Tower Nav Light

[fentong]

Can anyone advise whether it is worth while installing a Tower "stern" light? I have a new dimention tower and they sell a single white nav light for the tower. I've seen several threads of fishing wires and I think that part is ok. What I was wondering is if there is any advantage to having the light up top versus the factory stern location. I was hoping that perhaps the tower light wouldn't be so bright in the cabin area. The factory light makes it real hard to see shoreline and other obtacles at night. Also do you find that if you use the tower light that you don't need to worry about using the factory stern light?

Please let me know.

[Burns-5]

If you have the light on the tower you do not need the one on the stern.

[Tomsinamerica]

Its a while since I studied this but I think... and someone please correct me if I'm wrong but the white light should actually be at the highest practical point. For example, if your tower is higher than your stern light then it will be blocked at certain angles by the tower.

Essentially - The white light is meant to be visible through 360 degrees.

The other advantage of mounting it high is actually to increase your night vision. There should be some guard to prevent you from looking at the light while driving, it should be shining outwards rather than downwards. Make sense? Probably not.. one too many beers for the evening I think.

[russlars]

The biggest advantage to having the white nav light on the tower is that we like to board and ski after sunset after all of the wallys have packed it in for the day and the stern mounted light would be in the way of the rope. The tower light is not very bright and I haven't noticed any problem visualizing the shore with it on vs. it being off. Also helps to illuminate the interior of the boat when offloading stuff. Since having the tower light, my factory stern mounted light has had zero use.

[JohnE]

The biggest advantage to having the white nav light on the tower is that we like to board and ski after sunset after all of the wallys have packed it in for the day and the stern mounted light would be in the way of the rope. The tower light is not very bright and I haven't noticed any problem visualizing the shore with it on vs. it being off. Also helps to illuminate the interior of the boat when offloading stuff. Since having the tower light, my factory stern mounted light has had zero use.


Plus with the tower light the marine patrol can see that you are breaking the law.:D

[trickskier]

Plus with the tower light the marine patrol can see that you are breaking the law.:D

Hey John 45999


WATER SKI REGULATIONS

The operator of a vessel towing someone on skis or another aquaplaning device must either have an observer, in addition to the operator, on board who is attendant to the actions of the skier or have and use a wide-angle rear view mirror.
No one may ski or aquaplane between the hours of ½ hour past sunset to a ½ hour before sunrise.
No one may water ski or use another aquaplaning device unless they are wearing a U.S.C.G. approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD). Inflatable personal flotation devices are prohibited.
No one may ski or use another aquaplaning device while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
The operator of a vessel towing a skier may not pull the skier close enough to a fixed object or another vessel that there is risk of collision.

[russlars]

Plus with the tower light the marine patrol can see that you are breaking the law.:D
I've actually had a little experience with the boat cops on that infraction.:( Fortunately our primary boating location is relatively free of enforcement. We've even thought of attaching glow sticks to the skier so it is easier to locate them when they are down.;)

[sortloff]

I've purchased the tower light from new dimensions to install on my '01 zeroflex tower. I'll let you know if I run into problems. My plan is to cut off the old ski tow right at the top of the small tubing and then weld on the new one. I might modify the new unit by removing some of the metal on the bottom, making it look more like the original. I'm planning to run a metal wire or cable thru the tubing prior to welding so that I can pull the new wiring.

[Monte]

Hey John 45999


WATER SKI REGULATIONS

The operator of a vessel towing someone on skis or another aquaplaning device must either have an observer, in addition to the operator, on board who is attendant to the actions of the skier or have and use a wide-angle rear view mirror.
No one may ski or aquaplane between the hours of ½ hour past sunset to a ½ hour before sunrise.
No one may water ski or use another aquaplaning device unless they are wearing a U.S.C.G. approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD). Inflatable personal flotation devices are prohibited.
No one may ski or use another aquaplaning device while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
The operator of a vessel towing a skier may not pull the skier close enough to a fixed object or another vessel that there is risk of collision.


Freakin party pooper:mad::D8p

[Gamble]

I have mine on the tower and love it, and like others have said, my stern light hasn't seen any use. It's outta the way up top and provides good ambient light also.

[sortloff]

Here's the current equipment. I'll post a photo upon completion.
46002

[trickskier]

Maybe this will clear things up..............

An all-round white light (if less than 39.4 feet long) or both a masthead light and a sternlight. These lights must be visible from a distance of at least two miles away on a dark, clear night. The all-round white light (or the masthead light) must be at least 3.3 feet (one meter) higher than the sidelights.


