sailboat christmas lights

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Designing a Holiday Lights Display for Your Boat

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Planning on winning the "most baubled boat" prize this holiday season? Here's how to go about it safely.

Photo: John Horm

Look at your boat and build on its strengths," says Pete Chambliss, Chief Elf (yes, really) of the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade in Annapolis, Maryland. While displays can be as simple as a strand of lights run along the toe rails, or as elaborate as Santa and the Abominable Snowman cage fighting on the bow while the elves look on, each one starts with a design. A powerboat is longer than it is tall, so it supports horizontal designs well. A sailboat works better with designs with some height.

Decide how you want onlookers to view the display. Inflatables on the foredeck can be viewed equally well from all sides of the boat, while words written in lights may be seen best from the port or starboard side. Now is the time to figure out what decorations to use, how to power them, and how to attach them securely to the boat. Outdoor-rated LED lights approved by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) last a long time, use little energy, and produce less heat, avoiding fire hazards. Many yard decorations can do double duty on a boat, too, because their size makes them easy to see and they're already graded for outdoor use.

Keeping Santa Safe When Powering Up

Adding extra lights to a boat increases the risk of fire and electrical shock, so deciding how to power the display has important safety implications. Before hanging them on the boat, check the lights for frayed wires and loose bulb-base connections. Wrap plug connections tightly between strands with high-quality electrical tape, and don't overload circuits. The number of strands that can be connected together depends on the type of lights, size of the wiring in the set, and power source being used on the boat.

AC-powered lights can be plugged into an inverter running off a boat battery; you'll want to use LEDs to minimize the current draw. You can also power up using a properly installed marine genset (be sure to fuel up during the day), but don't use a portable generator. Not only is there a risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning with a portable, they could tip over if you get hit by a wake and the hot exhaust could cause burns or start fires. If using AC power, make sure to use a pigtail with a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) as close to the source as possible. This will shut the power down if anything goes wrong in the circuit. AA battery-operated lights and 12-volt lights plugged into a 12-volt outlet are other options. If 12-volt outlets are used, the wiring and outlets must be protected by fuses or breakers properly sized to protect the wires supplying power to the outlet from carrying more current than they can safely handle. Any wiring connections should be clean and free from corrosion.

If you're 50, you need twice as much light to see as well as you did when you were 30. If your eyes are tired their ability to distinguish green from red will have deteriorated further. (Photo: John Horm)

Getting It All Up There

Attaching decorations when you don't have walls to tack things to is tricky. A simple method involves attaching lights with wire ties or duct tape. To make words or pictures from lights, use chicken wire. String the lights to the wire, and then staple it to wood frames, which are then secured to the boat using halyards, lines, blocks, and integral boat structures such as outriggers, masts, booms, and spinnaker poles.

String lights above the deck level, inside boat lifelines, in case docking or assistance is needed. Keep connections between strands close to the deck for easy access but high enough that seawater from waves or wake can't reach them. Make sure to keep connections away from metal rigging and metal support structures.

Be careful not to obscure your navigation lights. Don't decorate so bright lights fall within the skipper's line of sight, as that will destroy his or her night vision, and designate someone to stay out of the glare who can keep watch for obstructions and help navigate (see " How To Protect Your Night Vision ").

Windarra's Design Has Got Legs!

Photo: Rob Fettus

Rob and Julianne Fettus get many a chuckle with their homage to the movie "A Christmas Story" aboard their 43-foot Tollycraft Windarra . A well-lit eight-foot leg lamp, complete with shade, is mounted on their upper deck while their rails glitter with red and green lights and signboards flashing memorable phrases from the classic movie. Using plastic corrugated cardboard, the Fettuses created the lamp and signboards, which feature LED lights poked through the plastic like a Lite-Brite child's toy. The lampshade is hand-sewn, and the entire lamp is secured with guy wires at five attachment points. "Definitely test run in the evening while you're decorating," advises Julianne. "Walk away from the boat, and you'll be surprised at what you see. We're constantly jumping off during the test run, viewing from 50 feet away, and tweaking the decorations"

Don't Let Your Boat (Or Crew) Get Tied Up In Knots

Decorators should also consider how displays affect the boat's performance and overall stability, especially those using chicken-wire frames, because the extra weight of the structure can upset the balance of the boat. Hoisting a large chicken-wire frame is like hoisting a sail that can't be reefed or released. If the weather is too windy, or the frame too big, it can dangerously destabilize the boat. Keep in mind the crew will still need to get to docklines and cleats at the slip. Remember, crew will have to be able to move about and perform jobs, some perhaps on an emergency basis. Don't decorate in a way that interferes with safe boat operation. Double-check the weather forecast before leaving the dock so that you can ensure that your boat and your decorations will weather the elements well.

