Country Dave’s Lowe 1752 modification/restoration project.

[Pweisbrod]

Hey Dave! Check out my Suzuki question in the motors section: let me know what you think.

 

[bigwave]

Looking good Dave, I like the side lights on the console. Almost time to put that thing back in the boat. =D>

 

[kfa4303]

Looking good! Although, I am curious about the Nav lights on the helm. Is it even legal for them to be on the console? As I understand the regulations, they need to be on the bow and cover a certain visual range. It seems like it would be too easy for one of the lights to become blocked, or obscured while underway. Just curious.

 

[bigwave]

I am sure he is using those for courtesy lights for the bow area since they are both white. Looks like a good idea to keep the light forward for walking around and such.

 

[Badbagger]

I'm almost hearing that BIG word - SPLASH :mrgreen:

Well done sir =D> =D>

 

[Jonboat Jerry]

As others have said, Very neat, clean, and well planned Dave. =D>
I couldn't agree more. Do you have a target date for launch?

 

[Country Dave]

Wow guys thanks,

I haven’t even had time to check the forum. Spending time with family and new girlfriend :mrgreen: Anyway they are indeed NAV lights the LED bulbs are white but light up red and green respectively. I’m not sure if it’s legal or not to mount them on the console but I’m thinking they are because I see a lot of brand new high end boats rigged this way.

I’m pretty sure they have to pass and inspection before they can be sold. Look at this brand new Maverick. You can clearly see the NAV lights on the console. The top of my console is way up over the front deck.

As far as splash time. I’m just working at a slow pace, just so freaking hot and I’m on the job allot. I’m going to try and splash her and run pretty soon a few weeks to a month. Completed with the Seadek and polling platform, maybe and of Sep beginning of Oct. Thanks again guys for the vote of confidence.

 

[kfa4303]

Well, just because a popular manufacturer makes them, doesn't necessarily mean they're legal. The article below may help. Based on this and some other articles I've read, I don't think the helm-mounted nav lights are legal. Neither are many of the popular "shark eye" style nav lights that are sold (i.e. Lavorsi, etc...) by some rather high end makers (ECC, Anoka, et al.). I don't think it's a matter of brightness, but one of range of vision. It seems like they would be in the way at night by continually lighting the inside of the boat, and in two different colors no less. Seems like it would impair your overall night vision. It may be worth flagging down a USCG/FWC next time you're on the water, just to be sure. Tickets are no fun. Congrats on the new girl friend! Proof positive that boats are indeed chick magnets.

https://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/content/general/4_2_b.php

 

[Country Dave]

I just got off the phone with Coast guard station Fort Lauderdale My home port” and the answer is, as long as they are not obstructed and the lights meet the distance requirements it is legal to mount them on your console.

Hey thanks for the new girlfriend comment, she's pretty hot............... :mrgreen:

 

[Country Dave]

https://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum//showthread.php?t=432283

I just ran across this, pretty interesting. seems it more prevalent than I thought. Ether way I'm not worried about it. The CG said its good to go. :mrgreen:

 

[RivRunR]

you may run into problems if they consider them to be "obstructed" because boats approaching from starboard can't see the port-side light, and vice versa.

 

[Country Dave]

RivRunR » Today, 10:36[/url]"]you may run into problems if they consider them to be "obstructed" because boats approaching from starboard can't see the port-side light, and vice versa.

Nice to here from you River Run,

Well the bottom line is the CG told me it’s ok and to tell you the truth I really don’t care. :LOL2: I see so many boats with the port and starboard lights not next to each other. Ever tug in port has them on the opposite sides of the wheel house. I’ve seen this a lot on other boats a swell, boats that are a little bigger in size but now I’m starting to see this on smaller boats as well.
I got the name and rank of the CG guy I talked to so worst case I get stopped and they give me chit about the lights I drop the name. Again I’m not really sweating it……………….. :mrgreen:

 

[mbweimar]

Dave, I did the same thing on my boat. My only complaint is that the light really obstructs your view. When its pitch black outside, all I can see is red and green relfecting off my swivel seat. The white paint on your boat will likely reflect even more.

