I need some lighting suggestions. I have two brackets for lights on my cage, and also would like to put a light bar on the front and possibly one on each side. Are there any specific brands or models that would work best in all conditions? Any advantages/ disadvantages? My buddy has a RIDGED light bar he'll let me use but I'm worried that thing might pull too much from the battery. I don't know much about lighting/ electrical any advice helps.
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AIRBOAT LIGHTING?!?!?
- Thread starter loghopper
- Start date
glades cat
Well-known member
LED lights draw less power. Shop Amazon and see if there’s anything you like.
terrible ted
Well-known member
Light behind you blind you, light in front light the way. Also remember running with fixed lights is a ticket able offense if in the channel or water way. Now I like to have a cage light to rig when fishing or working on anything in the boat at night.
deckover92
Member
Try to look for lights that are at least IP67 preferably IP68 rated and 10w chips. Most of the china stuff have 5w or 3w chips and are never accurate on the lumen rating. A big teller is the cooling fins, if they are actually 10w chips the cooling fins on the lights will be significantly larger. And don't bother with the amazon ones that have rows of chips without a reflective, its just a scam to make you think you are getting a light with alot more watts, when in reality they arnt projecting to make them useful.
I'm also not a fan of cage lights, they cause shadow of get snagged on limbs. I would add some lighting for the engine, the deck and even some pointing outward, cant have enough light.
I'm also not a fan of cage lights, they cause shadow of get snagged on limbs. I would add some lighting for the engine, the deck and even some pointing outward, cant have enough light.
Pato Sicario
Active member
I agree with deckover92, you can't have enough lighting. Here is some questions I would ask yourself. How often will you run with lights?
How far out and angles do you want to see? Meaning are you using lights to go out/get home at 10mph or 40mph. Similar to HP, its a question of how much is enough and budget. I have 4k of lighting on my boat. I have a Utah/Alaska style of boat. I use it for hunting. We almost always go out in the dark or come back in the dark. Being in Utah that also means while its snowing. So lighting and GPS is a priority for me.
I use Baja Designs. They are fantastic. One thing I would mention that hasn't been mentioned specifically to light bars is some of the better brands sell light bars in "spot" or "flood" configuration in addition to straight and curved light bars. Do you want to punch out as far as possible with a "spot" bar?.... or shorter distances up, down and to the sides with a flood bar. I have a 50 inch curved onx6 "spot" bar on my rake. Two LP9's in "race edition"(spot) on my cage towards the middle, and then on the outside of the cage I have two small Rigid square lights at a 45' as my ditch lights to light up the sides.
A lot of the water we run in Utah is flat shallow water with no vegetation, almost like your on the ocean or a large lake. So I like to use "spots" and punch out as far as I can straight. I use a curved bar so I get a little side light in addition to my ditch lights. Similar to Terrible Ted, I use my ditch lights by themselves to load or unload the boat or set up decoys.
There is a great video and chart on Baja Designs website that shows the "zones of lighting". Even if you don't buy Baja Designs I think its useful to look at as you evaluate what you may want.
How far out and angles do you want to see? Meaning are you using lights to go out/get home at 10mph or 40mph. Similar to HP, its a question of how much is enough and budget. I have 4k of lighting on my boat. I have a Utah/Alaska style of boat. I use it for hunting. We almost always go out in the dark or come back in the dark. Being in Utah that also means while its snowing. So lighting and GPS is a priority for me.
I use Baja Designs. They are fantastic. One thing I would mention that hasn't been mentioned specifically to light bars is some of the better brands sell light bars in "spot" or "flood" configuration in addition to straight and curved light bars. Do you want to punch out as far as possible with a "spot" bar?.... or shorter distances up, down and to the sides with a flood bar. I have a 50 inch curved onx6 "spot" bar on my rake. Two LP9's in "race edition"(spot) on my cage towards the middle, and then on the outside of the cage I have two small Rigid square lights at a 45' as my ditch lights to light up the sides.
A lot of the water we run in Utah is flat shallow water with no vegetation, almost like your on the ocean or a large lake. So I like to use "spots" and punch out as far as I can straight. I use a curved bar so I get a little side light in addition to my ditch lights. Similar to Terrible Ted, I use my ditch lights by themselves to load or unload the boat or set up decoys.
There is a great video and chart on Baja Designs website that shows the "zones of lighting". Even if you don't buy Baja Designs I think its useful to look at as you evaluate what you may want.
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deckover92
Member
That works if its a front driver boat, but for a rear driver application its a little more tricky. I still feel like I need more light than even a good headlamp. I have more light than I'll never need at one time, but with the flip of a couple switches I have whatever light I could want for whatever situation comes up.
Birdslayer86
Well-known member
My cousin thought a lot like Gary S. All his boats were rear driver. I never even used a light gigging in the front seat.
deckover92
Member
Well on one of my boats, the front passenger seating could be a bit lower (I'm short) so if a tall person is sitting in the front, my headlamp causes a glare almost. I can see above them fine, but with a lamp its just too much light right there. So with a light bar on both sides of the rigging and 4 90w pods up front, I've got light in any direction I would need to look.
SWAMPHUNTER45
Well-known member
Love my big curved LED bar up on the bow !
Have 2 LEDs on cage only to use as courtesy lights when guests are onboard. They are useless for navigation as others have advised.
eBay back around 2017 paid around $25 back then and I think it’s 54 inches. Should have bought 100 and sold them on here !!!!!
Have 2 LEDs on cage only to use as courtesy lights when guests are onboard. They are useless for navigation as others have advised.
eBay back around 2017 paid around $25 back then and I think it’s 54 inches. Should have bought 100 and sold them on here !!!!!
terrible ted
Well-known member
Remember in the channel on the lake the head light is legal fixed light are not legal to run down the river or to be running in the lake.