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Bow light Refurb and convert to LED

Geoff Cooper

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Location
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Yamaha
Year
2006
Boat Model
AR
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23
I was due to go out in the Boat yesterday but it rained so all plans went up in the air, So feeling a bit depressed i decided to referb my bow light, My boats a 2006 AR 230 so i cant relate to any other but if yours is the same and has some UV damage and you fancy converting to LED also here's the step by step way i did it,
Ok here we go.

IMG_1600.JPG
Step 1 Make sure you turn all power off at the isolation switch Undo the Philips screw holding the cover in place See how yellow the light has gone

IMG_1601.JPG
Step 2 Use a flat headed screwdriver to open the cover

IMG_1603.JPG
Step 3 With the cover removed turn the Lens Anticlockwise and remove
IMG_1605.JPG
Step 4 Remove the Bulb and remove the 3 screws holding the Light

IMG_1594.JPG

Step 5 Lift the light from the Body of the Boat, Unplug the cables from the base of the light, The cable with the tag on is positive +, That goes to the connection nearest the front of the Boat when re connecting.

IMG_1608.JPG

Step 6 Put the screws back into there holes a couple of turns because you will loose one for sure,

IMG_1610.JPG

Step 7 I used one of these high intensity LEDs there waterproof and i used them when i rebuilt my Jeep in the front grille and you can actually drive with them there quite bright, Just find an LED that's not to tall because your keeping the same reflector.

IMG_1611.JPG
Step 8 Slightly enlarge the hole depending what kind of LED you obtained

IMG_1614.JPG

Step 9 I made it a tight fit so it screwed itself into the base, I used some silicon sealer under the LED before i fitted it into the hole.

IMG_1619.JPG

Step 10 Masking tape, 1 x Tin of White Acrylic Paint, I sheet of 120 grit wet and dry paper, Rub the cover and body until it's nice and smooth and them make sure it's clean, Apply 3 coats of paint Paint and allow to dry in between coats.

IMG_1620.JPG Step 11 Allow to dry over night

IMG_1625.JPG Step 12 I shortened the cable and always tin the wires with a soldering Iron just to make sure there's no loose ends

IMG_1630.JPG
Step 13 I fitted a couple of male connectors so they plugged into the original connectors, Don't forget the red wire on the new LED goes to the original one with the tag on and don't forget to insulate them.



IMG_1631.JPG
Step 14 Just reverse the process on refitting, Turn the power back on and job done that looks a lot better

IMG_1632.JPG
Looks brand new now and is really bright compared to the original Bulb, The total cost including LED was about $12, If you noticed i left the original connectors on and also never touched the wiring, I made sure the hole i drilled was only a little bigger than before so at any stage it can be reverted back to normal bulb fitting but that won't be happening, Good Luck.

PS I have an idea about the other LED that was in the packet, I will keep you posted just have to wait until it rains again and i cant get out in the Boat.
 

GTBRMC

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Location
Waukesha, WI
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Boatless
Year
2008
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
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I was due to go out in the Boat yesterday but it rained so all plans went up in the air, So feeling a bit depressed i decided to referb my bow light, My boats a 2006 AR 230 so i cant relate to any other but if yours is the same and has some UV damage and you fancy converting to LED also here's the step by step way i did it,
Ok here we go.

View attachment 13083
Step 1 Make sure you turn all power off at the isolation switch Undo the Philips screw holding the cover in place See how yellow the light has gone

View attachment 13082
Step 2 Use a flat headed screwdriver to open the cover

View attachment 13084
Step 3 With the cover removed turn the Lens Anticlockwise and remove
View attachment 13090
Step 4 Remove the Bulb and remove the 3 screws holding the Light

View attachment 13086

Step 5 Lift the light from the Body of the Boat, Unplug the cables from the base of the light, The cable with the tag on is positive +, That goes to the connection nearest the front of the Boat when re connecting.

