2006 FV 270 anyone remove or replace the searchlight?

luvinlife

I know it's still a ways off before I can get to it here in New England but I am trying to get ideas. I posted a while back about my searchlight. It is the Jabsco stainless steel bullet shaped light. It woks somewhat but flops around underway and doesn't always rotate unless I fiddle with the remote. I tried emailing Harvey Marine who it seems repairs them but got no response. A direct replacement is over 900 deer, which is too much in my opinion. I don't drive the boat at night but do use it sometimes in coves when staying overnight. I have two questions. Has anyone just removed theirs and replace it with a small flag mast?  I could just buy a handheld searchlight. Are you left with holes in the bow rail that look bad?  Or has anyone tried the much less expensive wireless remote LED lights as a replacement?  The white plastic ones. Just a few hundred for those. Are they junk or will it suffice? Any input is welcome. 

luvinlife

Considering replacing with a wireless Stryker Go Light that I see as low as 285 dollars. 

Willhound

Mine has a crack in the housing and that's my eventual plan. Several members here have I believe. 

zaverin1

Go with a white plastic jabsco
get New or used one and it will
wire right in and can be used with old control
i spliced mine right at the bow 

rasbury

Probably striped gears...have had mime apart, did not look like rocket science in there...

Dirtythirty

Went with the Stryker LED, wireless .  Unbelievably bright !  It has a key fob so you can control it either on or off the boat . Super easy install !!!!  

Cableguy Greg

I have the halogen GoLight Stryker on my boat. I have the dash mounted wireless control. It is a great light. I just looked at their site and they have the LED retrofit bulb on sale. It isn't cheap, but I might get it.

Willhound

While I appreciate the "classic" look of the old bullet style it does kind of stick up like a sore thumb. Really like the more streamlined look of the Stryker.

Liberty44140

Dirtythirty said:

Went with the Stryker LED, wireless .  Unbelievably bright !  It has a key fob so you can control it either on or off the boat . Super easy install !!!!  

Couldn’t justify replacement unless mine breaks but that sure is a darn good looking spot light!

rasbury

My bulb was burnt out when I first got my boat- spent the 80 for a new one and I think I only have turned it on to aggravate my neighbors at the house or trying to spot gators at the marina...I used it only one time as it was getting late heading back to the dock. Would always want to make sure I had a good working light and  should have a back up.

Dream_Inn

Yes, I try not to use mine very often either.  It hinders your night vision drastically!  It drives me crazy when boats have them on like their car headlights!  I have a narrow, low-height bridge at my marina.  That is really the only place I use it (to see water level - for fitting under, and to just see under it since my width is over 14 and the bridge width is 20).

Dirty, light looks great.  Mine is same shape, but not LED.

Cableguy Greg

I don't use mine very often either. I will use it to spot channel markers on the river since hitting them can cause some damage. A quick on/off is all one needs.

I agree with you @Dream_Inn about people who own boats that use them as headlights. We see it more often than not on the river that I boat on. You can't tell if the boat is heading towards you or away from you. The other thing that we see is pontoons that have the downward facing multi-color water lights running up river with them on, cycling through all colors of the spectrum. They are so bright that it washes out the nav lights. Both drive me nuts.

luvinlife

Do the wires run through the bow rail?  Will the new Jabsco work with the current remote on my dash?  I like everything to work and look stock. 

LaRea

Forget the remote spotlight.  On a moving boat, it's too hard to keep it pointed where you want.  A handheld is more effective (assuming equal brightness).  I have one that uses the same battery as my cordless drill, and it's way brighter than my bow spotlight.  

 

https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/18v-one-dual-power-led-spotlight 

And keep in mind:  if you shine your spotlight at another boat, you kill that captain's night vision in addition to your own.  

J3ff

How much better do the LED ones work ?  

zaverin1

Yes all wiring is identical from old models to new.
basicallt it can be the bullet as model
or square plastic.
only difference is some models have high and low setting and some just use single filament bulb.
Note that all signal wires are already there regardless of what you go with. Jabsco will be easier to figure out since it’s color coded.
yes wires are ran thru the top bow rail.

zaverin1

My boat had the ss bullet style light which was missing when I purchased the boat. I switched to the plastic housing jabsco and everything worked out great. I had to drill two extra holes in the bow rail mount to fit the square light vs oval.

luvinlife

Right now I am leaning towards replacing with a cheaper plastic Jabsco and hope the wires line up and that original dashboard remote will work. 

zaverin1

Yes it will 

luvinlife

Thanks Zaverin.  Unless I can find a simple fix for my stainless searchlight, I will replace with the plastic Jabsco. 

Stodge

LaRea said:

Forget the remote spotlight.  On a moving boat, it's too hard to keep it pointed where you want.  A handheld is more effective (assuming equal brightness).  I have one that uses the same battery as my cordless drill, and it's way brighter than my bow spotlight.  

 

https://www.ryobitools.com/power-tools/products/details/18v-one-dual-power-led-spotlight 

And keep in mind:  if you shine your spotlight at another boat, you kill that captain's night vision in addition to your own.  

I disagree....sorta.  I use my fixed spotlight when coming into my canal system at night.  I have to steer and can't do that and manage a light at the same time.  But I also carry a compact floating waterproof LED handheld spotlight for times when the fixed mount is not practical.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-Fatmax-Waterproof-LED-Spotlight/21708661?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227015754260&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40839780992&wl4=pla-78652803632&wl5=9016843&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=21708661&wl13=&veh=sem

zaverin1

I agree stodge.
i use my light when coming back from fireworks to my marina or coming back in the dark up Clinton river from the Clem.
i think it’s a common sense to carry a backup light of some sort.

LaRea

The handheld should be operated by the first mate, not the captain.  

zaverin1

Disco ball 
party!!!!!!!

luvinlife

Get down and boogie. 

rasbury

The mounted light and remote is one if the coolest thing on my boat- next to pushing button for the anchor!

luvinlife

To be honest,Raz, I think mine is way cool too. I don't drive my boat in the dark but do use the search light on the hook in coves to check things out (always courteous of other boaters).  That's why I'd rather replace it versus removing it. 

LaRea

I'm not joking when I say this:  The only useful thing my spotlight ever does is illuminate a dancer on the foredeck.  It's an important task, but I don't consider the spotlight to be part of my boat's navigation equipment.  

Handymans342

When you need one to avoid all the logs in the Potomac you will be glad you have one

Liberty44140

Agree that the need is rare but I’ve pulled in to a small harbor at night with no moon and sure I could have done it without the spot light but man was it nice to have it. Same with seeing and picking up mooring balls at night. I’m a big Ryobi fan and love that spotlight that was shared, may have to look for that as it would be easier to have that too. 

Carsnmorellc

Ok for the people who have upgraded their spot light to the Stryker LED version, how much brighter is it?  Mine works fine right now, but my lake party days go well into the night and my lake does not have any type of illuminating markers.  I managed all last year but I would like more light if possible.