Underwater transom lighting

tsawyer · Post by **tsawyer** » Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:38 pm

I'd like to install some underwater transom lights. There appears to be many options and many manufacturers. Some through hull and some not. Some are LED and some are not.

The marketing pictures all look very nice, but I want to hear from anyone that has done it or had a friend do it.

How many do you think I would need for the back of my 10 meter (13' beam)?

Thanks.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Aug 29, 2010 10:29 pm

be careful some can get to hot when you get on plane and they are out of the water they can over heat poss burn the fiberglass . I bought a set then found that out so I never installed them . I would think LEDs would be ok

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:52 am

No holes in the hull for me.

When they get brighter and cheaper mine will go on the trim tabs.

RWS

Danny Bailey · Post by **Danny Bailey** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:25 am

It has to have a logical, valuable purpose for me to pop a hole in the hull under the waterline. What operational benefit do underwater lights add??

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:39 am

Fishing and they look cool. they do make lights that do not have to bore holes in the boat to install .

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:24 am

on Lake Erie, putting on transom lights is like putting a flashlight in chocolate milk

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 9:46 am

I've seen some mounted on trim trim tabs. Very cool looking. Would do this, before drilling into the hull myself.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:52 pm

I plan to mount mine on the underside of my swim platform. I definitely would not drill any hole sin my hole for vanity lighting!

tsawyer · Post by **tsawyer** » Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:54 pm

I'm now looking at the Abyss S1515 lights. I can mount them w/o a below the waterline hole.

So, any opinions on color? They come in White, Green and Blue.

Rodman · Post by **Rodman** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:39 am

Stripermann2 wrote:I've seen some mounted on trim trim tabs. Very cool looking. Would do this, before drilling into the hull myself.

Installing lights on the trim tabs would that cause a Resistance and performance drop ?

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:21 am

Rodman wrote:
Stripermann2 wrote:I've seen some mounted on trim trim tabs. Very cool looking. Would do this, before drilling into the hull myself.
Installing lights on the trim tabs would that cause a Resistance and performance drop ?

I suppose some. But can't imagine much...dependent on size, profile and location of the under water lamp, on the tab itself. Probably be a lot less than a dirty bottom!

Tuck · Post by **Tuck** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:41 am

Peter wrote:on Lake Erie, putting on transom lights is like putting a flashlight in chocolate milk

gd it...i can't stop laughing at that one.

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:37 pm

install them on the back of the tab.

zero resistance.

Besides that....

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

RWS

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:17 pm

RWS wrote:install them on the back of the tab.
zero resistence.
RWS

When you say back you mean the top of the tab which is usually out of the water when underway

hence no drag.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:57 pm

Thats the way tab lights mount