Lighting. LED's. Rope light. Ect. Post what you got.

[Traillblazer]

I order my kits on ebay. Drop shipped from China. It takes 10-14 days but much cheaper than buying from US sellers.

I have had law enforcement drive up to me just to check them out. Never any issues. Like said above, many new pontoons come with them already installed.

If any of you use the RGB 5050 series LED strips, make sure you clean off the double sided tape that is already applied to it. It has part of a 3M label on it, but I assure you it is not. I cleaned it all off with some mineral spirits and used real 3M tape.

What's that old saying? If its too loud, you're too old!

[RcgTexas]

What's that old saying? If its too loud, you're too old!

Hey!!! I resemble that remark!

[babock]

If any of you use the RGB 5050 series LED strips, make sure you clean off the double sided tape that is already applied to it. It has part of a 3M label on it, but I assure you it is not. I cleaned it all off with some mineral spirits and used real 3M tape.

If you use 3m adhesive promoter, the tape that is on there works great.

The guys that are complaining about the lights are the same people yelling at kids to get off their lawn.

[LittleRiver]

The guys that are complaining about the lights are the same people yelling at kids to get off their lawn.

Speaking of kids,
Sure it was going to come out sometime.
Enjoy the video.. And crank up the volume.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX7Or9ERsQs


Hope I never have to grow up.

[garygve]

If I would install the green on one side and red led lights on the other side up under the deck above the pontoons could I run those at night without having to worry about getting stopped? Wouldn't that be legal, I know they don't like it when you run blue lights but with the correct color I think they would leave me alone. Has anyone tried this?

[babock]

No, that would not be legal.

[teecro]

If I would install the green on one side and red led lights on the other side up under the deck above the pontoons could I run those at night without having to worry about getting stopped? Wouldn't that be legal, I know they don't like it when you run blue lights but with the correct color I think they would leave me alone. Has anyone tried this?

No this would not be legal.... Running lights are special by design so that they can only be seen a specific degree of arc with Port & Starboard lights being 135 degree from the bow out; this is to help other boaters determine your direction of travel... This is also why a stern light is supposed to be an all around light that is higher than the red & green running lights....

Would they leave you alone for being a large glowing ball of colorful fiesta of lights while underway? Can't tell ya that for sure... But they will dam sure tear you a new bung hole when and if you have an accident on the water and there is a loss of life!

[LittleRiver]

If I would install the green on one side and red led lights on the other side up under the deck above the pontoons could I run those at night without having to worry about getting stopped? Wouldn't that be legal, I know they don't like it when you run blue lights but with the correct color I think they would leave me alone. Has anyone tried this?

We have both around here. Coasties, and Fish and game. Fish and game ain't so bad but the coasties are a pain in everyones butt but they don't hang in our river. Just when you go north most of the time and in evenings it would take to long to get back to the base so we're kinda on our own unless someone calls them.
When docked or beached, according to them, there is nothing they can do to you for the lights if your on shore or beached, but under way or in the water way, if they see you they more than likely are going to stop you.
Yes i'm running blue, and their on the boat. NOT reflected downward but I can turn them down or off depending on what I want.
Wondered how the game wardens and police dept's handled this inland is why I ask but as the law has it your not suppose to be using them while running or under way or even parked in a water way where other traffic travels.

Kinda like not running the license plates on sports cars on the front in the states that require you to have two plates. Some cops target it, some don't care or speeding. How much of a risk are you willing to take.
Kinda a choice..

[teecro]

... Kinda like not running the license plates on sports cars on the front in the states that require you to have two plates. Some cops target it, some don't care or speeding. How much of a risk are you willing to take.
Kinda a choice..

Back in 89 or 90 I thought that it would be "cool" and fun to add a couple small amber lights to frame the rear lic plate on my little custom truck; heck I figured I was even improving the safety factor some too... I'd hardly gotten out of my hood when I got pulled over by the LA state police and given a dam citation for it...

But then again I've been adding a light kit to my motorcycles for longer than that whereas the rear facing amber turn signals are light up as running lights and I've never been questioned once from the south to north to this day for this... Also running a blue dot in the tail light on a couple of bikes for years and again never stopped...

