Need advise

[tara11]

I am planning on removing my docking lights I will have two holes about the size of a large softballs, how do i fix them, is it something I can do myself, or do i need to hire a high priced guy here in LA to do it for me, how hard would it be to repair, I have no idea ?

 

[Bryan 2530]

Check this article out. That is a pretty large repair, if you are not confident with your skill, you may want to hire the job out. If comfortable, go fo it. How big are the holes?

I would do it myself, post some pics and I'm sure we could talk you through it. Be sure to grind back the repair area to a bevel so ther is more surface area for the patch to bond to.

Good luck!!


http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/17.htm

 

[tara11]

Thanks, I read that last night and any other info I could find, I may hire it out only because if I do it, I know I will see the patch, if i hire out , I will expect to barely if not at all see the patch, so I am calling a guy today to get a price to repair, that may also influence my descesion to do it or not, but i will keep you posted !! Have a great day !

 

[tara11]

These are the lights I am removing, I 5200 back together when they came apart, they pushed inward, with the mount bolted to the boat and the bulb and the backing went inside the anchor locker, like and Easter egg you out candy inside at Easter for an egg hunt for the kids, same design Allen screws and slightly different sizes hold them together, I thought I bought top of the line, but not very in rough seas, at least for me ! The white around the outside of the bulb is 5200 holding them in and keeping the water out, there is an Oring there and 2 Allen screws that hold them together !

 

[Jersey Jim]

Why are you removing them? It looks like a perfect installation. Are parts no longer available for them?

 

[Keith FDNY]

I agree with jersey jim they look real good i like them alot!!!Now you have me thinking of doing lites like that!!!Well good luck on your project keep us posted!!!

 

[Bryan 2530]

The reson is two big holes that could potentially take on water in rough seas. Very valid point. I like the idea of the lights and would love a pair on my boat but haven't yet because of that very reason.

My father has a 40 Ocean with similiar lights, different manufacturer. We ended up using a piece of exhaust hose with clamps to give the original design a little more backing. they have not come out and we had her in some rough seas but the Ocean rides a little differnt that the Parker in a head sea.

It seems you could put plexy glass over those lights to keep them from pushing in if the bow was stuffed. You could match the oval and use the existing screws to make a clear plate to cover the light. Make a gasket out of 5200 and let it dry totally before installing so it could be removed. I would try that before removing them, just a thought.

 

[96TL]

I would leave that job to a pro.

 

[Keith FDNY]

I would leave it to the pros as well you can open a can of worms and you dont need anymore of a headache!!!

 

[Megabyte]

http://classicparker.com/phpBB2/files/light1_580.jpg

I love that "look"!

 

[tara11]

You know, that Plexyglass idea is not that bad !! To answer your ? they did pop in and we took alot of water into the bildge and bascally there was about 6 inches or so of water, real bummer, so I have 5200 them together, really not sure what to do, I am pretty sure they will not come apart now, but still kind of not to happy anymore with them since that happened, about 3 weeks ago, but will keep you posted on what I do !

 

[Bryan 2530]

I don't know if you have worked with plastics before but once you cut out the shape to fit, you could round over the edges with a router, wetsand down to 800 grit or so then buff to a shine. Countersink the screws or bolts and it would look factory, hell you could probably sell them.

 

[UnWired]

Can't you find a set of quality lights that will fit back in to the same holes? That looks awesome and it's an excellent idea!!

EDIT- Best idea came actually from my wife (yeah, not typical to have a smart boating wife) Why don't you make a custom fiberglass housing to go around the back of the lights, then, just gel them over from the back side? So, even if the lights did leak, the water can only go behind the light itself and not into the boat. Like a fiberglass "Pocket" behind it.

-if not-

Might be a little expensive, but find a CNC metal fabricator who can put the exact size of those lights into a CAD program and mill yourself a set of light rings out of Aluminum, then, have it powder coated or even POR15 marine the housing. Could have it anodized also, but that's not usually the answer. We've had alot of stuff custom fab'd for the boat and it's usually not too bad. It's gotta be better than trying to fill holes just because of poor quality lights. Take a look at Pool lights also (Just for the design). Those things sit at the bottom of pools under intense pressure and don't leak. The o-ring, glass and bezzel on those are designed correctly and might help you make lights that work and don't flood the boat. Good luck, but stick with that look if you can, it's awesome!

 

[tara11]

Well with all the ideas I have aquired, they are coming out and I am going to find a way to make them stay and be useful, they do work great when it is dark and you want to see right in front of the boat, like going into a slip etc, so I will keep you posted and when I begin to do whatever I do, I will post the progress !

 

[tara11]

Well, I found the makers web site as the company was sold, then get a copy of my receipt, looks like they are sending me a new pair for no charge, we like them , just not all glued together, so i will keep you guys updated, but the email I got today said, if i can find the receipt, they will send me a replacement pair, and i did and have emailed to them ! :wink: :wink:

 

[Wicho]

Thats great that you were able to find an alternative solution b/c I really like those lights. Let us know if the new pair seals up better than the old.
Cheers... Will

 

[TheOtherLine]

I think Chris's wife had the smartest idea. I would do that regardless of whether you get new lights or not. Should be able to find a small box somewhere. PVC or FibGL.

 

[tara11]

I spoke to the guy today, he said he gets they melt all the time from being left on for a long time, but never like mine, so they want then back to see what went wrong, but they are sending me a new pair today and they apparently are the newer verision and the guy I spoke to was very helpful and nice ! So good ending to a bad story hardly ever happens that way with me !