Just throwing that out there. I still think I'm gonna keep mine in the same place on my new console though.

 

[Country Dave]

mbweimar » Today, 08:01[/url]"]Dave, I did the same thing on my boat. My only complaint is that the light really obstructs your view. When its pitch black outside, all I can see is red and green relfecting off my swivel seat. The white paint on your boat will likely reflect even more.

Just throwing that out there. I still think I'm gonna keep mine in the same place on my new console though.

Hey thanks for the insight,

I’m going to try it and see what happens. This rig will probably only be used from dusk to dawn about 10% o the time. I do often start out into the bay a half hour or so before the sun starts to peak its head up but the light is in my favor.

I know this sounds crazy but when I’m camping and we run out at night to say the mouth or something we run without any lights. Believe it or not it’s safer; no one runs Flamingo at night except for us. It’s pretty much pitch black, zero light pollution.

I can see the outline of the mangroves by the moon and starlight and that keeps me in the middle of the channel. Out there at night if you run any lights at all it just takes your vision away completely. I guess I could do the old pirate trick and put a patch over one eye and switch it at night. :LOL2:

 

[kfa4303]

Be careful running at night without any lights. They po-po may not like that. If you are on the water after sundown you must have Nav and stern lights. While nav lights can certainly contribute to night blindness, to a certain extent, it is greatly reduced when they are on the bow rather than near the helm. Not to mention the fact that the nav lights are meant to demarcate the front/bow not only for your own advantage when pulling up to the dock/ramp/trailer, but for other boaters so they can get a rough idea of the size of your vessel by judging the distance between the stern and bow/nav lights. Tug boas and other large vessels have completely different laws and regulations governing their light displays. These various lighting configurations help others identify what type of vessel your piloting. If you light your skiff like a tug boat, or your tug boat like a skiff you could have quite a few legal and safety issues on your hands. Plus, I don't think FWC is going to accept the "well lots of other manufacturers do it, so it must be ok" argument. For the sake of any others that may read this thread in the future, double and triple check the lighting regs in your region. Just saying...... :/

 

[smackdaddy53]

I read somewhere that this is not Dave's first boat or day on the water...i had to!

 

[Country Dave]

smackdaddy53 » Today, 11:31[/url]"]I read somewhere that this is not Dave's first boat or day on the water...i had to!

:LOL2: Thanks smak, you beat me to it.

When I said no body runs Flamingo at night besides us, "us meaning myself and my boys" I mean no one, not even the park rangers. Unless they get called out for an emergency it ant happening. You have got to be on your game to run Flamingo in the daytime.

The guy I learned from starting going there with his dad since he was about 6 years old. he's 46 now and still goes probably 2 or 3 times a month. Although I would not conceder myself to be a rebel or anything, I really could care less about the NAV lights not being on the bow. Again "listen carefully now", the US Coast Guard said it not illegal to mount them on my console so, I'm going to leave them there..................................... :LOL22:

 

[Pweisbrod]

Well, I don't care either way, so just put the thing in water and let's see some monster snook and whatnot in it.

 

[bigwave]

smackdaddy53 » Yesterday, 10:31[/url]"]I read somewhere that this is not Dave's first boat or day on the water...i had to!

Good one Smack.......who cares about your stupid lights......lets go fishing. :mrgreen:

 

[Country Dave]

bigwave » Today, 09:45[/url]"]

smackdaddy53 » Yesterday, 10:31[/url]"]I read somewhere that this is not Dave's first boat or day on the water...i had to!

Good one Smack.......who cares about your stupid lights......lets go fishing. :mrgreen:

LMAO,
Big were the heck have you been hiding. I heard the grouper bite is on big time over there.