How to Run Lights - Need Battery?

[franky]

I'm wanting to run some front flood lights and navigation lights for running in the dark. I have a 14 footer with a 15 hp outboard. I'm pretty sure that there is no alternator or such on the outboard, but I could be wrong. I don't want to have to worry about putting the battery on the charger all the time - then putting the battery in the boat and hooking it up every time. I'd like to just be able to use the lights whenevery the motor is running? Am I hoping for too much???

A. No you can't do it - you need to use the battery.
B. Yes you can do it - but it will cost $$$$$$$
C. Yes you can do it - and it's not that expensive (:lol:)
D. You are smoking way too much crack.

Thanks guys. Think I already know the answer, but sometimes you never know. And with all the knowledge in these forums, sometimes somebody posts up with something nobody ever thought of before. So, thanks again.

[10 ring]

You can get portable nav. lights. They clamp on the bow and stern and run off a a couple D cell batterys. Alot cheaper then putting on perment lights. As for a flood light.....Carry a spot light.

[TGILS]

Not sure if you can add an alternator to an outboard, but I don't know why not and I'm not sure if it would cost lots of $$$.

As for the battery and lights, you can get those pretty cheap. I use an old fog light mounted on some PVC that fits in a rod holder. I only use it when landing a fish and resetting a rod - it lights up the whole back end

[waterfoul]

We have new LED clamp on/suction cup lights at the store. They will run 10 times longer on a set of batteries than a standard lights.

As for some sort of flood or spot... you'll either need a hand held or bust out the $ for a battery.

[bigrackmack]

When I had a 14 footer I use to handline with.....I took a 12 volt dewalt battery and hooked my lights up to it....worked like a charm.....as far as a spot light we just use a handheld and just charge it up when you get back in....Mack

[Duckman1]

Two 55 watt halogen fog lights and a motorcycle battery will get you all the light you should need. Hook it up to a switch. We can run the lights for a long time on a full charge. The magneto on the outboard may keep a little power in the battery but probably will have to take out and charge.

[Halffasthog]

I have a 15hp Mercury 4-stroke. There is a stator with rectifier on it from the factory. I did a search on lighting coils for it. I happened on to a marine forum and found that everything was already there. I have an anchor winch and lights. I have not had to charge the battery yet this year. The stator doesn't put out much. I think it's 6 Amps or so. I only had to make a little harness from the battery to the output on the motor. Mercury sells it for like $35.