No Swan Song For Sally

Photo: BrennanPhotos.com

John Yanik creates the award-winning lighthouse shining from his Swan 36 Sally by starting with a paper drawing that he transfers to three chicken-wire frames using a grid and spray paint. He then traces the borders of the lighthouse with twine and secures lights with wire ties between the twine borders. After testing the lights, he screws the frames together, hoists them with halyards and extra blocks, and secures the bottom frame to the boom. After several years of experimenting, Yanik says, "I've found limiting most of the design to two colors and stringing four lights per foot results in the greatest visibility." Looking at the photo, he gets no argument from us!

Float Your Art With Pride

Chief Elf Chambliss says that convincing first-time skippers to brave a cold December night on their boat can be a challenge, but once they start, they can't stop. "When you hear the roar of the crowd, it's so heartwarming that you forget the challenges and start talking about what to do next year. In many towns, it's the boaters' gift to the thousands of people who come out to watch the parade. Many people have told me that the Lights Parade is the start of their holiday season."

Molto Bene Does Well

For years, Richard Ewing and Idarae Prothero have delighted with the Christmas tree twinkling from their Beneteau First 42 Molto Bene . To make the tree, they run two temporary forestays and backstays from the deck to the top of the mast. Over the course of an afternoon, Prothero starts at the top of the mast, zigzags graceful arcs of green lights secured with wire ties between the stays, and connects the lights where the boom meets the mast. Strands of red lights act as garlands. "I don't string lights near the lifeline because they interfere with night vision, and I also like to plug lights into a power strip that's then plugged into a generator so I can turn on all the lights at once with a single switch."

Safety Tip : Use a GFCI-equipped pigtail between the power strip and the generator.

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Holiday Lighting

• Thread starter drpaoletta
• Start date Nov 19, 2014
• Catalina Owner Forums
• Catalina 30

It's that time of year - any advice on inexpensive Christmas/Holiday lights for a Catalina-30 type sailboat that are easy to take down when we go for a sail? (Yes, we still sail in December in CA!). What's the best way to rig for a forestay-masthead-backstay display? Any tips from old salts are appreciated!  

I had a C22 that we pulled and brought home for a few months before we took it to the Keys. We live in the St Louis area and our HOA would not allow boats in the driveway soooo, I raised the mast and used the main halyard to pull xmas lights to the mast head and ran them down the fore and backstay. Lit them up every night and called them xmas decorations. Easy peasy.  

trainmanjess

hello I have a Kittiwake 23'.... I attach the lights to the bow pulpit and stern pulpit, then to the halyards and pull them up tight to the mast.... then wrap lights around the deck on the safety lines and then put a big santa clause at the tiller.... then a few boxes weighted down with bricks, and wrap them like presents... makes a good decoration in the driveway for Christmas... many of my neighbors like it... santa out for a cruise they call it.... Merry Christmas to all sincerely Jess  

Sounds like a nice display! I probably won't do a Santa because neighbor boats go whole hog and I want to keep it simple so I can just drop the lights and go sailing! Do you use outdoor rated lights? I see some pretty pricey solar-timer LED set-ups but not sure I want to invest the $$$. On the other hand - I don't want to burn down the boat using cheap "imported" lighting. I want to find lights that are safe, cheap and look good...  

I connect strings of miniature lights together and hoist them to the masthead with the topping lift and tie them to each end of the boom to look like a mainsail. Ditto with the spinnaker halyard to look like a jib. I also string them along the lifelines and across the stern. I coil up the sets as I lower so I can hoist again next year. Doesn't take long to set them up each year but you would probably need a hose reel or something to make it easier to sail. If you dropped them in a sail bag or similar they would just twist up and tangle. You will also need extra strings to replace bad ones as they fail. I also tie a light line to the shackles to ensure I can pull them back down should something fail. It takes about 180 ft of lights to do the "sails" on my 343. And another 80 to do the lifelines. I used rope lights one year on my Newport 30 but still had failures. I bought a couple strings of led lights to see how they look but will wait until I can afford more to do the whole boat. Those prestrung christmas tree outlines look nice on a boat also. Joe  

