Underwater Light Placement

[D-Vector]

I know this topic has been covered here in the past, and I have read the other threads covering underwater lights (that I could find) on this forum. I have of course also looked around the Internet for information.

With that said, I have made the decision to install four SeablazeX Spectrum underwater lights on my Lagoon 450. Where I need help, and why I'm writing, is to solicit opinions on the location of these lights.

As things stand, I have more-or-less decided on the following:

• Installation approximately 1' below water line
• Lights angled downward at an angle of approximately 30 to 45 degrees to the water surface

Here's where I need assistance:

• Install two lights fore and two aft?
• Install four light aft (two point inward, between scoops and two point outward)?
• If two fore and two aft, should the lights point inward (between hulls) our outward?
• How far fore/aft should the lights be placed?

I'm hoping that someone here has experience with this, or has seen some good installations, and is willing to make some recommendations.

Thanks in advance.

-D

[Fence Man]

Are these lights purely aesthetic, or is there something down there you'd like to see? Navigating shallow waters at night, I could see the benefit of having the four corners lit. It'd be easier to form a solid opinion after a few weeks aboard. Just let me know when it's convenient, and I'll head that way.

[catsketcher]

Why?!

[LoudMusic]

If you're looking for visual effects, I'd say install a whole bunch all over. If you only have four to install, I'd install them at the corners.

[UpOnStands]

Want something novel?
Stick the four on the same 4m length of cable, all pointing upwards. when you anchor simply lower the lights on the cable and let them hang just above the bottom. No holes in the hulls, no new cabling to run throughout the boat, and when you get tired of the fun you can probably sell them.

[hobopacket]

Eh, installed properly they will be watertight and outlast you and your ownership.

I think the two behind and two inwards of the hulls. They do attract fun fish to look at at night.

You should haul the boat out of the water for installation if it isn't already. Or wait till you do for the bottom job.

[catsketcher]

But why put holes in a boat for fashion? Surely the prime objective is to be seaworthy. Are the lights in a watertight compartment? Can they be punched in with a wave? Why would anyone compromise the integrity of the underwater hull for visual effects? I get it for power cruisers as they are all about fashion over form but an ocean going sailboat should be well found above all else. As for outlasting ownership - I will probably own my boat for about 30-40 years (20 years since I started building her, launched 17 years ago) I doubt any electronics will last all of my ownership.

[double u]

I was actually imagining spectacular lighting of the wake & following fish, dolphins, etc. on passage (light under the counter, facing backwards & down) - is this idiotic phantasy?

[CatNewBee]

Underwater lights can be great when going to an shallow anchorage at night and are also very nice when you return on board with the dingi in the dark.

However I have not seen any out there that do not obstruct too much the hull shape - you want a streamlined hull for sailing performance - and also there is an issue with holes in the hull for the wiring. If you flush-mount them, the hole is then even bigger. I am curious if there are out there solutions without creating potential leakages. by running the wires along the keel line from the bow and get them covered by laminating over with GFK or using sikaflex

A nice permanent under-water cam would also be great at the bow or even better at one of the keels btw. Just like e a dash cam to watch the dolphins fish and the reef while under way or at anchor.

I would like to see some pictures of solutions how to mount them properly.

[downunder]

Lights can be great in coral reef areas for attracting fish and catching squid and bait.

Also useful for night diving in good coral areas.

[double u]

no hole:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-1Ak0UDSI0

BGB SILS - Contactless Underwater Lighting - No Drilling of the Hull > BGB SILS - Contactless Underwater Lighting - No Drilling of the Hull

[StuM]

Originally Posted by double u

no hole:

BGB SILS - Contactless Underwater Lighting - No Drilling of the Hull > BGB SILS - Contactless Underwater Lighting - No Drilling of the Hull

"Making the impossible into a reality"? Button on website says "PRE ORDER" (and has for a long time") IOW, not reality yet

[double u]

heaps of others on the net: just research "underwater led inductive"

[CAELESTIS]

Consider the Macris Industry lights. Unbreakable, and only .29in thick ( about the thickness of a iPhone). A pair of the MIU15 lights is 4400 lumens.
Macris Industries – Underwater Lights: The Best and the Brightest test

[LeeV]

I wanted to share the info about SILS with all who might be interested, so I posted it in the General Forum at http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ts-190326.html

I have nothing to do with them, and am interested more in where we're going with induction methods. Nor am I a naysayer; nobody ever got a new system right the first time. I'd love to see a perfected system for instrument sending units.

Regards,