CATAMARAN BUILD - Choosing Our Interior & Exterior Lighting (MJ Sailing - Ep 329)
We're back to working on our own boat and it feels so good!
In this week's episode we give a rundown of the lighting options we've chosen to go with, even if it will be a little bit before we get to install them.
While at METS in November, we ran into a friend that works for Lumishore, and after staying to look at their display, we were instantly hooked on their products. Everything they offer which we're looking to add (down lighting, rope lighting, courtesy lights, and underwater lights) are CRGBW, which means they can do both cool and warm whites, plus they can go through every spectrum of the color wheel. And not only that, but they also dim, so we can always choose the level of brightness we want inside or out.
I've put together a few diagrams showing what we thought would be a good fit on our boat, and they came back with something a little more amped up, but that will give us the most options in the long run.
On other work that's actually getting completed on the boat, Matt and I work to add in the aft steps we picked up while at the yard in Vietnam. This is going to help us so much day to day, as now we'll be able to easily step from the aft cockpit area onto the side deck. No more painful knees for us!
As always, it is a process. first is the cutting and fitting stage, and then drilling holes through the bulkhead into the aft cabin. Matt has to then backfill those holes with thickened resin, as well as sand off the gelcoat on the exterior where they'll be bonded in.
Once all of that is ready we slap some methacrylate on both the steps and the transom and get them bonded into place. A small visual change for the boat, but a big step forward (no pun intended) for the ease of us moving around now as we work each day.
We hope you enjoy!
Much love,
Jessica, Matt & Georgie
MJ Sailing
From Arctic ice in a custom aluminum monohull to building a high-performance 42ft catamaran, Matt and Jessica of MJ Sailing define technical excellence.
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Choosing Our Interior & Exterior Lighting for the Catamaran (MJ Sailing – Ep 329)
After a considerable time working on building our catamaran, we have finally reached that point where the need for proper lighting inside and outside becomes paramount. We started with the simple plan to install minimal wiring, aiming for cost efficiency. However, attending several boat shows, including Annapolis Sailboat Show and Newport Boat Show, changed our perspective.The Influence of Boat Shows on Our Lighting Plan
Going through countless vendors at the boat shows, we got exposed to different yacht interiors and exteriors. This experience made us realize how crucial the right lighting is in defining a vessel’s ambiance and character. After watching videos by Nikki and Jason from HanseYachts, who did an excellent job with their HH44 catamaran lighting, we were inspired to do something similar on our boat.Lumishore CRGBW Lights – Our Choice
We encountered Christian from Lumishore at Mets 2023, who introduced us to the amazing capabilities of their lights. Their CRGBW lights offered a full spectrum of colors and temperature settings along with dimming options. After some discussion and sending over the layout of our boat, we were able to devise a plan that incorporated these lights into various spaces.Details of Our Lighting Plan
Our lighting strategy covers both the interior and exterior, including the cockpit area with underwater lights by each step to illuminate the water below. Each string of lights will have its own switch, but they can also be controlled from a central panel located in our salon. This panel allows for setting specific modes like ‘nighttime’ or ‘away mode’, making adjustments to color and brightness simple.Installing the Steps
With our lighting plan figured out, it was time to proceed with the steps. We carefully planned and drilled holes for the bolts, filled them with thickened resin to add strength and prevent moisture ingress. Once cured, we used methacrylate to bond the steps permanently in place.Final Thoughts
The journey of building our catamaran involves making significant decisions like our lighting plan. It not only enhances the aesthetics but also provides functionality and adds personality to our future home on water.Latest Episodes from MJ Sailing
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