Ocean LED Install

[castines]

Started to get ready for install today. Hard part so far is making sure where i drill the holes so that there is enough clearance in the engine compartment. Shaft needs to clear the exhaust manifolds that head into the transom assembly.

Also making sure that the hole is drilled so that the light is deep enough under water with out being too low that the light fixture extends beyond the bottom of the boat.

Then you have to make sure you dont just drill from the outside as you could very well drill into the shelf/cavity that the batteries and hot water heater sit on. If you do this you wont be able to screw on the bushing to hold the light

Its not easy to measure inside the boat and then apply the same measuring on the outside. Thickness of hull sides and bottom needs to be taken into consideration.

Below is a picture of what i belive to be the spot. Not in the Cavity, not too low that the light will overhang and enough clearance on the inside to secure and attach the connectors.

I could use a little help with the picture of the transom assemly. note at the bottom left of the assembly there is a protrusion, circled in red, that I belive to be where the stud is mounted in the assembly that goes thru the transom and has a nut on the inside of the transom. I am using this as a reference point for measuring. Can anyone verify this for me? or send me a pic of this assembly not on the boat.

I think i have found the spot.

 

[Suenos]

Castine,
I have the 2010, they are mounted on a 2003 31PC. Very little room for mounting. From your pictures I would say that mine are about three inches higher and about an inch more to the sides. I am fortunate that I have a young buck that can get behind the engines. He also works for Atlantic Marine Electronics at Viking. My boat is at the Viking Yachting Center on Rte 9 if you care to take a look at the install. My advice is to measure, measure, measure! If you do make a mistake, it is a large ring on the light side, don't ask how I know. Good luck, tough to drill through the transom the first time.

 

[castines]

thanks, if i go up 3 inches i will run into the drop tube from the manifolds but if i move out to the side more it might work. i have 7 inches clearance from the manifold to the hull. I assume that yours are only about 8 inches under water? I am trying to get them as deep as possible. i have also cut out a template of the light with a 1 inch hole. i will put this on the inside of the boat and drill a 1/4 inch pilot hole then drill from the outside in with the 1 inch hole saw. i have enough room to drill the port side pilot hole from in the boat, but the starboard side i will need to remove the hot water heater. or just measure the port side after hole is drilled and hope that Formula kept both cavities and stringers in the same spot.

I am only 15 minutes from viking so i may take you up on your offer!! How do they look when you are on plane? do the light up the water pushed by the drives??

PS. yep ring is 5.75 inches in diameter. hole is 1 inch. I got it

 

[Suenos]

If you are going to Viking to take a look ask for Brent Buzby at Atlantic Marine. AME is on the right as you pull into the Viking Yachting Center. He can give you all the ins on Ocean LED installs. 609-296-8826

 

[castines]

Suenos,

Stopped by Viking today. AME was closed. Friend of mine just took delivery of a motor yacht. walked around found your boat and took a look. you are right, they are higer and also more over the trim tab. How do they look when you are on plane at night?

Do they light up the water from the propwash??

 

[castines]

Ok, after a few times of going back and forth to the boat i got the nerve up to drill ;D

used a stud finder and some folded aluminum foil just to double check my marks for the pilot hole I also made a template of the the light so i knew where it would be after the hole was drilled.

Also used the nut inside the hull to determine how much room i needed between the nut and the stringer. this way i could almost center between the drive and the trim tab and stay as low as possible.

Drilled the hole from the inside of the boat on the port side. took pilot hole measurements on the outside from the bottom of the hull, bottom of transom assembly over and from corner of trim tab Then transfered to stbd side for pilot hole mark because i can not get drill on the inside due to hot water heater.

Ok, get hole saw ready and insert in pilot hole. Run in reverse to get thru gel coat. if you run in forward the teet will chip the gel coat. Once thru the gel then forward we go. Had to empty hole saw 3 times.

Now will coat the inside of the hole with resin so if it ever does leak it wont get into the wood and will just leak into the bilge.

Stay tuned, in a week or so should mout with 5200 and then run the wires and the switches. Gonna snow tomorrow :-[

 

[castines]

More pics

 

[GSENT]

STEVE,
INSTALL LOOKS GREAT!!! YOU DID A NICE JOB.

 

[TLR]

looks very nice, now you can also do some night fishing for big cats'

TLR

 

[castines]

looks very nice, now you can also do some night fishing for big cats'

TLR

Funny you say that, we catch catfish all the time on slices of peperoni!! only about 3 pounders.

 

[castines]

Finished up the install today. coated the inside of the holes with resin. ran the 12-2 wire from the helm to the transom. Formula was nice to put that 1.5" fish tube just behind the glove box that goes into the engine compartment just above the fuel tank. Thanks Formula!!!

Removed the 4 screws that held the hot water heater and move it over about 6 inches. That gave me enough room to put the nut and wash on the stbd light. Port was easy as pie.

tapped into the bus bar behind the glove box, removed the dummy switch on the dash and replaced with a 3 way switch. down s the Ocean LED's, middle is off and up is for TO BE CONTINUED! More LED's to come. Will post to be continued when finished, may be a while, like after the boat is in the water.

Little nervous about the tightening procedure. screw nut with allen bolts on till hand tight. then screw in allens hand tight. then turn 1/2 to 3/4 turns. your done. We'll see when we splash!! (PS. I tightened them a little more than that)

 

[Suenos]

Your install looks great, wish I could have gotten mine a little lower. I have not run at night with the lights on, so I really can't give you the proper answer. Whenever you get a chance let me know more about your Block Island trip. When? What route? Thank you!

 

[GSENT]

STEVE,
I GUESS NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP YOU FROM GETTING IN THE WATER NOW. HOPE ALL GOES WELL WITH LAUNCH.

 

[castines]

Ok, let me know what ya think? They look brighter in the photos that are taken from a distance.

 

[castines]

one more