Navigation Side Lights, which ones are good / bad

[fishrdan]

I need a set of navigation side lights (separate port and starboard) and not sure which ones are good quality for the price, looking to spend about 30+ for the 2 lights. My boat has a bow mount trolling motor that will obstruct a deck mounted bow navigation light and I don't want to use a socketed 12" bow light, something to loose or break.... Just want to make sure what ever I buy doesn't carp out in a few years. Let me know what you think, here's the ones I'm looking at; ( other suggestions welcome too )

Teardrops

Pulsar

Quasar

Series 20

Series 24

Thanks!

 

[Bard1]

Re: Navigation Side Lights, which ones are good / bad

Good one! Just looking I like the pulsar. seems like they might be taller? I like to be seen. So.... the most visibility is not a bad thing.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Navigation Side Lights, which ones are good / bad

I would go with the LEDs on top, more of a pain to install but they will never burn out and the are flush so no chance of snagging anything.

Second choice would be the series 20, they are small, LED and look like they could take a hit and don't require much to install and are probably a good bit cheaper.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Navigation Side Lights, which ones are good / bad

i have used all of them and gotten good service from them all. keeping them sealed is the key. if in salt water environment, none of the will last, due to salt corrosion of socket, another reason for LED.

 

[jhebert]

Re: Navigation Side Lights, which ones are good / bad

If you are going to use separate lamps for the sidelights, you may want to consider the mounting of your masthead light or all-around white light. Under the Navigation Rules, if your masthead light or all-around white light is not located on the vessel centerline, you must use a combined sidelight.

Cf: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rules/Rule23.htm

Particular sub-paragraph c and d:

"...the masthead light or all-round white light on a power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may be displaced from the fore and aft centerline of the vessel if centerline fitting is not practicable, provided the sidelights are combined in one lantern which shall be carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel or located as nearly as practicable in the same fore and aft line as the masthead light or the all-round white light."

Also, you should observe the required vertical separation between the sidelights and the masthead or all-around light. One meter is the minimum.

Cf: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/annexes/annex_1Intl.htm#2

There are similar rules for operation in Inland waters.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Navigation Side Lights, which ones are good / bad

I ended up buying the Aqua Signal Series 20 side lights and they look like a very good quality light. I was pleasantly surprised to see the lights marked "Made in Germany". The fit, finish and quality of these lights look a LOT better than the other "made in China" products I have seen over the past few years.

The only down side to these lights is they use a unique style of light bulb. The replacement bulbs are listed at $12, but I'm sure I can dig them up cheaper than that, closest I have been able to find is a Phillips 1889 bulb. I need to order a few spare bulbs as they seem hard to find.

 

[jhebert]

Re: Navigation Side Lights, which ones are good / bad

Good choice, although an expensive choice.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Navigation Side Lights, which ones are good / bad

Yeah, they were about $45 shipped

I wanted a flat black finish and a vertical mount so I could get them off the gunnels and mounted higher. Kind of funny as I was originally looking at a $13 bow light, guess I shot the budget on that purchase...