LED Boat Lighting
What is the best LED boat lighting? A really hard question to answer as there are so many LED lights now on the market. Always go for top quality over cost, those cheaper Chinese fixtures usually have very low quality electronics and worse still are often the cause of interference on AIS and GPS receivers. It is a regrettable fact that the ideal LED boat lighting fixture in terms of illumination do not always match the aesthetic requirements of your partner, who is all about looks and not performance. There are a lot of styles that should answer those looking for something that suits the decor. When you go to your local boat lighting outlet, usually the ship chandler, or do an extensive search online the choice can be somewhat overwhelming. The challenge is therefore trying to come to a suitable compromise with your partner and the boat builder or worst still the bank manager. It used to be that a boat light choice was made on a mixture of technologies that included fluorescent lighting and halogen light bulb and the odd incandescent fixture or latterly LED boat lights to provide all of the necessary illumination solutions.
LED Boat Light Fittings
These days LED lighting is the only way to go but then not everyone will agree with that position. Fortunately, you don't have to renew the fitting as LED "bulbs" are available for most every type of light base. There are replaceable LED bulbs and there are those that are a little bit low standard. When using these in navigation lights you might actually be illegal, as the lights are certified using incandescent bulbs, and the LED lamp unit has totally differing characteristics. So use caution when changing out navigation lights. Recently I had my masts out for inspection and rerigging, and I used that opportunity to rewire the navigation masthead fittings, and also the steaming light and the foredeck and spreader lights. I settled on Hella light fittings as they all meet the European CE standards, really well made and high quality electronics that do not cause interference on my AIS, VHF or the GPS input to my chart plotter. My other choice are those from Aqua Signal. Another good manufacturer in the USA is Perko who make some good quality fixtures and their navigation lights are all compliant with US and European standards. These include US C-5 regulation requirements coming into force 2023.
LED Boat Light Fittings
The most common boat light has been the fluorescent lighting tube fitting for many years along with the incandescent lamp. The quality fluorescent units are not cheap, but the trade-off is that they are well engineered quality fittings, and they will probably last as long as the boat, unlike most other fittings they will probably go through a lot less tubes, and similarly they will not cause aggravating Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). As a note all European fluorescent-lighting fixtures are interference free due to stringent requirements and have the CE mark on the label. Low-energy-lighting fixtures used to be my preferred type and they have been made redundant as well by LED boat lighting. I had installed several very stylish and traditional brass finish fittings on my previous boat and was more than pleased with the appearance and the lumen output of them, with a very low power consumption. The better news these days is that the LED boat lighting has made the fluorescent light almost redundant as well offering lower energy consumption and being much more economic long term. It really is no contest with lighting for boats now.
Light Fittings
My machinery spaces used to have a couple of nice halogen light bulb fittings, so that I always had maximum illumination around the engine when I need it for repairs and maintenance, and they really look the part as well. They have since been replaced with the latest and greatest LED lighting fixtures. Incandescent light fixtures used to have their place on my boat and also many boats that I have installed fittings. I had installed two stainless surround semi-recessed Italian lighting fittings in the toilet and shower area of my previous boat. They looked terrific, are high quality and well made, and what is more being incandescent they do not suffer as much from repeated switching on and off, but then along came the very much improved LED lights. My only incandescent light was an Aqua Signal red fixture in the galley area for night vision retention on passage making when that coffee is essential to survival through the small hours and that is about to be changed as well. Not to forget the chart table light which I still have on my chart table. All about boat lighting. More great information at fishing and boats.
