Dingy Bow Light Poll?

T37Chef · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

If a dinghy came with a intergrated bow light option for an LED type Bow lights run by small batteries for $50 what would you do?

Please choose and commet below.

Like many of you I have the flashlight bow light that is lashed to the bow somehow, by velcro, epoxy, glue whatever and looks like *&^%. I dont see a light designed in which you could insert a battery or two being cost prohibitive...yet Avon has not responsed to two emails I have sent and the sale rep at the boat show thought I was a nut case.

Maybe some data would get their attention?

ckgreenman · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

I'd skip the $50 bow light and buy the $30 one instead.

merlin2375 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

I would get it, if the unit was self-contained. No wires run or wierd batteries. In other words, it should be like a portable that takes AAs but nicely integrated into the bow.

ckgreenman · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

I guess it would depend on the dinghy and how well integrated it is. I grew up with an inflatable and a suction cup flashlight type bowlight.

T37Chef · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin2375

I would get it, if the unit was self-contained. No wires run or wierd batteries. In other words, it should be like a portable that takes AAs but nicely integrated into the bow.

Thats the idea

painkiller · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

I'd go to West Marine, buy a whole bunch of expensive stuff, and pay for the dinghy light with $50 in reward coupons. Then I'd tell my wife that I got the dinghy light for free.

xort · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

I added an alternator kit to my Tohatsu 9.8 that came with the boat.
I now have 12 volts for the bow light, the stern light, the small GPS and the fish finder. Thinking of adding a blender, a stereo & a 12 volt refer!

merc2dogs · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008

Just been my experience that most dinghys are sold and used in situations where the light isn't realy needed.
Having a built in would require a change to at least one component of the boat itself, and a design change even on a small part can get expensive.
I could see designing an add on light that fits in well with the rest of the boat, but a true 'built-in' no. Integrated would mean that you either order a boat to be 'built' using the integrated lighting parts, or everyone who bought the boat would pay for the light mounts, and the people who actually decide to use the integrated light would pay for the light itself in addition to the mounts. Also, as with automobiles, an optional mount usually includes a cover to hide the mount points when the option isn't picked, so the actual price of the boat may go up far more than the simple $50 option cost.

On a boat that doesn't have an integrated engine and therefore no wiring harness in the first place, running wires for lighting in an at least not-unattractive fashion may cost a bit more than the $50 anyway

Ken.

sailboy21 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

A bow light without an all-around light... tisk tisk tisk.

T37Chef · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2008

The light in mind would be much like the AA battery type that you can mount anywhere, but a red & green. NO wires, NO complicated install, etc.

Sailboy21: The current product sold for all around white stern lights are no problem, the flash light type mounted on the motor or screwed into the transom are easy to install and don't look like %^&^. That is not the ? here