Guess it's all luck of the draw!

[LittleRiver]

Everything is such a money game to LE now, they have taken the fun out of it. They have also adopted blue as their color. No laws on it but it attracts them.
Crazy little town Elizabeth City I'm near will write the young kids up for having any color blue or red showing that is not a tail light.
Thats why there is amber under the race trailer I posted. BluewaterLED helps me out on the racing part. Not the boats but they have been good to me on the other.

[sunedog]

Disclaimer: Every state is different, every part of every state is different, every law enforcement agency in every part of every state is different, and each LEO may interpret the law in a different way.

I wanted blue strip lights down the side of my toon for a couple of years, but I was unsure if they were legal or not. After seeing more and more pontoons displaying them (a factory option on many), last winter I installed a 16' strip of blue waterproof LED's down each side of my 22' long pontoon.

Here is what I know about SCDNR officers patrolling Lake Murray in SC:

There are two SC laws that could apply:

1) You are not allowed to display flashing blue lights unless a law enforcement officer is on board.

My blue lights don't flash so I am good here.

2) Any lights displayed while under way have to comply with USCG rules. The pertinent section states, "no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights which cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character."
(link http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=na ... ent#rule20 see Rule 20)

My boat is 22' (+). My light strips are 16' long. So there is a 3' gap between each end of my blue lights and the ends of my boat. I don't think they interfere with my red / green / white lights. But that is my interpretation.

So at the beginning of the season, I asked the head DNR officer for the lake, who is an acquaintence of mine, to come over and look at my installation. I asked him specifically if my lights were legal and he said yes. I asked him point blank if his officers would have justification for stopping me based on my lights and he said no. So I think I am good.

Ironically, he pointed to a big center console with blue lights in the T-top and said those sometimews appear to be flashing blue while underway in chop. He said he personally chased one all the way across the lake becasue he thought it was a LE boat and it wouldn't respond on the radio so he thought an officer was in distress or the boat had been stolen. But he said there is no way an officer would mistake the long strip lights on a pontoon for a LE boat.

[LittleRiver]

Disclaimer: Every state is different, every part of every state is different, every law enforcement agency in every part of every state is different, and each LEO may interpret the law in a different way.

I wanted blue strip lights down the side of my toon for a couple of years, but I was unsure if they were legal or not. After seeing more and more pontoons displaying them (a factory option on many), last winter I installed a 16' strip of blue waterproof LED's down each side of my 22' long pontoon.

Here is what I know about SCDNR officers patrolling Lake Murray in SC:

There are two SC laws that could apply:

1) You are not allowed to display flashing blue lights unless a law enforcement officer is on board.

My blue lights don't flash so I am good here.

2) Any lights displayed while under way have to comply with USCG rules. The pertinent section states, "no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights which cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character."
(link http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=na ... ent#rule20 see Rule 20)

My boat is 22' (+). My light strips are 16' long. So there is a 3' gap between each end of my blue lights and the ends of my boat. I don't think they interfere with my red / green / white lights. But that is my interpretation.

So at the beginning of the season, I asked the head DNR officer for the lake, who is an acquaintence of mine, to come over and look at my installation. I asked him specifically if my lights were legal and he said yes. I asked him point blank if his officers would have justification for stopping me based on my lights and he said no. So I think I am good.

Ironically, he pointed to a big center console with blue lights in the T-top and said those sometimews appear to be flashing blue while underway in chop. He said he personally chased one all the way across the lake becasue he thought it was a LE boat and it wouldn't respond on the radio so he thought an officer was in distress or the boat had been stolen. But he said there is no way an officer would mistake the long strip lights on a pontoon for a LE boat.

Thanks for the post

[LittleRiver]

LEDs ready to wire.
Installed two PVC cup holder to hold the beer in the back when we at the back of the boat swimming.

[TDJ2591]

Most that I have seen are mounted under the deck and reflect off the pontoons.

[LittleRiver]

Most that I have seen are mounted under the deck and reflect off the pontoons.

Haven't got to those yet.