LED Light Suggestions
- Thread starter sir-vivor
- Start date
Sharphooks
Well-Known Member
Hella makes good LED stuff but it's hella expensive (German import). I'm familiar with Seachoice and Atwood in the non-LED marine nav lights-- quality is OK. Not sure of their quality in the LED department but their stuff is cheaper then Hella
I have Hella LED Nav lights on my boat---they're hella bright but not enough time on them yet to see if the extra $$ was worth the price of admission
I have Hella LED Nav lights on my boat---they're hella bright but not enough time on them yet to see if the extra $$ was worth the price of admission
I would strongly suggest you stick with the regular old school halogen overhead arch light that has been around for years. Mine was installed on my Seasport when the boat was new in 1992. Still the same light and same bulb. When the bulb does fail I can buy a new lamp for a few bucks and good to go. The Led's put out enough light but just like fluorescent and metal halide they require a driver or ballast/transformer. While the light emitting diodes last forever the drivers do fail and quite often. The light fixture is then a throw away and you will be buying another one. I do a bit of lighting maintenance in my work so I have some experience with this.
Led's are more expensive but if you are Savin money then the extra purchase costs could be justified if you get enough time out them to recover costs. In a battery application on a boat there is no money savings to be had at all. In my opinion not worth the extra money. As said before if it fails the whole nit is in the garbage can.
Sculpin
Well-Known Member
I have two, single row, 5 led deck lights and they kick butt.
http://marineledshop.com/led-flood-deck-lights/led-docking-spreader-light-15-watt-cool-white
I had the halogens and these things are 1/3 the size and put out 4 times the light!!! I have a 4 LED Rigid Industries mounted under my radar facing forward as a docking light and it kicks butt as well. I do wish I got the flood instead of the beam but it works for now.
I have replaced every single light in my boat with LED's. The difference in the draw on your electrical system is significant if you leave stuff on without the motor running. Those halogens draw a lot of power. LED lights are kind of like double sealed so they are pretty bomb proof. I haven't heard or read much about them pooching out on folks.
I think these are the ones that birdsnest has on his boat. If not they are the ones that are installed on the current model Weldcrafts/Duckworths.
http://marineledshop.com/led-flood-deck-lights/led-deck-spreader-light-10-watt-cool-white
http://marineledshop.com/led-flood-deck-lights/led-docking-spreader-light-15-watt-cool-white
I had the halogens and these things are 1/3 the size and put out 4 times the light!!! I have a 4 LED Rigid Industries mounted under my radar facing forward as a docking light and it kicks butt as well. I do wish I got the flood instead of the beam but it works for now.
I have replaced every single light in my boat with LED's. The difference in the draw on your electrical system is significant if you leave stuff on without the motor running. Those halogens draw a lot of power. LED lights are kind of like double sealed so they are pretty bomb proof. I haven't heard or read much about them pooching out on folks.
I think these are the ones that birdsnest has on his boat. If not they are the ones that are installed on the current model Weldcrafts/Duckworths.
http://marineledshop.com/led-flood-deck-lights/led-deck-spreader-light-10-watt-cool-white
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dance a jig
Active Member
I would 2nd the recommendation of Rigid lights on your arch. I ended up putting only one on my arch and couldn't be more pleased. there were times this fall when I was about to leave the dock with a number of other boats in the early hours, and all had their lights on, and my one light was by far the brightest of the dozen or so boats. I think the one I purchased was http://www.seattlemarine.net/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=16058&idcategory=0
good luck.
DAJ
good luck.
DAJ
Fisher_dude
Crew Member
Ive been doing a bunch of research lately on light bars and have come up with a few interesting facts. 1. Most of the light bars out there all use the same LED boards made by Cree industries. 2. Do not get a light that uses glass. Instead, make sure it is polycarbonate. 3. Look at the lumens. Quantum industries makes a 36" bar that produces 21000 lumens and is only $430. The closest thing to that from Rigid is a 40" bar that produces 23000 lumens at but they are $1430. Thats a large chunk of change! Just some food for thought!
dance a jig
Active Member
Fisher_dude, not wanting to be argumentative, but why would one want 23000 lumens? Yea, I know more is often better, but come on, 23000 is way over the top. As one with first hand experience with the aforementioned Rigid flood which reportedly has 1300 Lumens, and in my experience is the brightest boat in a dark night I have seen, I cannot imagine wanting more light. Frankly, I am glad I only purchased 1 for my 24' walkaround. So.... perhaps the Quantum makes more lumens for the buck, but I really don't think 23000 is necessary. Just my opinion. all the best. DAJ
There is the theory that the more light you have emanating from your boat in thick fog in high traffic fishing spots like Sooke, the less likely you are to get T-boned or even killed by someone up on plane.
Fisher_dude
Crew Member
it was more of a price point that i was getting at. For the price of 1 40" rigid, you could buy 3 of the quantums. and like Rockfish said, the more the merrier!
Sculpin
Well-Known Member
Those first ones I posted, that I have as deck lights, were put to the test today big time. We were running late and as you know it gets dark fast these days. We had them on pulling traps and they were the cats azz for sure. While pulling we could see everything going on and while sorting the catch, putting away gear, and cleaning up on the way in
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