Spotlight Discussion

[CEShawn]

Okay, so first off I know this isn't a perfect spot to put a post about a spotlight but figuring they have a circuit board in them I will put it here...

I have a ACR RL-75 that I need to replace as the vertical motor is shot. Not sure if i can just grab the motor and install it but some of the plastic casing is worn and new light is only $225. Anyone ever go try replacing the little servo motor? Sadly its probably one of those things that the sum of the unit is 10 times as much as a new one.

Then comes location. Right now its located on the mast which is perfect in a sense. Problem one is I can't put the HD Radar up there because its to low now. He had a big 4' array spinning over it which was fine for him. Right now I just located the radar ontop for the fall to get her home. I want to return her to the top of the old mount.

So now I need to move this light.

We'll in an ideal world I would have a welder put one bracket ontop of radar on the mast, another landing. Not having a great luck in doing that and afraid if I have to pay for a retail welder, I will pay through the roof. I was thinking of even doing the fabrication work myself so then the guy just needs to pop up there and lay about 12" of bead or hell just tab it in.

I know its aluminum and I have ZERO experience with it. If it was steel, besides being a rusted mess I'd do it. Part of me was almost wondering about buying a cheap MIG unit with the crappy flux in wire bit and just tabbing it up there as I have a sheet of 6061. Then of course returning the unit, lol. Bad mojo there...

How much do you think it would cost to get this job done?

Then I was thinking about putting a lip under the light, on that frame, so I would not get any glare back on the bow. Have people done that?

Then of course, the last option is to just mount the light on the bow as a GOOGAN but wouldn't have to worry about alot of things minus earlier corrision...

Jesus, what happened with my cropping...

 

[petrel]

Shawn, there must be someone in your vicinity who could do a small welding job for a spotlight mount. Hopefully someone on here can give you a good lead.

 

[Helen L]

whats the top of the mast like? any room for it? sheet metal screws to mount it there? whatever you do dont mount it on the bow. I have a manual 7" spotlight thru bulkhead handle right above the helm. doesnt really glare on the bow since the light is so focused.

side note does the fore floodlight have a hood? thatll kill you nightvision with glare Ive had to add hoods on the underside to my 2 fore MH floodlights because of glare and theyre all the way up in the tower.

 

[Tunascapes]

I guess you can call me a Googan. Works the balls and doesn't mess with any of my visibility. No glare too.

 

[Helen L]

I say no to the bow because if youre fishing offshore and start burying the bow say good bye to the spot light. also with dock lines, anchoring it could be in the way. just my opinion. take a lot of spray up there too.

 

[Tunascapes]

I don't disagree at all. Just how it works best for me. Limited roof space and height. I will say I have no issues at all with anchor the anchor.

 

[CEShawn]

Welding jobs... used to be easy to find someone but now its like $200 to get an outlet installed at your house when it used to cost $30 from an electrician. Its the way things have gone now.

I think that is a perfect installation for you up on the bow... For some reason though why would I think I'd turn it to face backwards when not in use. Perhaps thinking on the RL-75 how it is a little exposed to the weather... I know the higher end ones have less...

 

[CEShawn]

No on the hoods, but didnt plan on using them at night except for drifting... Will have to talk about the hoods though as if I did, probably be good for it. Do they reach far out enough at night to be able to show you high flyers and be able to react enough to move or no?

 

[Helen L]

I have 2 400w each MH lights facing forward. I can see 500 feet in front of me no problem. I wanted them for steaming at night offshore. Nice to see breakers before theyre right up on you. before the hoods it was hard to see beyond the bow because the glare killed everything. im adding 3 more lights to the tower and removing the 2 smaller 150watt hps lights facing aft. 1 400w mh aft and 2 300w mh lights facing port/starboard. more lights the better at night. great for fishing but def good safety wise steaming in shit at night.

 

[Tunascapes]

Welding jobs... used to be easy to find someone but now its like $200 to get an outlet installed at your house when it used to cost $30 from an electrician. Its the way things have gone now.

I think that is a perfect installation for you up on the bow... For some reason though why would I think I'd turn it to face backwards when not in use. Perhaps thinking on the RL-75 how it is a little exposed to the weather... I know the higher end ones have less...

I have thought the same thing. For some reason it just bothers me having it facing towards the stern. I just spin it and hose it off every day.

 

[captainlarry84]

E mail ACR @ [email protected]
They were great I mailed back my ACR light. A complete rebuild and powder coating job. My lACR light is a metal one and a complete rebuild on mine was $315 as a new one is about $700.00. Maybe they can rebuild yours at a 50% value price.

 

[CEShawn]

Thanks Larry...

 

[CEShawn]

Kudos to Larry!

They will recondition my light RL-75 for $75.00 plus shipping. They will fix anything that is broken with it. Perfect.

S

 

[CEShawn]

This is what I want to cut off and either do a new mounting on the mast or adapt this. Finding a welder hasn't been easy just yet. Anyone idea how much this would cost? Almost feel like going down to the tech school and see who has the welder to do this...

 

[Rmorrison]

I bought a bar mount clamp from magnalite.com that will fit this light in either a vertical or horizontal bar application. It was about $100.

 

[CEShawn]

Have a better website, that is not coming up? Thanks... nor in searches...

 

[Rmorrison]

Sorry - misspelled it. Try Magnalight Golight, Explosion proof lights, Magnetic Spotlight, 24 volt & 12v Military Spotlights, HID & LED lights, Remote Control

 

[CEShawn]

They have everything there! Thanks...

 

[traditions]

Take a carbide skillsaw blade and cut that off there and grind the weld off.Make sure you get a aluminum disc.Aluminum is easy to work with,cut with a table saw or skill saw.Make the new mount the way you want it and bolt it on or use clamps,like horse shoe clamps out of stainless.You don't even need to weld on the boat.Its hard to weld outside because the shielding gas gets blown away.A calm day with no wind and it can be done,but you may not have to if you think up a mount that could be bolted on.

 

[CEShawn]

Wait a second... What if I just mount it on the hard top where the radar is now. Therefore ill sit it back off the visor so it will block the bow reflection...