Installing a Galley Light

Installing a Galley Light

By Mark Elkin, Yorkshire Rose #133

I wanted (needed?) more light in my galley than was provided by the stock lights around the edges of the salon. A trip to West Marine (or your favorite chandlery) should give you plenty of options. I chose a two bulb 12V compact florescent fixture. Mounting it above the galley space was no sweat. But tastefully running the wires was a trick. At first, I used those sticky backed plastic guides but they "unstuck" within a month. So I got serious and made guides from teak trim batons. It was easy to cut a channel down the back side with a table saw. Then, over a week's time, I "bent" the teak so that it would more closely conform to the curvature of the cabin roof. The teak guides were attached with brass oval head screws. Personally, I don't mind seeing the screw heads and the extra effort to recess and hide them behind teak plugs just wasn't worth the extra effort. (But that's just my opinion.)