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Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions pls

• Thread starter tazmajazz
• Start date Dec 18, 2011

Seaman Apprentice

• Dec 18, 2011

Hello! I have gathered quite a bit of info on this topic but I would like some advice from someone that has experience decorating their boat. I know the lights that I want to use and I know how to add up the amps or watts and determine the watt or amp power that is needed to power the lights for X amount of time, however I'm not sure if the boat's electrical system has any limitations other than the battery power that I need to be aware of. I am thinking of two options. One would be to buy a portable 600w/28aH power pack that I estimate will let me run my lights for about 7 hours. the other option would be to buy two DC/AC inverters that would plug into my two 12v outlets on the boat and give me two outlets each for a total of four. I haven't checked my current battery capacity yet but I have two starting batteries hooked up and am willing to purchase a deep cycle if necessary since I know that will be enough juice to run everything, however are there any limitations to a boat's electrical system besides the amount of power the batteries themselves can provide? Am I going to blow fuses if I try to run these lights through the 12V outlets using power inverters? Keep in mind, my b oat is a 20ft boat and I'm not looking to light an absurd amount of lights or anything but I calculate it should e around a 477.6w or 3.98a power draw. I've never done this before and would really like some suggestions or advice. Thanks! taz  

26aftcab454

Lieutenant commander.

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions use LED lights--go with the powe inverters-- alsp try NOT to use extention cords. POST A PICTURE!  

Supreme Mariner

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions Remember -- the alternator and batteries are limited as to what they can accomplish. Whatever you suck out of the batteries must be replaced by the alternator. Also understand that an inverter is only 85% or so efficient so you lose 15% right off the top. Also remember that an inverter operates with a factor of 10 difference in power going in vs power going out (12 volts in/120 volts out). That factor of 10 means the input side of the inverter must be capable of handing the current load which I doubt your accessory sockets can handle, nor the fuses that protect them. So: you are pulling just shy of 4 amps on the output side of the inverter. That means you need 40 amps of 12 volt DC on the input side, plus another 15% for the losses in the inverter. Think your accessory outlet can handle that? Then you have 40 amps/hour of operation so 7 hours of operation would suck 280+ amps from the batteries. While you have enough battery power with two or three deep cycles, y0u do not have the wiring for it. The inverter would need to be hard wired to the battery bank using a minimum of 10 gauge wire and that would be right on the threshold of being too small so #8 would be preferred. There is no free lunch with inverters -- meaning if all it took was an inverter and there were no losses and conversion factors involved, we might all have coffee pots, refrigerators, 50 inch TV's and air conditioners on our boats regardless how big or small they are. Unfortunately big power users require big (really big) inverters and insanely big battery banks as well as equally big on-board chargers and engine alternators. What you want to do will work, you just need a properly sized inverter and properly sized, fused, and wired 12 volt circuits. The real solution to cut the power requirements is to use the newer LED light strings as suggested. Much less current draw.  

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions hmm, not sure what the amp rating is on the accessory outlets. I checked the manual and it did not say. What if I got a deep cycle battery and a 400w inverter that I alligator clip directly to the battery and run everything off that? Actually, I could get two 400w inverters and wire them both to the deep cycle...would that work better? Thanks for the info!  

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions or even better, I could get one of these guys and then connect two power strips? http://www.amazon.com/Power-Bright-...G2FG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324247907&sr=8-2  

tazmajazz said: I'm not looking to light an absurd amount of lights or anything but I calculate it should e around a 477.6w or 3.98a power draw. Click to expand...

Bond-o said: Ayuh,... That'll work til the battery goes dead.... Just how long do ya plan on runnin' 'em anyways,..?? Click to expand...

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions Again, I'm not concerned with the "output" and with LEDs 400 watts should be a big enough inverter. You need to pay attention to not just the connection to the battery but the size of the wires going from it to the inverter. Fuses are there to protect the wire - not the device the circuit feeds. Until you are absolutely certain what the current draw is going to be we cannot provide positive information. Light strings have either an "amperage" or a "wattage" rating listed on the tag. Add those numbers and that's how big the inverter needs to be PLUS 15%. Whatever that number turns out to be multiply by 10 and that's what the "input" circuit must be capable of handling. If you use a deep cycle battery, look at it's label for the RC (reserve capacity). That number is usually specified as xxx minutes @ 23 amps. What that means is the battery can provide 23 amps for xxx minutes before it can no longer do so.When making that run-time calculation you use the inverter INPUT amperage, not the OUTPUT amperage. You don't need a bunch of power strips. The set of LED lights I put on my deck indicated I could connect 60 strings end to end (provided the strings were identical).  

