LED's on you Toon!

[BLUE by you]

Lot's a manufactures are doing the Std. blue LED's down the side of most newer toons, and maybe some cup holders, but I'm seeing a lot of aftermarket LED options that look pretty bada$$. Look at the Wakeboard manufactures and they're flooding their boats with LED's. For night time partying it's awesome. What are your thoughts on LED's? Let's see some pics!!

[ron nh]

I like em, good luck using them. Up here on the big lakes there is zero tolerance. I was told to shut them off while docked!

[BobG]

And having them on underway is not only hazardous, but a violation of coast guard regs.

[mpilot]

[quote="BobG"]And having them on underway is not only hazardous, but a violation of coast guard regs.[/quote]

That's one of the advantages of being in a land locked lake. There are no coast guard regulations as it isn't a navigable waterway.

[ron nh]

But many places have regulations against them anyway. From what I've been told the blue is used by the fish and game so they don't allow it. Iv'e seen some with a red light instead, I don't know if they come down on them as well.

[TSHobbies]

we have strips inside the boat, which change colors, either by themselves ,or with music. we dont have any outside the boat, but I see alot of boats on Allatoona Lake with them,and so far havent seen anyone stopped because of it.

[mpilot]

On our lake blue and white are fine. Flashing is a no go for any color including color changing. Red/green aren't allowed most of the time. If you install them on the proper sides they have to meet coast Guard regulations for viewable angle and distance.

[tadams]

[quote="TSHobbies"]we have strips inside the boat, which change colors, either by themselves ,or with music. we dont have any outside the boat, but I see alot of boats on Allatoona Lake with them,and so far havent seen anyone stopped because of it.[/quote]


I'm one of the pontoon boats on Allatoona that have blue LED's all over it! Strips on each log & two in the rear. Also have LED rings on the cup holders (14 of them) & on the speakers (6 of them) as well as 4 pathway lights on the inside. We usually just idle around at night & go to a local restaurant on the water. Haven't read anything in Corps of Engineers rule book that says they are illegal & no one has ever complained about them. We only get compliments. They don't shine in anyone's vision but we can be seen from across the lake- which is a safety feature if you ask me.

[TSHobbies]

sounds like the floating light barge we seen on July 4th lol did you get to enjoy the stampede of idiots that night after the show?

[tadams]

[quote="TSHobbies"]sounds like the floating light barge we seen on July 4th lol did you get to enjoy the stampede of idiots that night after the show?[/quote]


Wasn't us. We were in Panama City beach for the 4th. What part of the lake are you on? We usually put in around the dam & go to Flamingo cove or Illinois creek or a cove close to Bethany bridge. We will have to tie up some this summer

[zoom650]

If you're tied at a dock or beached on a sand bar or cove, maybe lighting up like a Christmas tree might be one thing, but I'm no fan of running a light show while on a navigable waterway. LED's, especially blue, really phucks up my night vision. I don't buy the argument of being more visible because another boater can't tell which way you're running or how you're laying to if anchored up.

[sunedog]

[quote="zoom650"]If you're tied at a dock or beached on a sand bar or cove, maybe lighting up like a Christmas tree might be one thing, but I'm no fan of running a light show while on a navigable waterway. LED's, especially blue, really phucks up my night vision. I don't buy the argument of being more visible because another boater can't tell which way you're running or how you're laying to if anchored up.[/quote]

If you can see me from literally two miles away, I can't see how it really matters if you can't immediately determine which way I am moving. As we get closer to each other, I am sure it will be obvious.

A single TINY green or red incandescent light is harder for me to see and much more likely to be involved in a collision, in my opinion.

We have tons of boats lit up like Christmas trees on our lake. I have never had a problem with my night vision. I can believe some do, however.

I have spoken directly to the head of the DNR on our lake (Lake Murray in SC) and showed him all my lights. He said none of his officers would pull me. Flashing blue is a definite no-no, though.

[guy48065]

[quote="sunedog"]
A single TINY green or red incandescent light is harder for me to see and much more likely to be involved in a collision, in my opinion.

We have tons of boats lit up like Christmas trees on our lake. I have never had a problem with my night vision. I can believe some do, however.[/quote]
I think you're missing the point that a tiny johnboat legally anchored in the middle of the lake with nothing but his puny white anchor light is far more at risk of being run down by another who's just been blinded by your impressive light show.

[sunedog]

[quote="guy48065"][quote="sunedog"]

I think you're missing the point that a tiny johnboat legally anchored in the middle of the lake with nothing but his puny white anchor light is far more at risk of being run down by another who's just been blinded by your impressive light show.[/quote]

No sir, I'm not missing your point. I already said I personally have not experienced a problem with my night vision (although others may).

I stand by my opinion a tiny johnboat legally anchored in the middle of the lake with nothing but his puny white anchor light is more at risk than the same boat with additional lights. It is really easy to miss seeing the tiny white anchor light. It is darn near impossible to miss seeing LED strip lights.

And something I forgot to mention earlier...my blue LED strip lights running down the length of my toon are 16 feet long. My boat is 22 feet long. My LED's stop 5 feet from the bow. My red and green navigational lights are still easily visible.

[ron nh]

The problem is that it's a cumulative effect from all lights that create more "light pollution" so each light means less and less over time so the guy with 1 all round light who is now safe, will be less safe with many more lights on all over the place. They don't even want you to have white lights near the shore. I have all the lights that were available for my boat but I never use them while under way, Way to many morons on our lakes leave there docking lights which they call "head lights" on so they can see better.