front each rail. hmmm thanks, alan
Charlie	posted 03-16-2002 05:55 PM ET (US) Alan, This may be a possibillity for you...Nite Tracker 300,000 candle power rail-mounted 55 watt halogen spotlight. Mounted on your rail, hooked up to your auxiliary battery. I don't know how well they will hold up to continuous use. There may be better built ones out there. The cigarette lighter plug could be swapped out for a direct connection to your battery. http://www.boatus-store.com/icatalog/C488.asp Jeff "There are good ships, and there are wood ships, The ships that sail the sea..."
Duncan	posted 03-17-2002 01:59 PM ET (US) A SPOTlight is, most likely, too narrow a beam of light for his purposes. I'm assuming Alan wants to light up the stern of the boat and the water behind it for landing fish and tying on lures, etc.. If this is the case a FLOODlight will be better as it lights up a wider angle. Charlie, I thought 55 watts produced about 100,000 Candlepower (same as a conventional car headlight). Is that Halogen or Xenon or something fancy? I also carry a "Q-beam" ( $20 boaters world 200K CP cheap immitation) in the console for use while underway. It puts out enough light. I am under the impression that the 500,000 CP lights draw too much juice and are overkill; if you need to see a 1/4 mile in front of you ....you're going to fast for nighttime. Shooting at enemy aircraft is another story!
Charlie	posted 03-17-2002 11:44 PM ET (US) Hi Duncan, Regarding your question about 55 watts producing 100,00 C.P. like conventional car headlights, candlepower is a measurement of illumination upon a surface while watts is a measurement of electricity used. At the same time, illumination produced by a light unit is a function of lense magnification used and/or the method of reflection. An example would be in this combination spot/flood light unit. www.boatus-store.com/MC_Online/Browse.asp?ShowItem=31270 The 5" Jabsco uses the same amount of electricity and is able to produce 50,000 candlepower in flood mode as well as 100,000 candlepower in spot mode. You are probably correct is saying that Alan needs a flood light instead of a spot. Unfortunately, there aren't too many flood lights available that come with a rail mount. The Jabsco unit, while a nice one and would work nicely, is not rail mounted and way too expensive to mount on a 15'er. Here in Long Beach, CA, where we fish structures in the harbor at night specifically for calico and sand bass, I use a Petzel halogen 6 volt headlamp with an adjustable lens. I can change from a spot beam to flood without interupting my fishing rythm. "May your drinks be cold And your fishing hot..."
tabasco	posted 03-18-2002 07:34 AM ET (US) Alan- Go to Costco they have a great deal. 1,000,000 CP rechargable spot light for $17.00 Its the same as the one West marine is selling for $50. I bought one this weekend and it 's fantastic. You can go to www.costco.com to find out the location of a store near you........not sure if they have it available in their on-line store.
Alan Hiccock	posted 03-18-2002 11:11 AM ET (US) Tabasco, I'll check that site, @ that price you cant go wrong. Duncan, Im considering the light to use for shining the bouys and help me get home safely, I have a lantern type thing to light the deck. thanks for the comebacks, Alan
mudpuppy	posted 03-28-2002 02:29 PM ET (US) I put a spot (not a flood, but still applicable) on the starboard bow of my 15 SuperSport Limited to help putting down or picking up decoys at dark. It's ugly but convenient and it works. I picked up a joystick-operated spot with a cig plug adapter pretty cheap at WestMarine (GoLite(sp?) brand)--it was a display and the box was missing. I screwed a threaded 3/4 " galvanized plumbing floor flange onto the gunwale step up at the bow where there is a piece of wood under the gelcoat. I mounted the spotlight base to a small square of marine plywood and mounted that to threaded floor flange. I have two lengths of threaded pipe, 1 foot and four feet, that I use as poles to mount the light. If the Bimini top/duck blind is up, I use the taller one so I can direct the light off the stern as well. Otherwise, and when I'm cruising under power, I use the shorter one as it places less stress on the flange at the bow. I installed a switched auxilliary plug socket as far forward on the starboard side of the console unit as I could.