The weather has really warmed up here in central Texas over the last two weeks, and we are finally beginning to see boats back on the lakes enjoying the sun and fun of the hill country. Reminders about boat safety is being reported again in the Highland Lakes region, and it got me thinking that we should probably take another look at lighting for boat docks.
I’m sure you can think of a number of good reasons why you should have lighting at your boat dock and boat house, but at the heart of it is safety. We all know that it is important to be able to move around the grounds of your dock area without fear of injury, but have you considered that lighting on a boat dock helps boaters see your dock from the water? Do you have any idea of how many times a year boaters run into docks after the sun goes down? People have actually died in this manner not too far from us right here on Lake LBJ in the Kingsland, Texas area. Even a near-miss in this case could raise your heart rate considerably.
Fortunately, there are a lot of options when it comes to dock lighting, but I do have several favorites. Something I always want is a fixture that puts light out toward the walkway, as well as out into the water, so it can be easily seen. The fixture must be low profile, so it’s not sticking up in the way and doesn’t pose a trip hazard; and I don’t want it to be too bright. A light that is too bright in this application can actually create a problem for the boater instead of being an added safety feature for your property.
My first choice is the surface mounted fixture which throws light in a 360°pattern. It is a very low profile fixture which does exactly what it is supposed to do. It comes in brass or copper which hold up very well in any environment.
The second option is a lighted dock cleat. Yes – that’s right, a dock cleat with a light in it! This fixture is not as low profile as the surface mount, but it serves two purposes. On our local lakes we can install the smaller, poly model dock cleat for our recreational watercraft. On larger bodies of water or coastal areas the larger metal cleats might be more appropriate for bigger boats.
The final option I like would be the deck style fixture that must be mounted on a post. These are a great choice because they can cover a pretty large area, and all of the light aims down. I prefer using a combination of the deck style lights along with either the cleat or the 360 fixture so boats can see the dock better, and the person on the dock has a more evenly lighted area to move around.
The primary purpose for dock lighting is safety for both the folks on the dock and those passing by in their boats. Using the right fixtures can make a very big difference in how you can enjoy your after-sunset time on the lake this summer.
If you are on the Highland Lakes area of Texas and would like us to make sure your boat dock is properly illuminated, contact us here.
