Spotlight

There have been many discussions of just this topic on the site. Try using the search function. Most focused on concerns about reflections. Lights have been mounted forward of the bow rail, on the radar arch, on the brow, by the anchor and in many cases the light is not mounted but a handheld is used.

Good luck.
 
My spotlit is mounted on the cabin top and I believe anywhere aft of the bow rail will give you so much reflective (blinding backlight) that you will not be happy with it.

Jody's install on the bow rail is in my opinion..worth about 2 1/2 cents at last count...is the way to go.


As seen in the picture below I had to add a piece of pipe insulation (black) on the bow rail to knock down the glare and not be totaly blinded while using it.
93DoryDocked.sized.jpg
 
If Mike's opinion is worth 2 1/2 cents, then here is my penny version...

I purchased a remote control spotlight from West Marine that has a suction cup mount. I had the same problems with reflections when mounted on the pilothouse, so I finally worked out an arrangement where I attach it to the bow below the deck on the starboard side. I then run the power and remote control into the pilothouse through an open window or hatch and plug it in. You have to get used to the idea that the up and down functions are really left and right, etc. Once again, a very simplistic approach but it seems to work! I really like having the light closer to the water as it helps me see debri, etc. when underway at night. It's tricky getting the suction cup to mount properly, but once it's set, it stays put. I think I spent less than $70 on it as a closeout item.

Texas Steve
 
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Spotlight for searching (no glare). Floodlights for deckwork, docking, and doodling around! Be sure to have units separately switched. Spotlight electrical wiring runs down hidden inside bow rail.
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Rear spotlight is detachable for hand held work.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Jkidd,
Did you make that mount ouf of Starboard/wood and how does it clamp to the railing. Looks nice.

Incidenty I have a perment cable run into my anchor locker which is fused at 30 amps into the main console buss bar. It is for a hook up form the trailer lights (which has a 30 amp "charing" circuit for trailers--in this case to keep the refigerator batteries topped off when towing on the road.

This same cable can be used to power a spot light so mounted.
 
Bob

I made it out Starboard 1/2" on top and 1/4" on the bottom. It just slides onto the bowrail and there are a couple of holes for ropes to tie to the rails. There's a picture in my album of the backside and some other views. I was was looking for a way to only have it there when I need it. It doesn't block my vision at night because I'm usually looking below the bowrail. I either run the power thru the center window or down the anchor rope hole. The nice thing is the remote will run the light about 300' away, so you can carry the remote with you when you goto shore.
 
Texas Steve":136i7bs6 said:
It's tricky getting the suction cup to mount properly, but once it's set, it stays put.
Texas Steve

Steve, don't count on it staying "put"......I'll guarantee that it WILL lose its' suction and slide off.

On my 16' I tried a suction mount Go Light on the cabin roof and the next morning it was slicker than seven barrels of owl crap between the light and the roof. To remedy it, I hard mounted a base that came with it and the suction mount then clamped inside it.

On my current 22', I have a Go Light hard mounted on the bow pulpit, that is hard wired to the helm. Much better placement on the bow rail than on the roof.
 
jkidd":2e0z5hda said:
Made mine removable here's a pic. More pics in the album.
Golite_bowrail_mounting_bracket.jpg

Bought mine from www.magnalight.com

Looks great! Would you mind sharing your methods (providing instructions) with a novice C-Dory owner? I believe we'll be purchasing a similar light.

This site certainly has been a help in our purchase and use of our new C-Dory! Thank you all, so very much!


Happy Halloween
:bat
 
First I cut a piece of starboard a little thicker than the bowrail. Then I planed it to thickness. Next I bent the piece around the bowrail and clamped it to it. I then screwed a 1/2 inch thick piece of starboard to the piece clamped to the bowrail. Now I removed it from the bowrail and screw a piece of 1/4 inch thick starboard to the bottom. The next thing was to take a router with a flush trim bit in it and trim all the excess off.
I put a couple off holes in it so I could strap it to the bowrails. The holes aren't in my pics.
 
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