TM and bow light

[zelmo]

Last year I replaced my trolling motor with a Xi5. The way it is mounted it sits much closer to the nose than the old motor, so much that I think the visibility of the bow light for other boats must be impaired.

Has anyone else felt the need to replace the bow light with one that is taller?

[joe3buck3]

I had the same issue with my Minn Kota Ulterra. It was so tall that it obstructed part of the bow navigation light. I lengthened the bow light pole about 6". It took a little redneck engineering but I found a piece of metal pipe slightly larger than the diameter of the light pole and that along with splicing some longer wires into the light pole extended it. I think the pipe I used was from an old metal broom handle. Spray painted it and it was done.

[piketroller]

I got rid of the pole up front al together and put individual side lights on the rear most outside corners of the front bow platform. That avoided the pole ever getting in the way when stowing or deploying and I never had to skip a couple casts in the evening to put it in.

[drgrammer]

Add a couple of LED strips. Never in the way, always ready to go, and much more visible...

[zelmo]

Add a couple of LED strips. Never in the way, always ready to go, and much more visible...

That looks like a great idea. Do you have a brand name or a place to buy?

My current light is a 12" bent Attwood. The largest they have is 14" and they aren't cheap. Not sure if the extra 2" is going to be enough, and if I am going to fix this I might as well go the LED route.


EDIT: After searching around for the LED strips I came across a problem - they aren't USCG approved. They don't meet the specs for visibility angles.

[moetorola]

That looks like a great idea. Do you have a brand name or a place to buy?

My current light is a 12" bent Attwood. The largest they have is 14" and they aren't cheap. Not sure if the extra 2" is going to be enough, and if I am going to fix this I might as well go the LED route.


EDIT: After searching around for the LED strips I came across a problem - they aren't USCG approved. They don't meet the specs for visibility angles.

And yet... I have not heard of a SINGLE person getting in trouble for using them. soooo.....

[hookbender]

That looks like a great idea. Do you have a brand name or a place to buy?

My current light is a 12" bent Attwood. The largest they have is 14" and they aren't cheap. Not sure if the extra 2" is going to be enough, and if I am going to fix this I might as well go the LED route.


EDIT: After searching around for the LED strips I came across a problem - they aren't USCG approved. They don't meet the specs for visibility angles.

I used the 14" one, it is not in my way and meets USCG specs.

[zelmo]

I used the 14" one, it is not in my way and meets USCG specs.

When I measured my current one I got 12". Turns out that the Attwood sizing is after it is inserted into the base and represents how high it sits. That means I currently have the 10" model and the extra 4" on the 14" model will work out perfectly.

Thank you.

[charg295]

Academy Sports has them in the kayak section for about $10.