When you're out on the water at night, it's always a good idea to make sure you have enough light to see where you're going. A strong spotlight can assist you with docking, spotting channel markers, seeing the shoreline, and avoiding collisions with other boats and objects at night. Spotlights come in all different shapes and sizes, handheld or deck-mounted, and prices vary significantly. The deck-mounted, remote control light that we chose to install is manufactured by GoLight (www.golight.com) and supplied to us by West Marine (www.westmarine.com).

Step 1
If you're installing a fixed-mount light, you'll want the installation location to allow for as much line of sight as possible (preferably 360 degrees) so that you'll be able to see all around the boat. Obviously, the best position is going to be the highest possible point on the boat. Keep in mind that a fixed-mount light is most likely not going to be used on a smaller boat - it's more suited for a houseboat or larger boats with a cabin, while a handheld model is more appropriate for smaller boats. We install this one on a pontoon boat that has a small cabin and choose a location on the front-center of the cabin roof. This is out of the way and provides an excellent line of sight all around the boat, especially in the front. One consideration with a fixed-mount model is that there could possibly be something that might obstruct the beam's line of sight, such as a raised bimini top, a flag or maybe a deck chair. Hopefully, it's not anything that can't be quickly corrected at the time of use.

Step 2
Once you've determined the desired location, center the mounting plate with the vise screw facing toward the back. Mark the hole locations for the three mounting screws (supplied), and drill a pilot hole for each with a 1/8-inch bit. Fasten the mounting plate with the 16 3/4-inch screws provided. Next, drill a 1/4-inch hole in the center mounting plate hole to accommodate the wire that will run to the power source. Before running the wire through the hole, snap in the rubber grommet provided. You're now ready to secure the spotlight onto the plate. It's recommended that you wet the mounting surface first with a small amount of water or lubricant for easier installation. Place the light over the plate by sliding the front of the light over the front of the plate, then pull the light backwards, seating the back of the light onto the back of the mounting plate. Lift up the rubber gasket around the base of the light and install the vise screw, which will hold the light securely onto the mounting plate.

Step 3
Next, you'll need to connect the light to a power source. With our installation, the hole drilled in step two allows the wiring to drop down right near the helm/dashboard of the boat. The wires are hidden as best as possible by using some standard wire covers (from the hardware store) and running them down along the corner edge of the cabin, and finally behind the dash to a spare toggle switch already located on the control panel. If you don't already have a spare toggle switch, most boats have an extra slot on the control panel where one can be installed. When connecting the positive and negative wires, keep in mind that some spotlight models may be polarized, so you'll need to attach the wires (positive/negative) appropriately to the two connections on the back of the toggle switch. If they're not polarized, you don't have to be concerned with connecting the positive and negative wires incorrectly; it's not recommended that the light be connected directly to the battery.

Step 4
In the final step, install a remote control device to operate and test the light. It's controlled with a programmable remote with 6,561 different channels, and it's preset from the factory. If you encounter any radio frequency interference (RFI), you may need to reprogram the remote. If you do happen to experience interference, disconnect the power by removing the fuse or disconnecting the light from the main battery. Remove the back cover from the remote control, and set the seven dip switches to a different selection of your choice (similar to a garage door remote control). There are three positions on each one - positive, negative and neutral. Use a small screwdriver and select a different position for each dip switch. There are a few final steps after you replace the back cover: Depress and hold the on/off button; while holding, re-connect the power (battery); keep your finger on the on/off button for 5 to 6 seconds; and then release. The remote should now be reprogrammed, and the light should work.