Many boat owners want to replace their older boat navigation lights with new LED options, since LED navigation lights have several advantages over traditional incandescent navigation lights, especially longevity and power consumption.
But interested boat owners may be put off by the price tag: new LED navigation light fixtures can cost more than twice as much as incandescent navigation lights.
Fortunately, there is another option for boaters who want the advantages of LED lights without the high price tag. They can consider purchasing LED replacement bulbs made specifically to fit in their older navigation light fixtures.
Dr. LED Replacement LED Lights Popular
Dr. LED makes what are arguably the best-known LED replacement bulbs for marine navigation lights. The company offers bulbs that are compatible with Aqua Signal Series 25, 40, 41, 42, 50 and 55 navigation lights, plus some 17 Perko navigation light models and four Hella Marine navigation lights.
Dr. LED navigation bulbs generally draw about one-tenth what conventional incandescent bulbs draw and last up to 100 times longer.
The light bulbs are widely available through marine stores such as Defender and West Marine, or can be purchased online; prices run between $40 and $50, depending on the fixture type.
Fiji Islands' Bebi Electronics Offers Replacement LED Bulbs
Bebi Electronics, located in Savusavu, Fiji Islands, has developed a wide range of LED bulbs for direct navigation light replacement, along with full LED light fixtures for boats. Cruisers tend to be familiar with the company, which offers a 10% discount to Seven Seas Cruising Association members.
Bebi tests its products extensively and offers a lifetime warranty, as long as the lights haven't been subjected to more than 16 volts or to outright abuse. The company also has tweaked the color output of the LEDs to make certain they meet international regulations for running lights.
Bebi offers Masina running light bulbs and Masina Malosi masthead tricolor bulbs. The bulbs are not certified by the U.S. Coast Guard or any other regulatory agency, but the company says it's confident that they meet or exceed visibility requirements. The Masini lights cost around $40, depending on the particular model, and shipping to the U.S. from Fiji is free.
Imtra Claims Products 'Highest Output' for Navigation Light Use
Imtra Marine Products, which makes a diverse line of marine lighting fixtures and has been active in the marine LED market, offers what it says is the "highest output LED tower cluster available for marine use" as a replacement LED navigation light.
Imtra makes two replacement LED bulbs for navigation fixtures. The first, designed for white stern lights and anchor lights, fits fixtures that use the common bayonet-base bulb 15d (double contact, offset pins). The second, a festoon-style bulb, will work for navigation, anchor and stern light fixtures that accept festoon bulbs.
The company says the bulbs easily exceed the brightness of the 10 watt incandescent bulbs they replace, and in fact are visible for more than three nautical miles. Both types of LED bulbs are available from Imtra directly for about $35 each.
Manufacturer Warns Against Using LED Replacement Bulbs
Although the vast majority of boat owners who make the switch to LED navigation light bulbs are happy with their decision, at least one marine navigation light manufacturer warns against mixing incandescent fixtures with after-market LED bulbs.
Aqua Signal Corp. says in its FAQs that its navigation light products are certified for use with the company's incandescent light bulbs only, and that it has tested various LED replacement bulbs with poor results. The company warns that warranties will be void for "products that have been modified without our knowledge and without our agreement."
However, bulb testing by the makers of LED navigation light replacement bulbs, along with anecdotal reports from boat owners pleased with the visibility of their new LED navigation light bulbs, indicate that most of the replacement bulbs are at least as bright as the incandescent bulbs they are replacing.
Boat owners considering switching to LED bulbs in their navigation light fixtures should carefully examine the fixture they intend to use, and replace the light's plastic lens if it appears clouded from ultraviolet light damage. In addition, they should test the light at night to see whether it appears bright enough to suit them as a permanent replacement for their incandescent navigation light bulb.
Jane Anderson - Jane M. Anderson spends as much time as possible on the water, working and sailing on boats. She grew up sailing Sunfish and Rhodes 19s on ...
Join the Conversation