PSG-1 said:I ordered the lights Tuesday morning from Black Bear Sporting Goods. Imagine my surprise when they showed up the very next day! Talk about fast service!
Anyhow, after unpacking the lights, and going through some thought process, I delved into the project. Here we go:
Light assemblies, covers, and gaskets:
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First reference lines laid out:
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using the template and a soapstone to mark the cut-out:
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OK, no turning back now. Drilling the first guide hole for the sawzall:
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Making the cut:
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Definitely no turning back now! This is a big hole:
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As you may have noticed, I had to remove my DNR registration sticker, it was right where I wanted to put the lights. Got a new one on the way.
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Checking the fit:
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Port side light installed (test fit)
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At this point, I had to run a new set of wires from the console. Going through conduit, I find that using a length of steel cable, with the end melted to a taper, is more effective than a fish tape, as it can bend in any direction.
Using the fish tape to pull some wires from starboard to port:
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Tools scattered on the deck:
PSG-1 said:As you may have noticed, I had to remove my DNR registration sticker, it was right where I wanted to put the lights. Got a new one on the way.
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whistler said:PSG-1 said:As you may have noticed, I had to remove my DNR registration sticker, it was right where I wanted to put the lights. Got a new one on the way.
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If I am looking at this right from the residue left on your boat you had the old DNR stickers in the wrong place from where they want them. They should go to the rear of the boat from the numbers. On the Port side this will be at the end of the number as it is read and on the starboard side it would be at the beginning of the Registration number as it is read but still at the rear of the boat from the number. Not meaning this to sound like I'm harping on ya or anything but you'd be surprised how many put them on wrong. It looks like that will work better for your application also. I have followed your build and your craftsmanship is remarkable. Good Job!
gouran01 said:those look great and far better than the ones I was planning on mounting on my bow, IE another thing to trip on! glad I haven't purchased them yet!
PSG-1 said:whistler said:PSG-1 said:As you may have noticed, I had to remove my DNR registration sticker, it was right where I wanted to put the lights. Got a new one on the way.
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If I am looking at this right from the residue left on your boat you had the old DNR stickers in the wrong place from where they want them. They should go to the rear of the boat from the numbers. On the Port side this will be at the end of the number as it is read and on the starboard side it would be at the beginning of the Registration number as it is read but still at the rear of the boat from the number. Not meaning this to sound like I'm harping on ya or anything but you'd be surprised how many put them on wrong. It looks like that will work better for your application also. I have followed your build and your craftsmanship is remarkable. Good Job!
Thanks for the compliments. As far as the DNR registration stickers, the officers don't really seem to mind whether it's positioned to the front of the numbers, or to the rear, just as long as there's a sticker on the boat, and it's current.
Compared to some of the stuff I've seen, the sticker placement is minor. I've seen folks put their numbers on one side to read correctly, and on the other side of the boat, they're dyslexic, i.e. on the starboard side, it might read "SC 1234 BD" but on the port side, it reads "DB 4321 CS"....seriously, I have seen it done like this!! LOL (Then again, this IS South Carolina, nearly dead last in education, so, it doesn't surprise me!)
Besides that, I don't think DNR officers are going to worry too much about me, at least not here locally. I know all of them, and they know that I try to go above and beyond to be legal, as well as my track record of reporting violations to them, and assisting them in apprehending violators, conducting searches, etc. Well over 500 cases made against violators over the past 6 or 7 years due to my efforts alone.
At one point, I had 2 DNR Sergeants recommend me for the position of a deputy wildlife officer, but, with budget cuts, etc, positions like that are being eliminated, not created, unfortunately.
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