deck/courtesy lights on a 1987 da250

[Atis]

anyone add led lighing for the deck/cockpit area of their da250? i am looking to replave the 2 round lights with blue led strips but not sure how many strips I will need and how to mount for best deck floor lighting. thanks

 

[boatman37]

I did. Are you talking about the ones on the lower side storage areas? I took out the original round lights and installed blue LED strips. I got them at West Marine but can't remember the brand. I think they were 24" strips but were cuttable to whatever length. The one I installed whole but the other I had to cut a few inches off for it to fit. Mine had adhesive tape on the back. I stuck them to the backside of my side panels right onto the plywood. Did that early last year and they are still sticking.

EDIT: pretty sure these are them> https://www.westmarine.com/buy/alpena--max-strip-led-lighting-blue-24--17075789?recordNum=39

They also come in shorter lengths.

 

[Atis]

thats the area...the lower side storage round lights. sticking them to the backside of the panels seems like it would reduce the amount of light on the deck. how much light are they putting out on the deck? I like the look of the light blue glow so you can walk around with tripping.

 

[Atis]

I installed 5 18" blue led strips under the lower panel edges along the rear deck. I havent had a chance to see them at night yet but have my fingers crossed that the deck with glow a light blue. I figure it will make moving around at night easier. I will get picts when I get a chance to go the marina when its not storming. We are going on week 2 of straight rainy every day.

 

[boatman37]

Sorry didn't get to respond sooner. Mine look great. If photobucket wouldn't have boned us I would post the pics. They do light up good. The only thing I still need to do is the light under the dash. That one is still white and it looks dumb now...lol. Just have to buy another strip for there.

 

[Escape22]

how do you wire them into the OEM light socket?

 

[Atis]

i removed the little round courtesy lights amd wires them in their place.I used dry wall edge...plastic 3 sided that looks like a U but square. 3m doubke sided tape to attach to the back side of the panels and attached the led strips to the bottom so they are pointed down. This places the about 1" in from the deck/bulk head connection.

 

[Loyd Dinneen]

I ordered some led strips on the internet they were 19ft. long and were only like $20.00 I think. I also had to order the connectors also to wire them up. I put them on my Bayliner Cuddy1750 ( my other boat) and it really brightened it up so I can night fish without a flashlight. I mounted them on the outside rear, in the splashwell, and on the two upper tubes on the bimini. The only problem I had is the sun here in Las Vegas messed with the adhesive so I had to remount the outer lights with double face tape, so far so good.