R5 Underwater light install

[greenhut]

Thanks to the members that have been through this and advised. Completed our underwater light install today. Will try and provide all the info, links, and pics, but seems 3 pics per post max.

We wanted UW lighting, but didnt want to pay $1800 for the Cobalt factory option - even with discounts. We purchased the following light and used code "drc7" for a discount. About $187 delivered.

https://boatpluglight.myshopify.com/col ... 000-lumens

ADMIN: Updated Link - https://boatpluglight.myshopify.com/col ... drain-port

We ordered straight up blue. You can order an RGB light which allows different colors, but Norris_Boating confirmed it is 1/3 the output of solid color. Solid colors, because of the extra output, also require a voltage regulator (included). RGB needs a controller and remote which I did not explore.

Fortunately, Cobalt provides the same wiring harness regardless of features. Unfortunately, I could not find a connector for the "Underwater Lights" button in the engine area. There is a connector for "Swim Platform Lights" which is what I used. Hopefully another member with factory UW lighting, or someone that found the UW lights connector can advise.

Cobalt uses water resistant "Deutsch" connectors. While you could just cut the connector off, I wanted a clean and reversible install. Deutsch connectors can be ordered online, but technically require a relatively expensive and specialized crimping tool. I happened to have a different tool that worked great (pics later). Here is the $8 Deutsch connector I ordered:



It connected perfectly to the factory Cobalt power line for the Swim Platform Lights.

Other than that, I used some heat shrink butt connectors, some heat shrink tubing, electrical tape, zip ties, and wire protecting tube.

As advised by several other forum members, be sure the drain plug light does not extend below your transom - you could hit debris and find you no longer have a drain plug... or boat.

Pics of install...

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[greenhut]

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[greenhut]

Tool I used to crimp the Deutsch pins:

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Heat Shrink Butt Connectors, plus heat shrink tubing:

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And some electrical tape:

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[greenhut]

Mounted here for now:

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Added some corrugated wire tube:

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Better pictures soon

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[cmattj]

Nicely done , and great pictures with your process!
Those are billet tough so no worries! Nights are gonna be epic!

[AsLan7]

Nice job gh!

[BobRae99]

Excuse my ignorance, but how to you drain the boat after installing this feature?

[AsLan7]

Excuse my ignorance, but how to you drain the boat after installing this feature?

.
The light is the drain plug now. I have something similar. No more wrench! Just unscrew by hand. We let ours "hang" after we unscrew it as it seems to be the perfect height to not contact the ground yet long enough to hang down to let the bilge water drain.
.

[greenhut]

Some of the models come with a smaller tap in the light that you can loosen and drain water while leaving the light in place.

We are in drystack, never trailer, and in 15 years with our last boat, didnt remove the drain plug once.

[BobRae99]

Excuse my ignorance, but how to you drain the boat after installing this feature?

.
The light is the drain plug now. I have something similar. No more wrench! Just unscrew by hand. We let ours "hang" after we unscrew it as it seems to be the perfect height to not contact the ground yet long enough to hang down to let the bilge water drain.
.

Interesting. Does the Cobalt factory assembly look the same? Also, if the OP switched the wiring under the dash, he could have the underwater light button work the underwater lights - correct?

[BobRae99]

Excuse my ignorance, but how to you drain the boat after installing this feature?

.
The light is the drain plug now. I have something similar. No more wrench! Just unscrew by hand. We let ours "hang" after we unscrew it as it seems to be the perfect height to not contact the ground yet long enough to hang down to let the bilge water drain.
.

That makaes sense, but in my province, I'm told that if you are caught trailering with the drain plug in place it is a $1,200 fine. They want invasive species to drain out of the bilge before mandatory treatment prior to dropping the boat into a new lake.

[greenhut]

That makaes sense, but in my province, I'm told that if you are caught trailering with the drain plug in place it is a $1,200 fine. They want invasive species to drain out of the bilge before mandatory treatment prior to dropping the boat into a new lake.

The one I have is easier to unscrew by hand than the standard plug. Once unscrewed, you would just need a good place in the stern to secure it while trailering. The power wire would still go into the bilge connecting to power.

[AsLan7]

Excuse my ignorance, but how to you drain the boat after installing this feature?

.
The light is the drain plug now. I have something similar. No more wrench! Just unscrew by hand. We let ours "hang" after we unscrew it as it seems to be the perfect height to not contact the ground yet long enough to hang down to let the bilge water drain.
.

That makaes sense, but in my province, I'm told that if you are caught trailering with the drain plug in place it is a $1,200 fine. They want invasive species to drain out of the bilge before mandatory treatment prior to dropping the boat into a new lake.

.
Yes, that is part of our routine.
We pull up to the ramp with the drain plug light hanging. We then screw it in by hand and launch the boat.

When finished boating, we pull the boat out of the water at the ramp. While still at the sloped part of the ramp, we unscrew the plug-let her hang- and let the bilge drain while also trimming the outdrive all the way down to let all the water drain out at the ramp.

We then pull the boat away from the ramp (after raising the outdrive) and wipe her down with hot sauce.

No invasive species transferred.

.

[Big Block Power]

Excuse my ignorance, but how to you drain the boat after installing this feature?

.
The light is the drain plug now. I have something similar. No more wrench! Just unscrew by hand. We let ours "hang" after we unscrew it as it seems to be the perfect height to not contact the ground yet long enough to hang down to let the bilge water drain.
.

Interesting. Does the Cobalt factory assembly look the same? Also, if the OP switched the wiring under the dash, he could have the underwater light button work the underwater lights - correct?

Good point Bob. If you can get to the wire.

[greenhut]

Cobalt factory lights have two LED fixtures cut into either side of the drive in the transom - not a plug light.

I was thinking the same! Maybe I can switch the dash buttons, cause for no good reason, it annoys the crap out of me I have to push the slightly wrong button name