Electrical/Switch issue

The boat at hand is a 1995 285 Pro XL.

My boat has outlets/jacks on both sides, on top of the hull. They are female straight pin jacks......similar to what you'd see on an electric guitar. They are for plugging in night lights. When my brother gave me this boat, he had bought 2 brand new lights for it, but he never could get them to work and didn't pursue the issue.

I'd like to get them to work properly. I have no idea which circuit they would be on. Would they be tied in with courtesy lights? Navigation lights?

I also have a 2-way switch that has Navigation (top) and Anchor (bottom)......and no idea what it operates.

If I turn on my navigation light switches and plug in my bow and stern lights.....they work as they should. Is anyone here familiar with what I'm working with that can help me out?

I wouldn't think they would be wired with the navigation lights, but I suppose its a possibiliby. It's anyones guess how they were added in. Alot of people who install them themselves simply hardwire them to either the cranking battery or to the panel at the fuse block so in theory there is always power to the "stereo jack" and plugging the light in simply completes the circuit. I would see if you could trace the wiring and look for fuse. Also, are you sure your black lights are working correctly to begin with, (ie good bulbs, etc)? Borrow a buddy's lights to rule this out first, then get to tracing wires. Good Luck. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif

So are these plugs not a factory accessory? The lights themselves are brand new. Do they work? Who knows. I can see the filament inside is connected all the way across, so I'm thinking the bulb is good on the halogen bulb.

I just asked here because I assumed they were factory. I'll trace down a power source.