Eastern Metal Works Gigging Lights
Expanding on his line of economical and high-performance gigging and fishing lights, Wilmington’s Thomas Meyers, proprietor of Eastern Metal Works, has introduced clamp-on and hard-mounted versions perfect for boaters trying to outfit the ultimate gig rig.
Like Thomas’ popular wade-gigging lights, the units feature two or four LED lamps in a sealed head unit (and technological advances have made Eastern’s 2013 LED’s 20% brighter than previous year models).
The LED’s are key to the performance and efficiency of the system, as they offer blinding illumination with very low power draw (and don’t require the frequent bulb changes of incandescent flounder lights). The combination allows anglers to run a setup of four lights all night and still have power to start the boat in the morning on a single 12-volt battery, perfect for those who don’t want the noise, weight, or hassle of a generator in the boat.
And in fact, a 12-volt setup isn’t even necessary to power Meyers’ lights, as, just like his wade lights, anglers can opt for a battery pack system that uses AA batteries to power the LED’s and offers many hours of output as well.
Anglers can also choose between a clamp-on mount perfect for jon boats and temporary applications, or a fixed mount for a more dedicated flounder rig. The mounting systems are removable from the lights, so the battery-pack versions can also be used as wade-gigging lights.
Meyers offers both straight and 45-degree angled lights, and he says that a combination of the two offers anglers the best illumination and widest coverage area when outfitting their boats.
The straight lights feature a reflective shield that casts light away from the surface and towards the bottom, while the angled models are shieldless for maximum light range. Accessories like floats, hand grips, and belt tabs are all available, and Eastern specializes in custom work, so they can set up buyers’ lights in whatever configuration they’d like.
Not only good for gigging, the lights have also shown promise attracting bait and gamefish to the boat for anglers rod-and-reel fishing after sundown.
Constructed in a sealed, leakproof element, Meyers’ guarantees all his lights won’t leak or fail. Several of his setups are in use by commercial flounder giggers, who’ve offered excellent reviews about their durability and effectiveness.
In addition to his lights, Meyers makes a variety of metal goods, including gaffs, clam rakes, sand spikes, oyster tongs, and more. Check out his entire line of products at www.easternmarinetools.com, or call (910) 792-1851 for more information and/or to find a retailer near you.
