1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Installing the Salon Light Mounts

With the 12v wiring powered up throughout the boat, next I started installing the panels that the new salon lights will go into once the headliner is installed.

Reusing original plywood

I kept most of the plywood that was still in good shape when we demolished the original interior back in 2008. It’s made my garage a mess for a decade, so I’m happy to be using the old wood while putting the boat back together. This is 1/2″ plywood, and the Whisper Wall track that the headliner goes into is also 1/2″ high.

Kai 12v LED marine lights, courtesy of a fellow boater

A fellow whose been following the refit very generously donated 20 Kai LED lights. He bought them for his own boat, but they were too deep to fit above the headliner. They’ll fit this Roamer just fine!

IMTRA LEDs I bought previously will go in the aft cabin and bathrooms

Hole saw then jigsaw and one mount is ready to go

Pretty slick

Springs on the backside hold them firmly in place.

First light mount is installed

Mass production

The salon panels are all cut

Line up the big holes in the panels and screw them to the overhead frames

Make sure the panels line up horizontally, too

The panels have to line up horizontally so hard edges don’t push the headliner and print through. The Whisper Wall headliner is 56″ wide, same as conventional Chris Craft perforated headliner. The lights are seven watts, so they’re not super bright. I’ll have nine of them in the salon spaced about 24″ apart, plus the OEM light fixture in the center of the salon and galley that can be turned on if the missus  (who likes lots of light) wants it brighter.

Next up in our 1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Wiring the New Salon Lights.