First, get yourself a small Honda EU1000i or Yamaha EF1000is generator. You can find them used on ebay for around $500. Then get your self a 400w metal halide ballast and socket(you can find them on ebay as well) and make a small enclosure to install the mogul to and mount the ballast in a dry spot or mount it to an electricle cord long enough to keep it away from the moisture or water that's geting flung around by the crowder net and squids. Mount the enclosure to a piece of pvc pipe and have it set just below the rail so the light doesn't blind you. Plug it in and walla, you got a squid light. Here's a picture of my cheappo setup (going to move up to a P.E light soon, looks nicer and cleaner is smaller and has a bitchen reflector to amplify the light). My setup ran me $500 for the EU1000i and about $150 or so(cant remeber the exact price) for the ballast, mogul, and two
20,000k bulbs. Here's a couple pics of it.
The cheappo light
Mounted on the stern of the boat below the rail
Tested in the driveway (notice the diference in light intensisty compaired to the holigan pic posted earlier and thats with out a reflector inside the light housing))
Same spot on the driveway 5 min earlier with the light off
http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/530/medium/332P1010051.]
Squid floating on the backside of Cat under new light
[img]http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/500/medium/332squid_float_5-14.jpg
Crowding squid with aP.E 6x6 crowder
and the reward for making your own squid
Also, along with the crowder you should have a long handled dip net to get singles and doubles when they just wont fully float and also a short handled dip net to get the squirts outta the crowder without knocking everyone on board out with a long handled one. Bring plenty of p bags to put the leftovers in too so you can use them on the next trip.
p.s If you dont want to mess with the wires, ballast, lights ect. or you dont think you got the skills or you just want something realy clean,nice, safe stop by the P.E shop as we got everything you need to make squid along with first hand knowledge on how/where to use it.
Good luck on the project which ever way you choose to go,
Behdad
P.E Staff