View attachment 13087

Step 6 Put the screws back into there holes a couple of turns because you will loose one for sure,

View attachment 13088

Step 7 I used one of these high intensity LEDs there waterproof and i used them when i rebuilt my Jeep in the front grille and you can actually drive with them there quite bright, Just find an LED that's not to tall because your keeping the same reflector.

View attachment 13072
Step 8 Slightly enlarge the hole depending what kind of LED you obtained

View attachment 13073

Step 9 I made it a tight fit so it screwed itself into the base, I used some silicon sealer under the LED before i fitted it into the hole.

View attachment 13074

Step 10 Masking tape, 1 x Tin of White Acrylic Paint, I sheet of 120 grit wet and dry paper, Rub the cover and body until it's nice and smooth and them make sure it's clean, Apply 3 coats of paint Paint and allow to dry in between coats.

View attachment 13075 Step 11 Allow to dry over night

View attachment 13076 Step 12 I shortened the cable and always tin the wires with a soldering Iron just to make sure there's no loose ends

View attachment 13077
Step 13 I fitted a couple of male connectors so they plugged into the original connectors, Don't forget the red wire on the new LED goes to the original one with the tag on and don't forget to insulate them.



View attachment 13078
Step 14 Just reverse the process on refitting, Turn the power back on and job done that looks a lot better

View attachment 13081
Looks brand new now and is really bright compared to the original Bulb, The total cost including LED was about $12, If you noticed i left the original connectors on and also never touched the wiring, I made sure the hole i drilled was only a little bigger than before so at any stage it can be reverted back to normal bulb fitting but that won't be happening, Good Luck.

PS I have an idea about the other LED that was in the packet, I will keep you posted just have to wait until it rains again and i cant get out in the Boat.
Nice write up, @Geoff Cooper !
 

txav8r

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Yes, this is an excellent write-up and idea too! When I had my 230, the bow NAV light was the only light I didn't convert to LED. The reason was I couldn't find a 360 degree bulb that would fit the stock mount. I could have gone with Attwoods identical fixture that had an LED bulb but it was a chrome or stainless cover and I didn't want that on the bow. So this is an excellent upgrade! A link to the LED's you selected would be a great lead if you still have it and can provide it here. Once again, great write-up!
 

Geoff Cooper

Jetboaters Admiral
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Location
Thailand
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Yamaha
Year
2006
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
23
Yes, this is an excellent write-up and idea too! When I had my 230, the bow NAV light was the only light I didn't convert to LED. The reason was I couldn't find a 360 degree bulb that would fit the stock mount. I could have gone with Attwoods identical fixture that had an LED bulb but it was a chrome or stainless cover and I didn't want that on the bow. So this is an excellent upgrade! A link to the LED's you selected would be a great lead if you still have it and can provide it here. Once again, great write-up!

Thanks for that, I got the LEDs from a shop behind a street market in Bangkok, I often go for a day out and it's amazing what you can find there, I spotted them and got a pair for the Jeep while i was doing the rebuild and it wasn't until a few weeks ago i went again and being so impressed with the first pair i got another pair and didn't have a use for them at the time so when i decided to do this project the other day they suddenly came to mind and fitted the application perfectly, The thing to do is when your on your travels keep it in mind there must be others that will do the job, I will put a Photo of them in the front of the Jeep and they are really good i can drive with them at night, You can see the one just below the offside Headlamp, Next time i go i will get some details if possible but i would think the postage would be expensive from Thailand.

IMG_1373.JPG
 

txav8r

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I am sure it wouldn't be a good buy to buy from a secondary vendor internationally. I have found most any of these items available on Ebay out of China or Hong Kong for a fraction of retail, with free international shipping! I buy my LED strip lighting that way. I was wondering about a link mainly to get the details of the lamp for the membership. If you have that from the packaging or any info, such as lumens, degrees kelvin, lamp spread angle, wattage, amperage, etc., those would be really beneficial. I know that most of the lamps I looked at were just not going to give me 360 degree viewablility. So I didn't ever do the mod. And I had not seen a bright enough lamp to mount the way you did that one, to give the required 1 mile illumination here in the states. I think those may be bright enough! Good job, any info you come up with would be great! Nice looking Jeep too!
 