46003

[SkiDog]

Hey John 45999


WATER SKI REGULATIONS

The operator of a vessel towing someone on skis or another aquaplaning device must either have an observer, in addition to the operator, on board who is attendant to the actions of the skier or have and use a wide-angle rear view mirror.
No one may ski or aquaplane between the hours of ½ hour past sunset to a ½ hour before sunrise.
No one may water ski or use another aquaplaning device unless they are wearing a U.S.C.G. approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD). Inflatable personal flotation devices are prohibited.
No one may ski or use another aquaplaning device while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
The operator of a vessel towing a skier may not pull the skier close enough to a fixed object or another vessel that there is risk of collision.

So, I guess ski jumping is against the law then, huh?

[Sodar]

I am not sure if the towers are the same as mine, but I have a piece that will allow you to connect a light to the tower easily.

If your tower is like mine, the top of the ski pull actually unscrews. Here is what it look like.
46028

You can unscrew the top.
46029

Replace it with this one that has to threaded holes and one thru-hole to run your light wire.
46030

If you want this one, let me know... it was an extra I have lying around.
46031

[JohnE]

Hey John 45999


WATER SKI REGULATIONS

The operator of a vessel towing someone on skis or another aquaplaning device must either have an observer, in addition to the operator, on board who is attendant to the actions of the skier or have and use a wide-angle rear view mirror.
No one may ski or aquaplane between the hours of ½ hour past sunset to a ½ hour before sunrise.
No one may water ski or use another aquaplaning device unless they are wearing a U.S.C.G. approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD). Inflatable personal flotation devices are prohibited.
No one may ski or use another aquaplaning device while impaired by alcohol or other drugs.
The operator of a vessel towing a skier may not pull the skier close enough to a fixed object or another vessel that there is risk of collision.

Um, Trick.....my skiing is enhanced by the alcohol, not impaired.:D And I don't use any other drugs.8p

[trickskier]

Um, Trick.....my skiing is enhanced by the alcohol, not impaired.:D And I don't use any other drugs.8p

Well then, I'll pull you and that should enhance your experience even more....................:D

[fentong]

Sodar, thanks for the great pictures. The finished product looks great. I spoke with Chad at NDT today and he says there are two types of Pylons (or whatever you call the thing you attach the rope to). One is threaded and one has a bolt. He says he needs to see a picture of my pylon taken from above to be sure if the light will fit. I ordered replacement rubbers for my board racks today and held off on ordering the light until I can get to the boat and take a picture. The shape of your pylon cap is similar to mine but your's was a little more square on top. Can you tell me if it was tough to spin the cap off (i.e. did they use locktight)?

[sortloff]

Got my new ski tow welded on. I posted a pic of the old one a few posts back. I really think I'm going to enjoy not messing with the old anchor light. The wires were a little bit of a challenge, since the tubing that I needed to run the wires in was not the tube that the ski tow mounted to. I actually had to drill two small holes in one of the cross members to fish the wire thru to the other side. It was a pain, but worth it for the final product.
46372

[JohnnyB]

Nice to be able to just flip the NAV switch when its getting dark instead of stopping, digging around to find your pole mounted light, putting it in, etc......

Also, you'll only get one ticket for skiing after hours not two--you won't get one for operating without proper nav lights after dark :cool:

[sortloff]

Plus it looks good on your way back to the ramp after that last sunset run. Ahhhh. I'm ready for long Summer days!

[ttu]

not to thread jack, but i have a 07 x2. i am pretty sure it worked when i got the boat.

last summer we went out for a late cruise and i turned the switch on and nothing. replaced the bulb and still nothing. any ideas?

[Monte]

not to thread jack, but i have a 07 x2. i am pretty sure it worked when i got the boat.

last summer we went out for a late cruise and i turned the switch on and nothing. replaced the bulb and still nothing. any ideas?

I would trace the wire with a voltage light. Any chance it is a fuse? If it is not the fuse and the hot wire is hot at the light. Your ground is disconnected. It could have rattled loose.

[mitch]

I use the tower nav lite and like it. Before I had my tower I had the reg stern lite and it made it way too bright in the cabin of the boat. I added a 2 strips of black elec tape to block the light coming into the cabin. The lite was still visible from the rear. Worked perfect no probs

Can anyone advise whether it is worth while installing a Tower "stern" light? I have a new dimention tower and they sell a single white nav light for the tower. I've seen several threads of fishing wires and I think that part is ok. What I was wondering is if there is any advantage to having the light up top versus the factory stern location. I was hoping that perhaps the tower light wouldn't be so bright in the cabin area. The factory light makes it real hard to see shoreline and other obtacles at night. Also do you find that if you use the tower light that you don't need to worry about using the factory stern light?

Please let me know.

[ttu]

I would trace the wire with a voltage light. Any chance it is a fuse? If it is not the fuse and the hot wire is hot at the light. Your ground is disconnected. It could have rattled loose.


monte, thanks for the info.

remember i am a insurance agent, not a electrical engineer.:rolleyes:

[CantRepeat]

The thought of not messing with the transom light was all I needed to order my NDT with the light, which was free at the time.