Comments on: Underwater lights: whiskey tango foxtrot?!

By: shawn

shawn — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:01:14 +0000

Give it up your old cranks. People have been drilling holes in their boats for centuries and with the modern invention of 3M products there is little concern when done right and checked every few seasons just like we check through-hull fittings for heads, water intakes, etc.

Stop hating on something you don’t want or need like and old man with bad advice.

By: Scott S.

Scott S. — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:42:53 +0000

Oh, come now Tim! This would be a great stimulus to the ecomony, what with all those boat owners drilling unnecessary holes into their hulls… Boat repair and re-furb business would be booming! WTF (What-The-Foxtrot) indeed!!

By: Larry H

Larry H — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:30:45 +0000

A good reason to not install these lights is that it disturbs the natural day/night light cycle of the underwater creatures. Nocturnal sea creatures depend on the darkness to ‘do their thing’ and underwater lights mess up their senses. We should remember that we are traveling in their world and we should have as small an impact as possible.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:32:51 +0000

I’m with Jody. I wish LED underwater lights were cheaper because I think a pair in my transom would be neat for checking out sea life and getting the dinghy clipped to the swim platform. And maybe mostly because they look very cool. Really, it’s OK to have electronics for the shear fun of it. Especially if they’re harmless.

I don’t think there is any appreciable danger to installing underwater lights because they are not true thru-hulls. A thru-hull really is a hole through the hull with a valve and hose on it; bad things can happen. Even removable transducers are holes in the boat with a slight danger potential. Underwater lights are permanently bedded and fixed in the hull. There are quite a few of them in the water now, and I’ve never heard of one causing a sinking, even almost.

By: Jody

Jody — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:16:18 +0000

That was a bit over the top – none the less, glad you posted that. Underwater lights are way over priced to begin with. The cheapest alternative is the Perko versions that require four holes to mount unless you dangle them. Not to mention the 1 inch thick puck is not conducive to a sailboat at least.

There is a purpose to under water lights actually, beyond aesthetics.

> Greater visibility when mooring in a crowded anchorage. It is also less obtrusive than say running your spreader lights.

> At night, when in shallow areas gives you a visual.

> Having to dive the boat beyond normal daylight, it is basically a hands free work light.

The thru-hull versions work just like ducers and I have yet to hear of a mirage of boats failing because they took on water from a transducer installation. In fact – if you were to go underwater lights – this style would be what you want.

If underwater lights were not at minimum (avg price) $650 + a piece, I’d have them on mine because there are practical applications beyond the fact it makes the boat stand out (aesthetics).

By: behan

behan — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:13:20 +0000

I am still cracking up over the whiskey tango foxtrot!

we see a lot of these down here (Pacific coast of MX). generally sportfishers, always powerboats.

you couldn’t pay me to put these on our boat, but our kids LOVE watching all the sea life that is attracted to boats that do have them…

By: Richard Rodriguez

Richard Rodriguez — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:42:18 +0000

WTF indeed

By: Sheila

Sheila — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:25:41 +0000

I loved this post! One of our projects when we haul out our CAL-34 next month is to install our composting toilet and get rid of another through-hull.

We often have megayachts with white all-around underwater lights anchored near us out here in Simpson Bay, St Maarten. Quite pretty and I bet the tarpon like it.

I wonder if they will get these new colored lights and hook them up to their sound system and have them flash to the beat of the music like the disco days

All the best!

By: Steve Roberts

Steve Roberts — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Wow, that is lunatic stuff, over the top. If someone needs brightly colored LEDs to have an “illuminating and memorable experience on the water,” then perhaps they should consider other activities. Sheesh.

Now, blinky LEDs displaying the state of deeply embedded and networked gizmology, well, that’s different! *grin*

Steve