Geoff Cooper

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Location
Thailand
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2006
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AR
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I am sure it wouldn't be a good buy to buy from a secondary vendor internationally. I have found most any of these items available on Ebay out of China or Hong Kong for a fraction of retail, with free international shipping! I buy my LED strip lighting that way. I was wondering about a link mainly to get the details of the lamp for the membership. If you have that from the packaging or any info, such as lumens, degrees kelvin, lamp spread angle, wattage, amperage, etc., those would be really beneficial. I know that most of the lamps I looked at were just not going to give me 360 degree viewablility. So I didn't ever do the mod. And I had not seen a bright enough lamp to mount the way you did that one, to give the required 1 mile illumination here in the states. I think those may be bright enough! Good job, any info you come up with would be great! Nice looking Jeep too!
Looking at the Box there is no info on it only to say it's waterproof 100% i must admit they perform way beyond my expectations, I will see what i can do but you may be able to locate them on Ebay or a website like that by the Photo i posted and the box, Just finished a 1 year complete rebuild on the Jeep so time to relax and enjoy the Boating here, Have a look on Geoff Coopers Thailand Boating Pictures and see what you think, let me know your thoughts, Good Luck
 

txav8r

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beautiful waters there, I will have to have a look!
 

woodard1983

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I've been on google trying to find something similar for over half an hour now w/no luck :(

great write up, I would love to do it if I could find the bulbs!!
 

Bruce

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I did something similar. The LED bulb was brighter than the factory bulb. Soon after I was pulled over by water patrol who debated whether or not my green light was blue. Probably mainly a drunk check but I changed it to a stainless LED unit.
 

Geoff Cooper

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I did something similar. The LED bulb was brighter than the factory bulb. Soon after I was pulled over by water patrol who debated whether or not my green light was blue. Probably mainly a drunk check but I changed it to a stainless LED unit.
Thanks for that Bruce, Mines Blue anyway, If you look at the first Photo you can see the blue filter, We don't get water Patrols over here you have to be careful at night because many of the fishing Boats have no lights, If you look at those Photos you very kindly put on for me the Boat i took a Photo of is a local fisherman and they go out at night and many have no lights, My boat was from California and the light looks Blue to me see what you think!
 

MikeyL

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If you want to buy the lamps, on eBAY, and do not wanna enter into the bidding, you can buy them using a Buy It Now, for only $ 4.10 each, shipping included. Here's the link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-3W-LED-Eagle-Eye-White-Light-Daytime-Running-DRL-Tail-Backup-Car-556-CL018-/321342205056?pt=US_Car_Lighting&hash=item4ad17cec80.


EXTREMELY useful thread ! I wanted to take a seond and send me sincere thanks to @Geoff Cooper for a great write-up. Superb photos as well. So many Thanks, Mikey Lulejian - Lake Oconee, GA
 

Geoff Cooper

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Location
Thailand
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2006
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AR
Boat Length
23
If you want to buy the lamps, on eBAY, and do not wanna enter into the bidding, you can buy them using a Buy It Now, for only $ 4.10 each, shipping included. Here's the link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-3W-LED-Eagle-Eye-White-Light-Daytime-Running-DRL-Tail-Backup-Car-556-CL018-/321342205056?pt=US_Car_Lighting&hash=item4ad17cec80.

EXTREMELY useful thread ! I wanted to take a seond and send me sincere thanks to @Geoff Cooper for a great write-up. Superb photos as well. So many Thanks, Mikey Lulejian - Lake Oconee, GA
Thanks i appreciate that I'm only to pleased you enjoyed it, Go and take a look at Geoff Coopers Thailand Boating pictures on here you may like those also
 

txav8r

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Where do we find those photos?
 

whaler7626

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BigN8

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Seems a little complicated than just buying a while new assembly from attwood. I bought the stainless steel version that came with LEDs.

Nice step by step how to though
 
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