• Dec 19, 2011

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions you worry me sometimes Silvertip.. . .Also remember that an inverter operates with a factor of 10 difference in power going in vs power going out Oh so thats how you get 85 % efficiency ?? ha ha .....since when was power measured in volts????  

Chief Petty Officer

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions 12 volt led rope lights do a very nice job. Christmas led lights come in 12 volts also. Truck drivers use them all the time. Look at large truck stop for Christmas lights.  

tazmajazz said: to be honest I'm not sure. We're participating in a boat parade which we have never done before so I we just need them to work as long as we are in the parade, maybe a couple of hours? I'm thinking an Optima D27M with this inverter http://www.amazon.com/Power-Bright-P...4247907&sr=8-2 and two power strips should suit my needs. Actually if we replace most of the strips with LED lights AND get the Optima battery, we would probably be fine with just a 400W converter since LEDs take so much less power...thoughts? Click to expand...

• Dec 20, 2011

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions most mains led fairy lights are based on a 24v AC transformer and powers 5 to 10 w so little load for even a 300w inverter..or as suggested 12v lights..use what you have its only for a couple of hours ..borrow a spare battery off the wifes car !!!  

• Dec 21, 2011

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions ok well my wife already bought LED 120v lights so we will have three strands of those (33ft each) and then we have two lighted figures made out of regular bulbs. I added up the amperage of everything and it is 1.991 amps which should translate to 238.92 watts (1.991a * 120v). So I should be ok with the 400w inverter. Also, I'm looking at getting an AGM battery rated at 79 amp hours which means that I should be able to sustain that load for 39.67 hours (79ah / 1.991a). sounds good to me, am I missing anything? thanks for all the replies!  

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions As an expierienced vinetian night boat captin withh a couple of awards I have practical knowledge that may help. with a 400 watt inverter at appx 300 watt load a 27 series deep cycle battery lasts about 1.5 hours. This can be extended if you attach cables to your boats main battery and charging system . My boat has a 90 amp alternator. I recomend not using clips due to possible power loss from weak connections, and heat creation. What type of boat engine do you have. I personally would not do it with an outboard motor. I also now have a small honda generator on the swim platform for my ski boat which sits on top of a crate for extra clearance from water( inverter was not powerfull enough for my last contest).  

• Dec 22, 2011

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions I have a yamaha 150hp outboard I was actually wanting to keep the lights and the goat's electrical system separate. Can you tell me where I was off in my calculations? How does a 2 amp load on a 79ah battery only last 1.5 hours? What do you suggest for the connection besides clips? thanks!  

tazmajazz said: I have a yamaha 150hp outboard I was actually wanting to keep the lights and the goat's electrical system separate. Can you tell me where I was off in my calculations? How does a 2 amp load on a 79ah battery only last 1.5 hours? What do you suggest for the connection besides clips? thanks! Click to expand...

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions thanks silvertip, I think I understand that correctly now. See my last post. do those calculations look correct?  

Re: Putting Christmas lights on our boat for the first time, looking for suggestions You got it! 85% efficiency is a rough number and it may be as high as 90%. When doing conversions up or down using electronics, losses are always involved. But I think your inverter will kick out long before that. It depends on what the "low voltage" limit is for your particular inverter.  

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Sailing Through The Winter Solstice

Every year Carroll Creek Park is filled with individually designed lighted sailboats. This floating light installation sets sail in November and is on display through March. 

See the Boats Day or Night

The 2023-24 Sailing Through the Winter Solstice display will take place from November 2023 to March 9, 2024. 

You can view the boats anytime day or night. In fact, you may want to take a look while it's light out and again after it gets dark and the lights come on. Lights typically turn on at sunset , so this is a great time to see them both ways. 

Sailing Through the Winter Solstice is a fundraiser - visitors can vote on their favorite boat, with donations supporting local non-profit organizations. The 2022-23 season raised more than $130,000  for charities in Frederick County!  

