lights
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Williamsville, IL
Posts: 23

Whats up yall. Hey im getting ready to put my deck on my boat here in a couple of weeks and was wondering if yall had any suggestions on what type and what brand of lights i should use. I only plan on running a 4000 to 5000 watt generator. Any info is helpfull. Thanks
#2

Hey Clint, I'll give you my 2 cents worth.
I always suggest halogens for three reasons. (1) They're available just about everywhere from hardware stores to wallyworld. (2) they're pretty rugged. I've broken my share, but all in all they will take quite a bit of abuse. (especially going down the road) Some other types of lights will break from the vibration riding on the trailer. (3) They're fairly inexpensive. I have seen fixtures as low as $6. If you want the good bulbs, that will run you another $10 or so per light. IMO well worth it.
Two other things is that they are instant on. (no waiting for a ballast to warm up or cool down) and they are light weight. (ballasts are heavy)
The down side of halogens...they suck a lot of juice compared to other types of lights. Still IMO the upside out weighs the down.
There is a flourescent fixture that looks real promising to me. I bought one but have not tried it on the boat yet. I plugged it in at the house and was impressed with the amount of light it put out. I fear the the bulb may not withstand trailoring vibration though. If you want more info pm me your phone #. (tooooo much to type.
)
I'll let the folks running HPS and Metal halides give their impressions. There are quite a few folks using them these days.
Good luck to ya, hope this was a little helpful.
I always suggest halogens for three reasons. (1) They're available just about everywhere from hardware stores to wallyworld. (2) they're pretty rugged. I've broken my share, but all in all they will take quite a bit of abuse. (especially going down the road) Some other types of lights will break from the vibration riding on the trailer. (3) They're fairly inexpensive. I have seen fixtures as low as $6. If you want the good bulbs, that will run you another $10 or so per light. IMO well worth it.
Two other things is that they are instant on. (no waiting for a ballast to warm up or cool down) and they are light weight. (ballasts are heavy)
The down side of halogens...they suck a lot of juice compared to other types of lights. Still IMO the upside out weighs the down.
There is a flourescent fixture that looks real promising to me. I bought one but have not tried it on the boat yet. I plugged it in at the house and was impressed with the amount of light it put out. I fear the the bulb may not withstand trailoring vibration though. If you want more info pm me your phone #. (tooooo much to type.

I'll let the folks running HPS and Metal halides give their impressions. There are quite a few folks using them these days.
Good luck to ya, hope this was a little helpful.
#3

Whoops sorry I was logged in as Chirstine...
While I'm at it though, one more thing about those flourescents. The fixture cost $44 I think. The replacement bulbs were $10, same as the GE ultra bulbs I run in my halogens. So a little more initial cost, but bulbs should be about the same.
Sorry again, Kendall, on Christine's log in [:-]
While I'm at it though, one more thing about those flourescents. The fixture cost $44 I think. The replacement bulbs were $10, same as the GE ultra bulbs I run in my halogens. So a little more initial cost, but bulbs should be about the same.
Sorry again, Kendall, on Christine's log in [:-]