LED Lights

[keoni757]

Has anyone out there ever mounted Through Hull or Surface Mounted LED lights on their rig? If so, is this a do it yourself type project or do you need a marine shop to do it for you? I like the looks, but don't know if it is worth the $$$.$$ Thanks.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: LED Lights

This will probably get moved to non repair section..
But if you do a keyword search on LED you will get a ton of info.
There is an outfit that sells a DIY kit that can be mounted to either your trim tabs or to the hull..Not to be confused with through the hull, which is quite expensive...

A member here used this product with great results..

http://www.oznium.com/marine-led-light

 

[rodbolt]

Re: LED Lights

very simple DIY project.
you will need the correct size wire for the wire run,a GOOD set,not the stamped steel cheapies,of wre crimpers, the correct size hole saw and a fresh tube of 5200 or equivalent sealer adhesive.
tip on the hole saw.
ALWAYS make a test cut through a piece of scrap about the same thickness of your hull to check final hole size.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: LED Lights

I got my surface mount LED's from this site:
http://www.boatsandmotorsunlimited.com
Use them or not...I'm not a rep for them. The price was great and I got them in less than 4 days. I think I pad around $300.00 for 4 of them.

I bought the surface mount. They only require 2 screws per light and the screw holes don't go all the way through the hull (about 1/2" into the wood). The only hole was a 1/8" above the water line, which you can't see because of the recessed shape of my hull and where the lights are mounted. I got the royal blue lights and they look cool. Of course, you can't see them very well in the dark water of the St. Johns river, but when I take the boat over on the east coast for the summer, they look fantastic in the emerald green water.

 

[keoni757]

Re: LED Lights

Thanks for the replies. If I do decide to install them, I'll post some before and after pix. Still on the fence though.

 

[Rumley]

Re: LED Lights

I put some super cheap underwater LED strips underneath my swim platform. They were about 15 bucks each and I put 2. When I pull the boat out for winter I'm going to put an additional 2 on there. They look good, probably shine out about 5 feet off the platform and allow me to see the bottom in 4 feet of water. (really clear water of lake Huron). I bought them through the dealer I work at but they come from kimpex. Like I said they were very inexpensive and did the job for me. Im sure they arent as good as the 300-1000 dollar lights but for the 30 bucks it cost me they work amazing. Makes it much easier to get onto the boat to sleep in the middle of the night after a few wobbly-pops on a friends boat.

 

[keoni757]

Re: LED Lights

Rumley, do you have any pictures or your lights? Thanks

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: LED Lights

Just a few

"chill" mode (ie. dimmer mode)

 

[STARCRAFT16SS]

Re: LED Lights

Nice looking led's.& boat

 

[dsiekman]

Re: LED Lights

Nice!

 

[NYBo]

Re: LED Lights

Just a few

"chill" mode (ie. dimmer mode)

Is that your boat, or the Ginza at night?

Looks darned good, though.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: LED Lights

Are those blue or "black light"? I did my gauges and cockpit lighting in blue led's awhile back. After seeing those pics I might have to add a few more

 

[Fireman431]

Re: LED Lights

Are those blue or "black light"? I did my gauges and cockpit lighting in blue led's awhile back. After seeing those pics I might have to add a few more

How did you do the LED's in the gauges? That's cool and now that project just moved to the top of my boat "to-do" list.

 

[jonesg]

Re: LED Lights

I was told , for fishing boats, blue ruins night vision, red is best.
So I bought white.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: LED Lights

Really easy. Each gauge has a standard bulb in it. If you look from the back side there is a black "dial looking thing" - technical term - that holds the bulb. Turn about a 1/4 turn and pull out. I got my replacements from www.superbrightleds.com. They were about a buck and a half each and came in several colors. It took me longer to take the access panel off the back of the helm than it did to swap bulbs. If I remember right, 18 bulbs cost me about $25 and were delivered within a couple days.

This winter I plan to rebuild the dash as the rosewood laminate is failing. I also plan to flush mount my Garmin 4208 as it currently blocks my strbd oil pressure and temp. When I do I want to rig up an "eyebrow" shade over the dash and inlay some red leds for flipping switches and the like at night. Debating whether to do teak, mahogany, or carbon fiber. I just got the boat a couple months ago, but I can't help myself. I'm a constant tinkerer.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: LED Lights

Yeah, I had also heard that about red vs blue. It was a toss up, but I figured for $25 I'd give it a shot. I've only had it out a few times at night and it didn't bother me. Then again, wouldn't mind having a red set just for fun...

 

[Fireman431]

Re: LED Lights

Really easy. Each gauge has a standard bulb in it. If you look from the back side there is a black "dial looking thing" - technical term - that holds the bulb. Turn about a 1/4 turn and pull out. I got my replacements from www.superbrightleds.com. They were about a buck and a half each and came in several colors. It took me longer to take the access panel off the back of the helm than it did to swap bulbs. If I remember right, 18 bulbs cost me about $25 and were delivered within a couple days.

Thanks. I didn't know they were available with a standard lamp socket base. That makes it much easier. My dash lamps are on a dimmer as well, so even if I go blue LED's, I can dim them down. I don't do a whole lot of night driving anyway...usually by then I shouldn't be driving anything anyway...

 

[dsiekman]

Re: LED Lights

Yeah, mine are a mini wedge base. Come to think of it, I think mine are dimmable as well. Like I said, still getting used to the boat. I'm still trying to figure out what bulb to use for my stern light. I would like to replace every bulb on my boat over time.

Back to the original topic, I really want to do transom lights this winter. I boat in the Chesapeake, so the water isn't really clear. Not sure if the more affordable lights would do anything. I did see a big sportfish with transom lights that was pretty impressive although I'm pretty sure he didn't pay $15 each...

 

[huskerdaninva]

Re: LED Lights

Thought I'd add my .02 worth of info here. I just wired in eight (8) individual single white LED's on my '69 Valiant for the bow light. (The bow light is the vintage chrome horizontal "V" Chrysler used in the '60's & '70's. Four LED's on each side.) With the red/green lens' in place the bow light looks sharp.

Now my stern light I have the original Perko fixture and I had to replace the old rusted out bayonet socket. Well I found on Ebay a sealed, waterproof, multi-directional (360 degrees) white LED replacement bulb. It is from Source LED, warm white, 8-30 VDC, dimmable and current draw is 0.16 amps, replaces G4 bulbs. She is BRIGHT!

Here's the best thing...I hooked up a portable battery jumper/booster box to my newly installed wiring as a power source to test the wiring and the LED's etc. Turned on the light switch to the first position and the stern light comes on like a lighthouse beacon! Pulled the light switch out to the second position and my bow lights are on. Everything is fine and I'm admiring how "cool" the LED's look and how bright they are even in braod daylight when I look down at my booster box. The thing is practically dead! One bar out of five on the strength meter. I was pretty happy when I connected a fully charged 12 volt battery into the mix. What a difference! Good before, GREAT after! Those LED's are bright and the stern light especially will blind you if you look right at it. Don't think anyone will have trouble seeing that light at night for two miles!

OK, off of my soapbox now!

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: LED Lights

I turn the lights off while underway, the blue really does kill night vision, they are strictly for hanging out and having fun!