Color On The Creek

This project is made possible by the local nonprofit Color On The Creek , the same group that is responsible for the beautiful lilies that float on the creek through the summer months.

Frederick businesses are invited to sponsor and design a boat to be on display. This winter light show is also a competition!  Vote for your favorite boat by making a contribution to the affiliated local charity to help determine the winner. Each dollar donated is one vote! The boat with the most votes at the end of the season is declared the winner and will receive the soon-to-be coveted traveling Sailing through the Winter Solstice Trophy. Here's a FAQ about STTWS if you want to learn more! 

Planning a Visit? Learn more about experiencing

Sailing through the winter solstice.

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The wine kitchen, south mountain ice cream shop & pizza, il porto fine italian restaurant, jojo's restaurant & tap house, la paz mexican restaurant, grab a drink, mcclintock distilling company, idiom brewing co., attaboy beer, attaboy barrel house, steinhardt brewing company, mcclintock's back bar, make a memorable visit to frederick county, how to sail through winter in downtown frederick.

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Holiday Boat Parades: How to Decorate Your Boat

Good news, my friends. Your friendly neighborhood boat-decorating elf has arrived—and we're here to help. Follow these simple tips when decorating your boat for your local holiday boat parade.

How to Decorate Your Boat for the Holidays

• First, do your research and find out this year's parade theme and related rules.
• Figure out whether you need to decorate one or both sides of your boat.
• Determine what you are going to use as your power source.
• Deck the hulls—decorate your boat with lights, inflatable figures, other festive decor.
• Test your lights—and then test your lights again.
• Add music to your display.
• Think small when you start out; and always work with the shape of the boat.

Learn More in Winter Boating Tips

Check with the Parade Committee or Website

For starters, check with the parade committee, or on the parade website, for the theme. Some boat parades change their theme each year, while others have the same theme year after year. Knowing the theme will help you focus your ideas so you’re not just out there buying all kinds of lights and decorations willy-nilly.

Next, figure out whether you need to decorate one side of the boat or both sides. The parade route may only show off one side of your boat, in which case you can focus all your budget and attention on decorating that side. Some parades require that both sides of the boat be decorated, and sometimes even decorated the same way; check with your local parade committee for instructions.

Design & Power Source

Determine what your power source is going to be. Lights need power, which means you have to think about power options. The Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce in Texas offers this pro/con guide  to different possibilities for powering the lights in your holiday parade display.

Test Your Lights

Test your lights. One of the biggest problems that boaters have is lights that don’t shine brightly enough when the sun goes down and the parade actually starts. Light up a test area on the boat, and then walk up the dock and look from a good distance to see how bright the lights are. If they fizzle instead of twinkle, you may need bigger bulbs or different lights.

Lighting & Decor Options

A ton of options are out there for rope lights; this website lists the ones that are waterproof as of 2019, so you can shop around. Spotlights are also great attention-grabbers to highlight people in costume, singers, dancers or giant foam cutouts (be sure to mount all lights at least a foot above the waterline, so they won’t get hit with wakes and waves).

Think small when you start out. You and some friends, a couple of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and elf costumes, and a spotlight can go a long way if you’re smiling and waving to the crowd. Give each person a battery-powered LED string to hold, and then the crowd ashore will be able to see your friends waving too.

If you plan to use inflatable displays like the ones made for home lawns, then tie wraps and bungee cords are your best friend. Tie everything down so that it doesn’t impede the skipper’s sightlines, and so that it doesn’t go flying and become a hazard on the water for other boaters in the parade.

Add a Soundtrack

Bring the old boom box that’s down in your basement. Water is great for a lot of things, including carrying sound over long distances. Crank up an old tape or CD of Christmas music on the boom box from 1984, and you have a ready-made dance party on your bow.

Work With What You Got

Work with the shape of the boat. Powerboats are more horizontal, and sailboats are more vertical. When you’re thinking about how to organize your onboard display, work to the boat’s strengths in terms of shape. Think of the boat as the stage, and create shapes accordingly to fit it (a Christmas tree light display, for instance, is much easier to make on a boat with a tall mast).

Next Read: Holiday Gift Guide for Boaters

You Might Also Like:

• Top 10 Places to Spend the Holidays on the Water
• Holidays on the Water: Tips for Stress-Free Onboard Entertaining
• Winter Boating Tips
• Best Black Friday Gifts for Boaters
• Give Yourself the Gift of a Boat this Holiday

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