Docking lights or no?
 

Should I get them, they come with but I don't know if I even need em, I never have a problem seeing at the dock.....

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

NO DOCKING LIGHTS, they're for float boats at best.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

NOOOOOOOOO... cost me 2x as much to get rid of them than it did to get them

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

I've got them on my SR357--no damned good. Can't get them aimed worth a damn--I put a remote controlled spotlite on radar arch but usually have a cigarette-lighter powere handheld just in case for nite-time stuff

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

They dont do any good .I have them .


They may help someone seeing you from head on only

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

They are not worth a damn on any boat, unless you have a spotlight....big one

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

The only time they came in handy was in dock areas that didn't have good lighting or putting the boat on the trailer after sunset. Gave me (close quarter) lighting at those times without having to hold the hand held spot light, I could keep both hands on the wheel and throttle. Other than that..... never used them. If I were ordering a boat and it came with it and they didn't give me a price deduction, I'd put them in just for a resale option down the road..... Just my thoughts.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Had them on my old Formula and was just enough to spot the reflective tape on the top of the unlit channel markers (every other pair in the Toledo channel). Really nice on the dark moonless or cloudy night runs.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

I have them on the Fountain. YYYYY, can't see past the bow anyways even with the lights on. Plus I back into the slip so what good are they??

Had them on my 357 Formula. Put aircraft landing lights in them and realigned them so they pointed out in front of the boat. They worked real well. I still have a couple spare bulbs if anyone is interested.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

43 thunder
PM about the bulbs

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

I always felt they weakened the bow in a critical area in the event of a stuff.
I vote NO.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

I haven't used mine that often, but when I did they were extremely handy and I was glad I had them. The trick is aiming them. They aren't designed to "shine out front" for distance, they are designed to splay out towards the sides.

Mine are located farther forward than they were on my 242. My feeling is that if you stuff a boat hard enough where those lights were an issue, you'd have a lot more important things to be worrying about. Just my two cents.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

no, keep it clean... sometime less is better. you can add them later if you feel you must have them.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Gay.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Yep, the truck headlights work much better when the boat's on the trailer. ;)

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

yeah, what he said.....

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

If my boat had not come with them, I would not go to the expense of putting them on.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Their only worth getting on the boat if they are free. :D

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

I think ther problem is they are not made for a boat with as pointed a bow as we have.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

My last 2 boats have had them and they don't work. A bright handheld works much better.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

I hear that putting a beak on a boat makes it a lot stronger, as well as parting the water when you play submarine.
This year I think the "critical area" is going to be located at the fuel tanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

I back in also, I am putting in some underwater xenons for that. OK no docking lights it is.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Thats why i am also specifying no bow rails or hatches.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Got them on my 40 formula..the're great for seeing crab pots on the bay............or pissing off a neighbor at my marina :evilb: :evilb:

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

pass they are worthless......buy a good spotlight for $50.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Well see now, I really like mine. They come in really handy at a dark boat ramp, like many around here tend to be. Grand Haven, Collen Park are two that come to mind. And my boat is small enough that I often boat inland lakes with DNR ramps that are poorly lit at best. I wouldn't be without them after having them for the last 10 years. They also come in handy when returning to the ramp on Lake Macatawa... all the shipping lane bouys have reflective tape on them and sure show up when you snap the lights on once in a while. Just a little light shows you where they are.

You must also remember they are to be used like aircraft lights.... on approach only....like when docking. They are by no means meant to be "headlights" like you have on your cars and trucks. It even says that on the switch panal for mine.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

COme on Foul...we all know last time your boat was running light was not invented yet.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Ouch :D:D

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

its illegal in Tx to cruise with them on, only when docking

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

That's it GL!!! Next time I'm out that way (which might be this summer... with my girlfriend) I'm driving your boat like I own it!!!

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

You mean you can't even use them to find a marker :eek: .

Got mine aimed perfect after a few trys. I've used them in a twisty , winding channel

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Illawfull to cruse with them anywhere. Coast Guard Regs. BTW illeagal is a sick bird.

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Well I guess I dont fit into the crowd.. I had them on my 25 Checkmate and they worked great at nite when there was no moon.. At 50mph you couldnt tell they were on. Shined right through the water. I was following a cruiser one nite and I could see him cause he had his lights on, but I swung my bow over to see if the lights would shine that far.. Lit up the back of that boat like Fourth of July. Suddenly all the drunks on the back of that boat saw me.. I swung the bow back on course and flew right by them.
I think they are a good idea for running at nite when the moon is black and everything else is black on Lake Michigan. But if it is illegal.. well I guess I'll never do that again.. hmmmmmmmm Of course they were too expensive on the new boat, was going to add them later.. Now I am saving for gas money!!

I have a hard time finding the darn handheld light, that switch was always a short reach away and lighting up bouys on Macatoilet was a good thing sometimes.. I have to go with Foul on this one.. but it's up to you!!

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Kinda like a cross eyed pigeon toed bowlegged Girl :evilb: :D

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

There are a Gazillon "SLOW SPEED MANATEE ZONE" signs on Pilings out in the St Johns River ..... At nite I can turn the lites on momentarily and pickup the reflective Signs ...... Someone is going to be killed .....

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

You do realize they are aimable, like car headlights, right??

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

I bet if you used a high intensity discharge bulb and ballast you guys that are unhappy with them might change your mind. I helped a guy install them in a Cobalt and he says anything reflective sticks out like a sore thumb from 200 yards out. I don't know what bulbs you guys have in yours but this Cobalt used a piss-ant 893 bulb. I couldn't understand how they expected it to work.

Roby

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

to quote GLH on more than one thread

"GAY" :D :D :D

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

You calling GLH gay?? Careful, he's probably bigger than you are! LOL!!!

Re: Docking lights or no?
 

Don't let Waterfoul kid you. He uses his docking lights to light up his driveway at night to play basketball.