Deck the Hull: How to Light Up Your Boat for a Christmas Parade

In the South, Christmas parades come in all forms—golf carts, ATVs, and my personal favorite, Christmas boat parades. For the past eight years, I’ve had the privilege of helping organize our local Christmas Boat Parade, and every year, I hear the same question: “How do I properly light and power my boat for the parade?”

Well, you’re in luck! In this blog, I’ll share my tips for creating a show-stopping Christmas boat, covering three key areas: choosing the right colors, fastening your lights securely, and powering them efficiently.

1. Choosing the Right Colors

When decorating your boat, visibility and aesthetics go hand in hand. I usually go all out with over 4,000 LED mini lights in various colors and patterns, but placement is just as important as quantity. Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Keep your line of sight clear: Think of it like car dashboard lights—illuminated enough to see but not glaring. Avoid using bright white lights above the rub rail and below the hardtop to prevent glare or blind spots.
• Stick to nighttime-friendly colors around the console: Green, blue, or red lights work well as they enhance visibility without being overpowering.
• Strategic use of bright white lights: Use white lights below the rub rail or above the hardtop to avoid direct visibility.
• Plan your wiring: Set up your lights so that you only need a few main power connections running back to your power source. This simplifies the setup and reduces the risk of tangled wiring.

2. Fastening Your Lights Securely

Securely attaching lights to your boat is critical, especially in windy or damp conditions. Here are the best methods:

• White shrink wrap tape: Available at most marine stores, this tape is sticky, long-lasting, and leaves no residue on your boat. Use it around the perimeter, on the hardtop, and in areas without fastening points.
• Zip ties: These are perfect for securing lights but don’t overtighten them, making removal easier after the season. Opt for inexpensive zip ties for easy removal.
• Cleat-to-cleat string lines: For areas without fastening points, tie a string from one cleat to another and hang your lights on it. This technique allows you to decorate areas that are typically out of reach.

3. Powering Your Lights

Lighting up a boat requires significant power, and there are two reliable options:

• Small gas generator: Mount a small generator on your swim platform or transom (with the exhaust facing outward) and connect it to a surge protector. This method supports a large number of lights without draining your boat’s battery.
• Power inverter: Choose a high-output inverter and connect it to the battery being charged by your motor. Be sure to track the wattage of your lights to avoid overloading the inverter. Inverters are widely available at hardware stores and typically come with gator clips for easy battery hookup.

Final Thoughts

Christmas boat parades are a magical experience for the entire family, and with these tips, your boat is sure to shine brightly. If you have any questions or need more advice, feel free to reach out to me at Aaron.Sportsmanboats@gmail.com.

Happy decorating, and may your holidays be merry and bright!