Another easy courtesy light solution

[DOCREED]

If you like red courtesy lighting,  simply buy sealed LED trailer side lights.  they are inexpensive and completely sealed.  Mount them under a gunnel or under the console and no one will know.

I did this years ago with my Bertram in Marblehead.  Back then I used a perko deck mount stern light and just replaced the clear lens with a red one.

No one else had courtesy lighting back then.....maybe I started the craze?????????

naaa.... doubt it.

[compcrasher86]

courtesy lights are awesome, hands down. LED is the way to go because you often need a couple courtesy lights to light up the deck. I never thought of using trailer lights, thats pretty genius.

[GoneFission]

I still like the Lego lights!    

[MarshMarlowe196]

Is there an advantage to using red lights over "white" (clear) lights?  I have some courtesy lights installed in my console, and with the lights on, the sonar & gps on, it makes it a little harder for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and I end up shutting everything off so I can see.  Are red lights easier on the eyes?

[RickK]

Red is less likely to hurt your night vision.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Interesting...

[compcrasher86]

yeah for console lighting and helm lighting... go red. For me, I usually only use my deck lights when I am having a party or anchored/moored or anything so my nightvision usually has time to recover before I go underway.

As for the lego lights, well its just a hands-down cost-effective solution. Unofrtunately LED trailer lights are like 20 buck each whereas I was able to get like 100 LEDs standalone (translates to around 33 lego lights) for $17

[DOCREED]

Here is an example:

2 1/2" Oval Red LED Side Marker
Operates 9-16 volt DC systems
2 Superbrite LED configuration
100,000 service life
Sonically sealed lexan lens and housing
Draws .005 amps
Size 2.5 x .625 x 1.062




200-4400     $6.99
 
http://www.vehiclelight.com/2004400.html

[John Jones]

Good post Doc.
On my Aquasport I mounted the red trailer side marker LED's under my t-top as dome lights. I mounted one under the console so I can find something in the junk piled in there at night. I mounted a couple in the bilge so I can check down there without hunting a flashlight.

I bought several more to mount in my flats boat.  Bilge, under the console, and under the poling platform for tying hooks at night without trashing my night vision.