Underwater lights R21EC

[Newshoes]

I am considering adding underwater lights to my new R21. There is not much room on the transom below the waterline for mounting the lights vertically so I am considering putting them on the flat part of the bottom just forward of the transom at each corner. There is a deck plate adjacent to the fuel tank on the starboard side that allows access to the hull right where the lights would go. However there is not one on the port side aft of the house battery bank. My thoughts are to install a 4" deck plate there to allow access to the hull to facilitate the install.

Does anyone know if there is anything structurally in that location that would conflict with the deck plate and light install? If all works out I plan to wire them to the house battery bank via wireless transmitter.

 

[knotflying]

I have seen them mounted on the trim tabs vertically. A piece of starboard screwed to the back lip and vertical and then the light screwed to the starboard.

 

[Two killicks]

Would it be an alternative idea to install a bracket with an extention to bring your lights a few inches below the water by using the legs that support the swim Platform instead? This way, you avoid making holes in the hull below the waterline? Just a thought...

 

[Capt’nKarl]

Here's what I did to have underwater lights without drilling into the hull. All measurements are approximate and you can vary the size and number of lights to your liking.

Material: 1- 18 X 5 inch S.S plate approximately 1/8 inch thick. 25 feet of 2-3mm vinyl coated cable. 25 feet of landscape lighting wire. 2 underwater LEDs. S.S. hardware to attach everything. 1-12 volt male/female accessory plug. Watertight connectors.

I used the holes in the LED lights as a guide to drill holes in the S.S. plate and then mounted the lights to the plate. The wires from the lights were connected together and then connected to the landscape wire using watertight connectors.

I drilled a single hole in 2 corners of the plate and cut a short 2-3 foot piece of vinyl cable and then attached each end to a corner. In the center of this short piece of cable I attached the remaining section of vinyl coated wire and the wires from the LEDs.

I connected the end of the landscape lighting wire to the male 12 volt accessory plug then mounted the female section of the accessory plug on the wall under the rear seating area. I ran cable under the floor from the house battery and connected this to the female 12 volt plug.

When we get ready to use the lights I unwrap the cable from the S.S plate, lower the lights into the water and connect the plug. I can vary the depth of the lights underwater using the extra cable. When we're through I unplug, pull up the cable and wrap the wires around the S.S plate. It all stores under the back seating area in a bag. Works GREAT!

Cheers!

Karl

 

[SGIDAVE]

Hello Karl,

A few pics of your underwater LED set up would be helpful.

Thanks,

/dave

 

[Capt’nKarl]

I just added a couple of pictures of the set up I made for underwater LED lights. The unit can be hung over the stern and lowered to a depth of 20 feet. The male plug on the lights is plugged into the female receptical mounted on the back wall of the cockpit seat.

Cheers!
Karl

 

[Oregon Trail]

Here is a dumb question asked out of ignorance: What is the purpose of underwater lights? Where we live, I can't imagine they would light more than a couple, or few feet of murky water. Just wondering.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

The lights attract a multitude of sea life. Rays, crabs, small fish and big fish and sometimes things of mystery. Here in Florida depending on where you stop the water can be crystal clear to murky but the lights still attract things. And it's just fun! That's the interesting thing. You never know what you'll see. We just enjoy watching. We don't fish or hurt anything we see. Even alligators have come to investigate our lights! That's when we get out of the water.
Cheers!

 

[Oregon Trail]

The lights attract a multitude of sea life. Rays, crabs, small fish and big fish and sometimes things of mystery. Here in Florida depending on where you stop the water can be crystal clear to murky but the lights still attract things. And it's just fun! That's the interesting thing. You never know what you'll see. We just enjoy watching. We don't fish or hurt anything we see. Even alligators have come to investigate our lights! That's when we get out of the water.
Cheers!

Sounds entertaining!