- Imtra's Hobart PowerLED 12-Volt Reading Light - Image courtesy of Imtra Marine Products
If you've been considering replacing your old halogen or incandescent 12-volt boat cabin light fixtures with LEDs, but have been holding off because the technology still seemed too new and the available lights too dim, it's time to take another look at what's on the market in bright 12-volt LED light fixtures for boat cabins.
Boat lighting manufacturers have made great strides: The newest 12-volt LED cabin lights are far brighter than their predecessors, and show plenty of style, too. Top marine lighting manufacturers such as Imtra Marine Products, Dr. LED and Aqua Signal produce both boat 12-volt LED reading lights and cabin dome lights, along with a variety of low-output courtesy lighting options.
Although the highest-quality lights still aren't cheap, they easily put out as much light as halogen, fluorescent, Xenon and incandescent alternatives, and they should last significantly longer.
When Comparing Bright 12V LED Boat Cabin Lights to Halogens, Compare Watts
The output of LED lights for boats is measured in lumens, which doesn't compare easily to other boat cabin lights.
However, online retailer Sailor Sam's, which sells a wide variety of different 12-volt LED light fixtures, offers this simple rule of thumb: LED lights put out approximately four times the light of a non-LED light fixture of comparable wattage.
Therefore, if you've got a 12-volt boat cabin light that draws four or five watts, it will be comparable to a 15- or 20-watt halogen, Xenon or incandescent light. LED lights that draw 2.5 to 3 watts will put out about as much light as a 10- to 12-watt halogen fixture.
Bright 12V LED Boat Cabin Dome Lights Available for Many Budgets
It's possible to find bright 12-volt LED boat cabin lights to suit almost any style and many budgets.
For example, Imtra makes a wide variety of 12-volt LED lights with the company's PowerLED technology. Imtra's Avalon light, a 6-inch recessed stainless steel or white fixture with a 5.5-watt LED cluster, remains one of the company's most popular options. The Avalon retails for around $190.
Meanwhile, the Mars dome light from Dr. LED draws about 3 watts. It comes in white or chromed plastic, and retails for around $90.
Reading, Chart LED Lights for Boats Still Should be Bright
For reading and chart lights, you still need plenty of illumination, but it must be focused instead of diffuse. Stylish light fixtures also offer a fine accent for your boat's cabin.
At the high end of the spectrum, Imtra again makes many different options in bright LED reading lights for boats. For example, its Hobart reading light 12-volt LED light fixture comes in several different finishes and with either a glass or a stainless steel shade. The Hobart, which draws three watts, retails for up to $340.
ICM Technologies, meanwhile, makes high-output LED lighting fixtures for boats that retail for significantly less because they use mainly plastic shells and components. ICM's mini-LED reading spotlight, for example, comes in white, brass-colored or chrome-plated plastic, draws 2.4 watts and costs about $40 online.
Options for Boat Cabin 12V LED Lights Include Dimmers, Switches
In addition to brighter 12-volt LED lights for boats, marine lighting manufacturers offer options for controlling them.
Several manufacturers sell dimmers that can be attached to one or more 12-volt LED lights. When purchasing a dimmer, however, make certain you buy the one specified by your light's manufacturer, since they're not necessarily interchangeable.
In addition, it's possible to wire 12-volt LED cabin lights to remote light switches, enabling boat owners to turn on all the lights in one cabin from a single wall-mounted switch.
All in all, bright 12-volt LED lights for boat cabins have developed enough so that they now easily can replace halogen, Xenon, fluorescent and incandescent fixtures. Although they may cost more up front, they'll continue to function for many years without the need to carry replacement light bulbs.
More on LED lights for boats:
LED Lights for Boats Save Power, Last Longer
Boat Navigation Lights: New LED Options Offer Power Savings
Boat Navigation Lights: Replacing Old Bulbs with LEDs
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 ...
