nards444

Anybody ever install bow lights, the oval kind that go on the side of the boat?

If so im sure you have rip the interior out, but is there a ACC hook up at the dash or would have to wire it all the way to the battery.

Griff

Those are docking lights and are only meant to be used for docking purposes. Running them blinds other boaters coming at you and they cannot see you nav lights. Whether you have a switch on your dash or not depends on your boat and if you have an extra one. Power goes to switch and switch is wired to lights.

jackhammer

OOPS! NM I thought you were talking about the red/green nav lights.


All depends how you want to wire it. If your boat has a 'running lights' switch, hook them up there. If not, I would hook them to the blue wire in your dash. They will come on whenever the gauge lights come on. Or you can hook them to the purple wire and they will come on whenever the key is on. Or you can hook them to an orange wire (fused) and they will always be on (as long as the battery is switched in).

Next, invest in an multi meter and learn Ohm's law. You will be a fricken genius in no time.

tms1155

If you mean docking lights you will need all new wires. the ones already in dash panel are not heavy enough to carry the power for those lights. Depending on how long the wires will be, you will need #8 or#10 wire. Run ground from batt to lights,Run positive from batt. (with fuse or breaker in line close to batt) To heavy duty switch on dash Then to lights.
As stated above these lights can only be used for docking and are not legal while under way.

89Mach1

Nards- where are you in NY?

nards444

watertown.

yeah i know what they are for, just wondering if anybody has had first hand experience doing it as far the cutting etc.

89Mach1

Oh ok, thought you might have been someone I know. Welcome aboard though!