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Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

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Ravenswood
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Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by Ravenswood » Mon Mar 09, 2020 6:17 pm

My 1941 18' Deluxe Utility has an Instrument Light switch on the dash, but no wiring beyond that or any instrument lights. I know that the lights are mounted exterior of the gauges and shine through slots in the gauge housing, but there's nothing there. Can anybody help with pics or descriptions of how the bulbs were mounted behind the dash?
Thanks,
Al

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mbigpops
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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by mbigpops » Tue Mar 10, 2020 8:09 pm

Here is a photo of the back of my dash. Newer model than yours.
The middle gauge is the tach (cable not connected). On either side is the navigation light bulbs. If you follow the black wires they go to the navigation switch below. Power comes from a hidden fuse block.

Mark
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Back of Dash 2 with new wiring.jpg
1953 CC Rocket Runabout "Rocket Man"

chris.nackers
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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by chris.nackers » Mon Sep 28, 2020 9:26 am

I'm in the same situation, no wires attached to the instrument light switch on our '47

I don't see any lights near the gauges either.
'47 Sportsman/Deluxe Utility U-18-123

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mbigpops
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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by mbigpops » Mon Sep 28, 2020 11:43 am

Do you have cutouts in the rear of the dash adjacent to the round instrument cutouts ?

In this photo they look like notches on the inside sides of the holes where the gauges mount.

That is where the lights mount from the back.

Mark
20200928_123835.png
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1953 CC Rocket Runabout "Rocket Man"

chris.nackers
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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by chris.nackers » Mon Sep 28, 2020 12:07 pm

There are some slight cutouts near the gauges i think where the lights would go normally. Here are a couple pictures.
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IMG_3083.jpg
IMG_3085.jpg
'47 Sportsman/Deluxe Utility U-18-123

chris.nackers
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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by chris.nackers » Mon Sep 28, 2020 12:09 pm

Here i marked the photos where the cutouts are.
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IMG_3085.jpg
IMG_3083.jpg
'47 Sportsman/Deluxe Utility U-18-123

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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by mbigpops » Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:47 pm

You should be able to get light sockets from Jim Staib (finewoodboats.com). He may have the holding brackets too.

I see you already have a fuse block to get power from. Your lights should be fused too. I am sure your fuse block works but I prefer the marine rated ones with plastic covers. Safer option.

Mark
1953 CC Rocket Runabout "Rocket Man"

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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by chris.nackers » Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:53 pm

mbigpops wrote:
Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:47 pm
You should be able to get light sockets from Jim Staib (finewoodboats.com). He may have the holding brackets too.

I see you already have a fuse block to get power from. Your lights should be fused too. I am sure your fuse block works but I prefer the marine rated ones with plastic covers. Safer option.

Mark
Cool, i need to call Jim about a few other things today anyways. Hopefully he has them.

Yeah, saw that fuse block there, I'll get a marine one and replace it. Just picked up the boat last week, so slowly going through it and getting things corrected as needed.
'47 Sportsman/Deluxe Utility U-18-123

Ravenswood
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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by Ravenswood » Tue Sep 29, 2020 4:56 pm

mbigpops wrote:
Tue Mar 10, 2020 8:09 pm
Here is a photo of the back of my dash. Newer model than yours.
The middle gauge is the tach (cable not connected). On either side is the navigation light bulbs. If you follow the black wires they go to the navigation switch below. Power comes from a hidden fuse block.

Mark
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the pic. As the saying goes, "one picture is worth........"
Are the sockets that the bulbs are in original CC equipment for your boat or something more modern that someone has added later?

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mbigpops
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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by mbigpops » Tue Sep 29, 2020 6:28 pm

Well there is no parts list for these boats so first off I have no idea what the original light socket part number would be.

That aside Jim Staib seems to know more about these boat parts than anyone else so I decided to go by the "trust and don't verify" method and just called Jim and said "I need these".

What he sent me works just fine and I am not a purist so I really don't care if a light socket that is buried behind my dash matches the original part or not.

If you are concerned about it then I would suggest calling Jim and asking him if he has original light sockets for your model boat and go from there.

Good luck.

Mark
1953 CC Rocket Runabout "Rocket Man"

Ravenswood
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Re: Instrument Lights 1941 18' Deluxe Utility

Post by Ravenswood » Thu Oct 01, 2020 10:46 am

Thanks to all for the pics and info.
Mark, you're right about not being a "purist". Sometimes I forget to remember that I'm more interested in function than form. If it was otherwise, I'd still be running a 6volt system and having to deal with hard starting.
My boat's still in the water so I haven't tried to look for the cutouts for the lights, but I'll be pulling it soon for winter layup. Most of the interior's coming out anyway so it will be easy to get a good look behind the dash.
I've just started purchasing a few things from Jim Staib, and was quite satisfied. I guess I'll add light sockets to my next order from him.
Al

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