Hi Everyone, new owner here with my first question/ comment. We were running at night for the first time and found that the nav lights are lighting up the top deck of the bow to the point that it made it really hard to see. I was wondering if anybody else has encountered this? More importantly, any recommendations on how to fix this? I don’t expect to be out at night too often but driving for miles with my hand raised up to block the glare got old pretty fast. Thanks in advance for your help! ~Bob
2021 Freedom 215 nav lights
- Thread starter BBEIRD
- Start date
wrxhoon
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Thank you for the replies! Wrxhoon, that would work well for the anchor light, but it's the bow light that is causing the glare. On the 215, its a dual color flush mounted light, right in the center of the bow. There's a substantial portion of the fiberglass that lights up red and green right where you're trying to see. On the larger models, the lights are actually split and mounted on port and starboard. Maybe I just need a bigger boat 
Good point seasick, I'll do that!
Good point seasick, I'll do that!
Maybe do the unthinkable and paint your boat? Find a marine grade top side paint and mask off the offending section and paint it flat navy blue or flat black or better yet a flat white to reduce the glare.
I cringe at the thought of painting a new boat, even just the bow area.
The challenge is to limit the down facing cone of light so that it doesn't wash the bow with lightbut is still visible by other vessels. I would experiment with some black electrical taps over the bottom edge of the light fixture to see if that helps change the light pattern
If it does, the lens could be blackened inside as a more permanent fix. My second thought would be to raise the fixture a bit using some sort of spacer or wedge.
My third ' I don't want to do that' idea is to install separate nav lights on the outer areas of the gunnels and remove the center mount fixture. That will require some maybe painful wiring and glass work or maybe just a small custom shaped stainless plate to cover the holes.
Call customer support, you can't be the only one with that problem unless they have substituted a different fixture by mistake or due to part shortages
The challenge is to limit the down facing cone of light so that it doesn't wash the bow with lightbut is still visible by other vessels. I would experiment with some black electrical taps over the bottom edge of the light fixture to see if that helps change the light pattern
If it does, the lens could be blackened inside as a more permanent fix. My second thought would be to raise the fixture a bit using some sort of spacer or wedge.
My third ' I don't want to do that' idea is to install separate nav lights on the outer areas of the gunnels and remove the center mount fixture. That will require some maybe painful wiring and glass work or maybe just a small custom shaped stainless plate to cover the holes.
Call customer support, you can't be the only one with that problem unless they have substituted a different fixture by mistake or due to part shortages
It's the glare off of the shiny white gelcoat. I would be hesitant to mess around with the fixture as they have gaskets to seal water out between the fixture and the boat.
However,getting that 4 inch wide duct tape, tortilla tape or flex seal tape in black would be a great way to test reducing glare off of the deck around the light .
Great thoughts guys. Painting would hurt my feelings a bit, but not nearly as much as crashing into something! I had considered the separate nav lights on the outside as well but I did not think about the potential wiring challenge...good call! I'll definitely experiment with the tape while I wait for input from Grady (apparently they're on vacation this week). Thanks again!
SkunkBoat
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There is no way to block the light without blocking the light...
split them to the side edges or move them to the TTop/Hardtop or live with it.
Its just wire.
Patching a couple holes with MarineTex is easy.
Add a bow roller right over the hole..boom...done
split them to the side edges or move them to the TTop/Hardtop or live with it.
Its just wire.
Patching a couple holes with MarineTex is easy.
Add a bow roller right over the hole..boom...done
Thanks SkunkBoat....I always assume I'm not the first person to run into a particular problem and like to see how others have solved it. I like the roller idea....or maybe a trolling motor mounting plate!
PointedRose
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In the meantime you could get cheap battery lights to use for now and just strap onto the railing
Bright Eyes Green & Red Portable... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WFMQNL6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Bright Eyes Green & Red Portable... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WFMQNL6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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To be honest, the bow light was so distracting while running that I didn't notice the white light. I'm guessing it's fine though...6' above the gunnel and to the rear of the helm. It might cast a soft glow all around the deck, but not the bright glare like the bow.
I also just got a new Freedom 215 and noticed the same thing last weekend - strange that the red and green reflection was so bright. There was no moon and it was really really dark out, which made things worse - But it didn't bother me too badly. I had to shut off the Yamaha display and turn off cockpit lights though.
Actually I was referring to the suggestion to use battery powered rail mounted nav lights. You would still need a mast light.
Oh, right. If I went that route, I'd still be able to run just the anchor light leaving the bow lights off.
SkunkBoat
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Yep, If you don't have a TTop/hardtop, you will have that awful blinding light pole on the stern.
True for the most part but on some models, the backlighting on switches and gauges is enables by the NAV position and not the anchor position.
In case someone else runs into the same situation, I'll try to keep this thread updated. Grady is looking into my complaint. I've sent them some pictures and figured I would share them here as well. It doesn't look like much but on a moonless night, it really was messing with my night vision. I'll post again if Grady has any comments/suggestions.
