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Some new boat mods


mattp33

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So I saw these super cool LED boat lights from Bluewater at Bass Pro and they were on sale. Well I have wanted to light up my compartments for a while so I grabbed them.

 

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So on the box it says it has 4 20 inch compartments, when I got it home and opened it it only had 4 10 inch lights. When I called Bluewater they simply said it was a typo on the box, after a very long pause (me waiting for her to tell me how we are going to fix) She said have a nice day and hung up the phone. The customer service was horrible and non-existant. I called back to simply find out weather I could order the 4 20 inch strips I need and she said that the shipping to canada would be very expensive and to just buy another kit. Well then I have lots of light i dont want and still no 20 inch compartment lights.

 

I will make this work so I started to install some of them last night.

 

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The livewell lights are going to be awesome. All the compartments will be white light and the decl will be blue. I also made this Devider yesterday as when I got the boat it didn't have 1. The fish were so hard to get out as they had a lot of room to swim.

 

I had a lot of trouble drilling holes in it. Anyone know an easy way? Also should I make more holes up higher just incase the water sloshes around while on the water.

 

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First compartment is lit, more to follow

 

I used these tap conectors to tie into power from the stern light. This comes on when my anchor light switch is turned on. The deck lights will be on a seperate switch.

 

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I have a lot of wiring to do over the next few days! Stay tuned for more pics

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When you're doing the rewiring get rid of the Scotchloc connectors; they have to be the worse for corrosion and rotting wiring.

Use an un-insulated barrel connectors or solder along with shrink tube. It'll save you a whole bunch of grief in the future.

 

Dan.

 

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X2 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Good start though Matt.

 

As for the devider. I would make larger holes 1', and take it up to about 3 inches of the top. Use a hole saw. Are you using lexan or pex? I would go with lexan. Stronger and easy to drill.

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I think its plex, I got it for cheap so I didnt argue lol

 

I do think I need more or bigger holes.

 

I thought these conectors were the easiest way to go, I jammed dielectric greese in them? This is the very starting point for power to these lights so I will take your advice and change them to prevent future probs

 

Thanks for the advice

Edited by mattp33
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I think its plex, I got it for cheap so I didnt argue lol

Cheap is right. For the size of the devider,I would pick up a piece of lexan. JMO

 

If you want to take it one step further,Look for nylon.

Edited by Misfish
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I'm not looking forward to doing that again lmao!!!

 

If it breaks then I will start looking for something else, it was a lesson in frustration trying to fit that. The livewell does not have a straight,flat or level side to it!!!

 

Thats why you use cardboard to work out your template. Once you have the fit then you cut and make a nice fit.

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When you're doing the rewiring get rid of the Scotchloc connectors; they have to be the worse for corrosion and rotting wiring.

Use an un-insulated barrel connectors or solder along with shrink tube. It'll save you a whole bunch of grief in the future.

 

Dan.

 

 

Yep, this ^.

 

Get rid of those. They will cause you grief for sure.

 

S.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Finally got around to intstall the rest of the compartment lights in the boat over the weekend. Also fixed some rookie wiring mistakes

 

 

 

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I am very happy of how it turned out. I even got out to smallmouth country and got my first few smallies of the year. Nothing big but a strong healthy simcoe smallie

 

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  • 1 month later...

LOL

 

Other anglers are going to think it,s some kind of alien vessel out there.LOL

 

Looks cool.

 

I can see it now!!! UFO sighting on lake simcoe, seen by hundreds. Goverment claims it is a downed weather balloon.... LMAO

 

Thanks guys cant wait to get the rear deck done!

 

Anyone ever seen a rear nav light stick thing with LED's?

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