Installing New LED Lights on Our Sailboat | Wiring & Hole Cutting Ep. 67 #boatrefit

In this episode of our sailboat refit, we tackle the prep work for installing new LED lighting throughout the boat, and like most projects on a refit, it turned into more work than expected. To start, we removed two stainless steel light strips in the salon—each holding eight fixtures—and enlarged every mounting hole to fit the new lights. For this, we tried a new tool: a Vevor punch-out tool, which made quick, clean work of resizing the holes and turned out to be a game changer for this kind of job. From there, we worked our way around the perimeter of the salon, widening additional light cutouts and even removing a hanging cabinet to gain access and properly modify the openings. With the holes prepped, we installed new wire harnesses throughout the interior, setting the stage for a clean and reliable lighting system. The cockpit lights got the same treatment, where we used fish tape to run new wiring through tight spaces. The most challenging part of the entire project was feeding wires for the salon’s perimeter lights—tight, hard-to-reach areas that required patience, a flexible fish tape, and a grabber tool to finally get everything in place. This episode is a real look at the behind-the-scenes work required for upgrading sailboat lighting, including cutting, wiring, and problem-solving in confined spaces. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a critical step toward making the boat feel functional, comfortable, and liveable again. With all wiring run and holes prepped, and new LED lights installed, we’re finally ready to reinstall the ceiling panels and bring the interior back together—and that’s a huge milestone after months of teardown. If you’re into sailboat refits, marine electrical projects, DIY boat upgrades, or LED lighting installs, this episode walks through the process, tools, and lessons learned along the way. ⛵💡 00:00 Intro to project 00:33 Channel intro 00:51 Remove stainless steel sheets 01:19 Vevor punch-out tool 04:23 Enlarge holes in wood supports 06:22 Prep lights for installation 07:59 Build wiring harnesses 09:01 Reinstall stainless steel sheets 12:20 Overhead cabinet holes and wires 15:39 Enlarge holes for perimeter lights 17:09 Fish wires through perimeter and cockpit ceiling 18:30 Install lights 19:49 test lights 21:23 Wrap up 22:02 Like, Subscribe, Emoji, Bye! 22:23 End Card ☝More about us, our adventures, and how we do all this on our website.More about Roam here ⛵️https://sailingroam.com/our-sailboat/ 📲 Keep up with us on social FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/sgsailingroam INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/sailing_roam ----------------------------------------------------------- WE'RE GERI AND SHAWN. A couple travelers out chasing the horizon, meeting the people, and capturing it to share with you. We’ve chosen to Roam the world by boat because, let’s face it, the most interesting path is rarely a straight line. As we learn to let go of our American drive to finish, and embrace the meandering routes across islands, oceans, continents, and people, we hope to gain a better sense of our world and our place in it. The path won’t always be comfortable or easy to find but, it will always #roam #SailboatRefit #BoatLighting #MarineElectrical #DIYBoat #LiveaboardLife #LEDUpgrade #BoatProjects