Getting around your jon boat at night can be a real pain if you don’t have a headlamp or flashlight handy. And if you have others on your jon boat while it’s dark or getting dark, you want to avoid any accidents that could’ve been avoided with a little light. Well, jon boat interior lights are a perfect addition to any jon boat that ventures out on the water toward the latter end of the day.
So, what are some ideas for jon boat interior lighting? Equipping a jon boat with interior lighting will help reduce possible danger for those on board as well as other boats on the water. Installing lighting using LED interior lights using a classic lens style or strip style will keep your boat easily visible in the dark.
It may not be so obvious, but having interior lights on your jon boat can be a lifesaver. There have been too many times where I find myself out on my jon boat when the sun’s coming down and my vision isn’t as good as it was during the morning or afternoon. While you can certainly get a good flashlight or headlamp, interior lighting can be turned on with a flip of a switch.
Getting Interior Lighting in Your Jon Boat
Having interior lighting installed on your jon boat is a wise addition to make because you’re ultimately increasing the level of safety of your crew and boat. By having a deck that’s more visible in the dark, you or your crew won’t have to fumble around and potentially have a rough spill.
Not only does having interior lights installed on your jon boat avoid the unfortunate slip and fall by you or a crew member, but it’s also a kind of beacon to other vessels out on the water. While you should certainly have navigation lights installed and operation on your jon boat, having an extra glow definitely can help.
There are several questions that came to my mind when deciding whether to get interior light for my jon boat, including:
- Where should I put my interior lights?
- What kind of interior lights are available?
- How many interior lights does my jon boat need?
- Are there different colors that are legally allowed to use?
- Can I power all of my interior lights?
You may have these very same questions or even others. The good part is that by finding out the answers to these questions, you’re closer to improving upon the safety of those on your jon boat as well as those other vessels out on the water nearby by getting closer to getting interior lighting on your jon boat.
Deciding where to put your jon boat interior lighting is really a personal choice. From my experience, the most important location should be near the stern and even attached to your transom. This is perfect because the captain (you) of the jon boat will have the lighting they need to carry out their duties.
Apart from installing interior lights to your transom, you may want to consider installing them along the boundaries of your deck. This allows anyone who’s walking around to have a good idea of where they’re going.
One tip I have for you is to reduce the amount of direct exposure the lights have with the eyes since they can sometimes be a bit blinding. If possible, aim the lights downward so the glow can provide proper guidance.
Getting the right kind of jon boat interior lights means getting yourself some good LEDs. LEDs are a fantastic choice because they’re long-lasting, quite bright, and require little energy. Other kinds of lights will cost more, need replacing often, and suck your battery dry. Also, they can get rather small, so you can pretty much put them anywhere.
Depending on the size of your jon boat, you may want to consider installing a certain number of interior lights. As I mentioned, you want to install lights on your transom, which two lights would be sufficient. However, installing them along the boundary of your deck is really a judgment call. I’ve seen lights installed with a separation of 3-4 feet, which may be a good starting point for you.
When it comes to lighting up your jon boat during the evening, you have a lot of choices for colors since LEDs come in every color choice imaginable. In my experience, sticking with the colors that increase visibility while not hurting my eyes has been key in my color decision, which is why I stick with green, blue, or red. Either way, there are some kits that have a remote control that allow you to change colors easily.
One of the problems with installing addition after addition to our jon boats is we may not have enough power to actually run them. Well, LEDs are extremely energy efficient and don’t require much juice to keep them running. They take a standard 12 volts and have a max of 6 amps, but you won’t likely ever reach that max.
Are Interior Lights a Replacement for Navigation Lights?
When operation your jon boat on the water, it’s important to follow the necessary laws to ensure everyone’s safety, including you, your crew, and other vessels. Navigation lights are key to improving the safety of everyone out on the water, which is why your jon boat should be sufficiently equipped. Here’s an all-inclusive guide on jon boat lighting requirements.
When it comes to interior lights on your jon boat, they’re absolutely not a replacement for proper navigation lights. While it may seem that simply having your boat lit up and visible to everyone is sufficient, there are specific reasons navigation lights are so important. Interior lights can certainly illuminate your jon boat so much it looks like a Christmas tree, this isn’t a replacement for navigation lights.
Having the right navigation lights installed on your jon boat means other vessels will be able to tell your boat’s size and orientation. They also provide a way to communicate to other boats what kind of vessel you are. This is important because you need to know what other vessels are doing on the water at any given time within your vicinity to avoid collisions or any other mishap. Unfortunately, interior lights won’t help in this.
Learning about the proper navigation lights required for certain boats is important, so you definitely want to make sure your knowledge is up-to-date. It’s not uncommon for vessels of a certain size to neglect this important aspect of boating.
Popular Choices for Jon Boat Interior Lighting
If you’re in the market for some high-quality jon boat interior lights, you want to make sure you’re starting off your journey by looking at some of the best available. Depending on how you want to outfit your jon boat, you may choose between standard lens lights and strip lights. Either way, there are plenty of options to choose from, which I implore you to investigate yourself.
Partsam Round Chrome Marine Clear Lens Blue LED Interior Lights (4-Pack)
There are some great interior lights available for jon boats and other vessels, but the Partsam Round Chrome Marine Clear Lens Blue LED Interior Lights (4-Pack) (link to read reviews on Amazon) really take the cake. After installing these lights, your boat will be lit up at the flip of a switch.
These interior lights by Partsam are specifically designed for boats and have a waterproof casing to prove it. With its chrome bezel style, it’s an easy and stylish addition to any jon boat. These are, in my opinion, a perfect light to install on your transom because they look good and work great.
OPT7 Boat Multi-Color LED Strip Interior Lighting Kit (4-Pack)
If you’re interested in a different style of interior lighting for your jon boat, you definitely want to take a look at the OPT7 Boat Multi-Color LED Strip Interior Lighting Kit (4-Pack) (link to read reviews on Amazon). These LED strip lights come in a bunch of different colors and can be controlled with an easy to use remote.
These LED strips for your jon boat are amazing. Not only will they effectively light up your jon boat, but they can be configured to change with the beat of the music you’re playing. They’re also extremely easy to install practically anywhere since each LED is installed in a highly durable synthetic strip. On top of that, they’re very flexible and 100% waterproof.
PryEU Blue LED Strip Interior Lighting (4-Pack)
Not everyone wants their interior lights to dance to the beat, but you may still want to install LED strips. That’s why the PryEU Blue LED Strip Interior Lighting (4-Pack) (link to read reviews on Amazon) are such a great choice. These are simple LED strips that are affordable and just get the job done.
If you’re looking for LED strips for your jon boat’s interior lighting, these are the ones for you. Not only are they inexpensive, but they’re extremely easy to install and place anywhere on your jon boat’s interior. They also come with a 3-year warranty, which is definitely not common to find in most products.
