Choosing Shadow-Caster Products

Which Shadow-Caster® series of light is right for my boat?

Generally, for lift and trailer boats we recommend our stainless steel SCM series lights. Their low profile and compact design make them easy to mount in a variety of compact locations, and their polished stainless finish provide a nice aesthetic. Boats that live in the water continuously typically use our SCR round series under water lights. The glass lens and smooth exterior finish make them a better option for combating marine growth.

How many underwater lights do I need?

Certainly, more lights spaced close together will provide a more even and continuous glow. The SCM series come in a range of sizes of 4,6, and 10 LEDs. Smaller boats from skiffs up to 21ft (6 m), can be covered with one light on either side of the transom. The size of fixtures chosen typically depends on budget and desired brightness. Smaller skiffs are often adequate with one light in the middle. For larger boats using the SCR series, typical installation starts with two lights and one for every additional 5ft (1.5) of beam width over 3 meters.

What color underwater light should I choose?

By far the most popular choice is a full color light that will do any color and can accommodate any water condition. Bimini blue is the most popular single-color light. It creates a pleasant island glow around your boat regardless of water conditions. Generally, white is only recommended where pristine clear waters are abundant. Consider our blue and white for this condition as well. Green is a popular choice for in-shore fisherman as a way to attract bait fish. Red and ultra-blue are great when doing a red or violet themed lighting design for the entire boat

Do I need a controller for my lights?

All Shadow-Caster® products, both single and multi-color, will work from a standard switch. In multiple light installations, current demand can add up quickly and exceed the capability of a standard switch. (2 SCR 24s on a 12 V system = 16 amps) In these cases consider a Shadow-Caster® power box such as the SCM-PD-RELAY-4 to switch the current for up to 4 lights, or a SCM-PD-PLUS which will handle 6 lights. This provides not only a convenient way to connect and fuse multiple light installations, but a way to handle the high currents using a normal switch. In either case, simply toggling the power on or off will step the light to the next color.

Is there a way to make my interior RGB(W) lights match my underwater lights?

Yes, Shadow-Caster® has the SCM-SNLC Single Zone Lighting Controller that will output digital commands to underwater lights, and control up to 20 amps (250 watts) of RGB lighting.

Is there a way to control multiple areas of lighting?

Users that want to step up the level of control for their underwater and interior lighting should consider the Shadow-Caster® Multi-Zone Lighting Controller. The SCM-ZC-KIT, is a 4-zone push button controller coupled to the Shadow-Caster® Multi-Zone Lighting Controller. This kit provides the ability to control 4 zones of RGB lighting or Shadow-Caster® products such as their underwater lights. With up to 15 amps over 4 zones, it provides enough capacity to light an entire boat. The multi-zone control also provides several options for color rotation and synchronizing lights to music.

Can I control my lighting through my boat’s MFD (Multi-Function Display)?

Yes, through your marine display and the SCM-MFD-LC-KIT you can configure and control your entire boat lighting system. The Shadow-Caster® system can be custom configured for up to six zones of lighting control. Note that one advantage of the Shadow-Caster® multi-zone controls is that the system will not require any power switches as the system sends digital messages to all devices to tell them to turn on and off, along with color and brightness information.

What products does Shadow-Caster® have for lighting other areas of my boat?

Gunwale and accent areas

Shadow-Caster® has a variety of accent lighting and LED NEON lighting strips available. Consider SCM-AL-LED for areas where the mounting of the LED strip will not be directly visible. The SCM-AL-NEON and SCM-AL-MINI-NEON are better for areas where the mounting location will be in the line of sight, as they provide a pleasant looking continuous glow. The choice between the two is generally determined by size requirements and bend direction required for mounting.

Baitwells, hatches, and step areas

Consider the Shadow-Caster® courtesy lights SCM-CL series available in single and multi-color versions. They provide a pleasant down firing light, available in black, white or stainless finish.

Overhead areas

Shadow-Caster® offers two types of down lights. There are 2” (SCM-DL series) and 3” (SCM-DLX series) diameter versions available in multiple finishes and color outputs from single white to full color.

For lighting large areas such as decks and towers

Use the Shadow-Caster® Spreader Beam Flood Light. SCM-SLB (with bracket) or SCM-SLF (flush-mounted) also available in multiple finishes and color outputs.