homemade underwater led light pod

[Kracker Jack]

what has me intrested in all this underwater light stuff was a boat I seen from miami about 8 years ago before this led marine thing was really popular. This boat was fishing the same tournament my brothers boat was fishing out of pirates cove,NC. We walked by this boat on the way back to the big tent to grab some more food and beer. This thing was lit up like a christmas tree and looked awesome and I remember seeing the stack of money on the table inside the salon where they were playing poker!!!! I always told myself I wanted a boat that had atleast one underwater led fixture.

[RidgeRunner]

Love the bling, love the do it yourself mindset. It sounds like something I want. Wonder if it could be mounted temporarily on a skiff for lobstering with a bully net?

[Curapa]

Kracker, I just saw this thread today. I have been planning to build some underwater LED lights for some time now. It is crazy what some of those lights sell for, $400 for one LED underwater light, really?

I have been thinking of various ways to make a bezel for the lights. I have come up with making a plug from wood to make a fiberglass bezel. I would then assemble the lights inside and pour a clear epoxy resin in the assembly. The epoxy would harden making the entire contents waterproof. My method would also be non-repairable but with the amount of hours LED's last I do not see where it would be necessary plus it wouldn't cost too much to make a new one.

If I get mine going soon I wouldn't mind sending a bezel your way for you to finish with lights and resin.

[Kracker Jack]

That would be awesome, lets keep this going I refuse to pay that much money for that crap half of them are made in china for about 20.00 dollars. Just one question? what kind of refraction does epoxy cause? Its crystal clear so I dont think it would effect the light at all. I even thought about using round pvc pipe the make the housing. Im gonna do numerous types of material. This is'nt rocket science!!LOL!!! I simply want functional.


I also just ordered my strip lights for under my gunwale. Everybody else wants 70 to 80 dollars for a 16' foot roll of waterproof LED'S with 3m sticky back adhesive. I just found some after 2 hours of research on Ebay for 13.50 a roll!!!!!!!! They are the exact same product other guys are selling as "MARINE LED'S". I ordered direct from China so I will get them in about 2 weeks. I will be the guinea pig for everyone else.http://www.ebay.com/itm/221000007825...84.m1439.l2649

[Curapa]

I ordered my 16" LED strips off of ebay from China also. The shipping was quite a bit faster than I expected. I planned to see them in a month, got them in about two weeks. I have a two piece hull so my LED's will just be under the gunnel rod holders. If I had a 3 piece like yours I would definitely run them all of the way around.

I do not know about the refraction, the epoxy I have found for the project is "crystal clear" so I guess it would be negligible.

Scarab Chris on THT sells underwater lights at a pretty reasonable price but it is still more than I want to spend on them and I feel I can make a better bezel than he offers.

[Kracker Jack]

CURAPA where are you getting your leds from? and what style light are you using?

[Curapa]

I haven't ordered the led's yet. I have only gotten as far as research. I am thinking about three or four multi led lights in each. Each one gives about 150 lumens each. It has been a little bit since I have looked into the matter so most of the info is not fresh on my brain.