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Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:29 am
by DJBlaylock01
tbully wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 7:57 am
This must be a common problem. My first R7 had this issue as did my second. Warranty fixed both times but this is concerning. (They are all supposed to be lit, of course)
Same issue on mine last weekend. Took in to dealer yesterday and was told they have seen this multiple times this year.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 7:53 am
by higginspa1371
Thanks all. Looks like my r5 needs to be fixed so I can see buttons at night also.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 7:55 am
by higginspa1371
Thanks all. Looks like my r5 needs to be fixed so I can see buttons at night also.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:30 am
by Big Block Power
DJBlaylock01 wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:29 am
tbully wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 7:57 am
This must be a common problem. My first R7 had this issue as did my second. Warranty fixed both times but this is concerning. (They are all supposed to be lit, of course)
Same issue on mine last weekend. Took in to dealer yesterday and was told they have seen this multiple times this year.
What did they do to fix it?
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:17 am
by tbully
It’s some sort of fiber optics module (I think). I assume it isn’t repairable and was just replaced. There’s one for each panel.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:33 am
by Big Block Power
tbully wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:17 am
It’s some sort of fiber optics module (I think). I assume it isn’t repairable and was just replaced. There’s one for each panel.
Yecks and they are not working very long if at all. Not a good sign on that product being used.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:37 pm
by HairyGorilla
OP we keep our boat on lake Lanier and I want to do this. How many beers do I need to pay you to complete this for me?
In all seriousness, why did you need connector for port and starboard for this to work? Wouldn’t just one connection make do?
PS we might have test driven your boat before we bought our R5 surf - haha. Small world.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:44 pm
by greenhut
Would be happy to help. No beers required, but always appreciated. Where do you keep your boat? We are at lazy days. Send me a pm and I’ll send my cell and we can discuss. Very easy install.
Oh, and highly unlikely you drove our boat. I was there the day it arrived in plastic and specified it was not to be driven. Picked it up a few days later.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:54 pm
by greenhut
Oh - didn’t need both port and starboard. Apparently cobalt wires independently cause they have two fixtures on either side of transom.
And btw, noticed last night back lighting of left side dash switched not working. We’re last year - sounds like a common failure. Will have a look before asking dealer as it may be a simple bulb, fuse, or connection.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:19 am
by Tuscany
Well, we we ordered our 17’ boat, I left out underwater lights because we never seem to boat at night. So we installed a boat plug light and wired it to the pigtail in the motorbox. Guess what, we still haven’t been out at night..

Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:34 am
by greenhut
17' kinda small for an R7
We are out quite a bit at night, but still don't use it much... Definitely glad I went the cheap route.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 7:56 am
by StingraySteve
Great thread and great result. Thanks for posting. Now I need to find someone in Austin to do this for me...
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:15 pm
by HairyGorilla
greenhut wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:44 pm
Would be happy to help. No beers required, but always appreciated. Where do you keep your boat? We are at lazy days. Send me a pm and I’ll send my cell and we can discuss. Very easy install.
Oh, and highly unlikely you drove our boat. I was there the day it arrived in plastic and specified it was not to be driven. Picked it up a few days later.
Nice we are at holiday all the time. I’ll buy parts and see what I can do.
Our right side lights also went out on dash. Appears to me a fiber optic light to a box. Could not seem to fix easily.
PS did not take a picture of the boat we test drove...possible it was a ‘19.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 2:41 pm
by BobR5
MUST HAVE THIS... <muttered in zombified voice>
The night picture totally sold me. Thanks for loading this up.
Re: R5 Underwater light install
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:01 am
by BobR5
I have to ask the obvious and dumb question: Are Red/Black pair connected via Deutsch to the port Underwater connector, and does that leave Yellow/Black pair to connect to the....battery? thanks in advance, BV