Tower Lights?

[zachmacgregs]

Just wondering if any of you guys have lights on your towers? I am looking to get some for my boat, any suggestions on what works good?

[MrShelley]

Bought this the other day. Fits on my tower ('05 SANTE) perfectly. Haven't finished wiring everything up yet, but I tested the lights and they are BRIGHT. I can't wait to get it out on the water!

http://www.aerialwakeboarding.com/Pr...TSPKLITE225-PA

[Quinner]

Added those to one of my boats and found them to be mostly useless, although they do light up the inside of the boat nicely.
The other issue I had was they would draw a ton of power triggering the low voltage alarm at idle.

[Mikeski]

they are only useful if they have something to shine on. Open water night riding = useless

I have heard of a few surf guys that shine them on the wave in front of the surfer with some success, but I have found them useless for the most part.

[MrShelley]

I can't imagine these lights being "useless". They are very bright and only need to illuminate behind the boat a maximum of 80 feet. I guess I'll have to finish wiring everything up and give 'em an on the water test. If I'm not happy with them, I have a Plan B. Plan B involves light-overkill.

[EarmarkMarine]

Halogen lamps definitely suck the current. Audio is based on AC. DC lighting is another ballgame. Absolutely no more than three high current lamps (typ. 5 amps ea.) per each 14/2 up the tower. No more than three high current lamps on a 40 amp horn relay (rated for intermittent duty). Half a dozen high current lamps require a fused 8-ga. battery direct supply. Crimped connections can create a dangerous amount of heat and waste power. I would recommend strictly Western Electric type splices that are soldered and heatshrunk.
There are some really anemic lamps out there even though they may look the part. Ratings, other than current draw assuming that effieicency runs fairly consistent, are useless in determining the illumination power.
Quality LED lamps are considerable more expensive but considerably more efficient.
In my experience rear facing lights are productive when correctly aimed. But it really takes four high powered lamps. Any quantity of cheap lamps are a waste. Too much forward facing light reflects off the bow and blinds the driver. Not a fan of forward lamps while on the move and when the boat is squatted.

David

[MrShelley]

These look promising...

http://www.kchilites.com/featured-products/lzr-led

[mjs]

I have rigid LEDs going on to my Tahoe, very nice and bonus that LED current draw is so low that you can run the switch w/o a relay. Off-roaders seem to love them. They have marine versions:

https://www.rigidindustries.com/Mari...ting-s/132.htm

[MLA]

The only difference between the black Rigid LEDs and the white marine LEDs is the color. So those interested can go with either color.

[EarmarkMarine]

And, if you have a gothic girlfriend its nice to know the black housings will match.

[gride]

when i had my 2005 mastercraft it had the factory tower speaker can's with a light in each pod pointing towards the bow. the only thing they were good for was cleaning out the boat at night.

[sodbuster88]

And, if you have a gothic girlfriend its nice to know the black housings will match.

Or you could get her to perch on the tower with a Q-beam...

[Woody_tobius_jr]

I have a 20" LED bar on my quad, and that will definitely light up behind your boat. The only issue would be that whoever is riding behind would be blinded by it. My driveway is about 100 yards long and this lights up the field on the other side of the road for a few yards as well. Expensive but you definitely get what you pay for, and as mentioned before, very low power draw.