Question about installing bow light

jeffh · **Posted:** Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:27 pm

I am installing some of my electrical parts and have a question about the nav lights. Is there some sort of grommet or gasket that you guys use when running the wires through the deck? It just does not seem right to drill a hole for two wires without some sort of insert and a way to seal it. I suppose I can fill the hole with sealant after I run the wires.

vupilot · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 5:03 am

I drilled the hole as small as possible, sealed the inside of the hole with epoxy and then, once that set, ran the wires and sealed them in place with sealant.

jcallends · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 7:01 am

I'm assuming the hole is hidden by the light fixture then the easiest way is to use silicone found in hardware stores as bathtub caulk. Comes in a tube and is inexpensive and does not require any mixing.

DaveLott · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:32 am

Of course this is for those folks that are not so crazy as to recess their decks bling. In that case you have gaping orifices under everything.

billy c · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:43 am

my installations have a 1" hole the wires run thru as well as room to vent and allow condensation to exit the light housing

jeffh · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:04 pm

Thanks everyone. I have a tube of 3M 5200 for sealing these types of things. I'm also going to try using a piece of weather striping between the edge of the light and the deck to provide a good seal and padding.

upspirate · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:22 pm

Don't use 5200...when you go to replace the bulb or refinish the deck, you'll be in trouble!!!

sschefer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:14 am

I always try to run some sort of conduit if I can. I run a piece of 2" PVC from the helm to the transom under the gunwale and a piece of 1/2" PVC to the bow. This way if I need to replace wiring or add later I can, I always leave a pull string in the conduit. Shortly after I did my first restoration boat that way I saw an add by Stratos showing how they were doing the same thing.

I know a lot of you like to run your wiring below deck but I shy away from that because it's not always easy to get to a problem in an emergency. Fuel senders, blower motors and fwd bilge pumps are the exception.

Iggy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:56 am

I will do one of two things for cuts in my hull/deck for fasteners and appertenances.

If its just a 'hole' for pass-through items, like cables, wiring, tubing, ect.. I will drill the hole, soak the edge with epoxy, let that set, then use a bit of sealant (silicone) around the fixture.

If its a 'bolt' or screw-hole port, I drill it oversized then fill it back up with thickened epoxy, then re-drill the proper sized pilot hole inside the epoxy. Now in my case, I am doing this before my deck/hull/transom is 'finished' so I can sand it a touch.

jeffh · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:41 pm

Good to know. So, I'll just use the 5200 for my thru-hull fittings and some regular silicone to fill the hole I drill for the bow light.

Steve, I also thought about some sort of conduit. PVC seemed a little heavy and I would need to secure it somehow. I'm looking for some ribbed conduit that is flexible. Something like the stuff that is used to route stereo and home theater wiring.

Iggy, I know the method you are talking about. I read a little about that when I was building my wooden kayak. But, as you said, my hull and deck are finished and clear coated. I hate drilling any holes at this point, but it has to be done.

upspirate wrote:

Don't use 5200...when you go to replace the bulb or refinish the deck, you'll be in trouble!!!

Glen-L.com

Question about installing bow light

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