New Nav lights...

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Ross in Tampa

Ross in Tampa

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Jan 11, 2007
294
Columbia 28 Sarasota
I was sailing at night this past weekend, and my buddy who was sailing in front of me was having difficulties seeing my red/green lights. They are the factory original ones that came on an Oday 25.

I have added new nav lights to my short list of must do upgrades. My question is this, am I crazy for not considering only LED lights?

I have a trailerable sailboat, that we cruise often on. I do NOT have a charging kit on my outboard and keep my boat topped off with a small solar panel, and occassional overnights plugged in to a charger.

What do you think. I am weighing the factors of cost versus amp consumption. I am leaning heavily towards the LED.
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
One of the least expensive ways to get LED navigation lights is to buy Aquasignal 25 series navigation lights and then replace the bulbs with DR. LED replacement LED-bulbs. :)
 
B

Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
LEDs are a very efficient alternative for navigation lights as well as anchor light. They are very bright for safety, their power consumption is very low when it is needed the most; off the shorepower grid navigating at night. Last but not least they are long lived and very reliable so you will not have to hang over the bow or transom at night in foul conditions to replace a bulb. They have not proved themselves as even adequate for cabin lights unless you go real high end but for navigation they are or should be the standart.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Benny said:
They have not proved themselves as even adequate for cabin lights unless you go real high end but for navigation they are or should be the standart.
Click to expand
This is not entirely true as there are a few decent bulbs at prices under $25.00 that give off nice light.

As for running lights be very cautious putting aftermarket bulbs into other fixtures. Running lights are USCG certified & tested for ratings as a fixture and bulb combo. If the bulb the manufacturer tested with was not an LED, and you install an LED, and then you get into a night time accident, the lawyers could eat your running lights and you for lunch.

The only certified aftermarket bulb fixture combos are the Dr. LED/AquaSignal set ups. Dr. LED bought AquaSignal fixtures, installed their bulbs, and then paid to have them tested and certified for use in certain AquaSignal fixtures.

The only other option is to buy pre-made LED lights from Hella, Bebi or any of the others who have USCG certified LED running lights but they can be expensive..

Even at $40.00 per bulb I find them to be a very good value and certanly cheaper than an alternator or battery bank upgrade.
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
And as I said above, the DR. LED and Aquasignal combo is probably the least expensive way to get LED nav and anchor lights. I'd second not using any combinations or replacement bulbs that aren't USCG certified. It can be a really expensive mistake.

Maine Sail said:
This is not entirely true as there are a few decent bulbs at prices under $25.00 that give off nice light.

As for running lights be very cautious putting aftermarket bulbs into other fixtures. Running lights are USCG certified & tested for ratings as a fixture and bulb combo. If the bulb the manufacturer tested with was not an LED, and you install an LED, and then you get into a night time accident, the lawyers could eat your running lights and you for lunch.

The only certified aftermarket bulb fixture combos are the Dr. LED/AquaSignal set ups. Dr. LED bought AquaSignal fixtures, installed their bulbs, and then paid to have them tested and certified for use in certain AquaSignal fixtures.

The only other option is to buy pre-made LED lights from Hella, Bebi or any of the others who have USCG certified LED running lights but they can be expensive..

Even at $40.00 per bulb I find them to be a very good value and certanly cheaper than an alternator or battery bank upgrade.
Click to expand
 
sailormanbigd

sailormanbigd

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Jul 24, 2006
628
Legnos, Starwind, Regal Mystic 30 cutter, 22 trailer sailor, bow rider NEW PORT RICHEY, FL
Nav Lights

Hi, i just purchased a full set of nav lights from this site's store. They are identical to the factory lights and are reasonably priced. I checked everywhere and had no luck unless i wanted to pay worst marine prices. I am now looking to replace bulbs with leds. I bought an led for an interior fixture for under $20 and i like it alot. I'm just not sure of the clearance under the dome for the bigger leds. Patrick
 
Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
I am very happy with my Aqua Signal nav lights. My impression is that they are more visible than the original lights.

http://home.roadrunner.com/~rlma/08BowWork.htm

(Bottom of page)

I particularly appreciate that everything is totally sealed. With LED fixture bulb replacements, the contacts can corrode.

I second and third the concern about what could happen with unapproved lights after a drunk powerboater "T" bones you. Even it you win, it will add thousands of dollars to the legal bills just talking about the lights. The guy who killed two people here in Maine going 40 knots drunk in the dark got several years off his sentence just because of the unsubstantiated report by some witnesses that the boat he hit didn't have all its lights working.
 
Ross in Tampa

Ross in Tampa

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Jan 11, 2007
294
Columbia 28 Sarasota
thanks everyone...

I will continue to monitor the discussion. I was just trying to weigh wether I was silly for considering anything other than LED lights.

I will upgrade my outboard to include the battery charging kit, that will certainly help my battery situation. The flexible solar panel is nice and luckily is able most of the time to keep the battery topped off.

As I said in the original post, I am looking to replace the fixtures. I like the idea of just replacing bulbs, but I am very conscious of the safety, and after 30 years, my fixtures and lenses have earned their spot in my chandleryof spare and surplus parts.

Thanks for all the input, I do value the input I get here.

Now to start shopping and building a Christmas list.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Ross

SBO Chandlery AquaSignal Series 25 lights $19.95 to 20.95 (LINK)

SBO Chandlery DR. LED Bulbs For AquaSignal Fixtures $42.95 (LINK)

Roughly $63.00 for a legal LED running light and you support Phil...

Other USCG approved options include (Phil might be able to order them):

Aquasignal Series 31 or 32 LED Running Lights

Series 31 Bi-Color = 129.99
Series 32 Stern = 114.99



OGM LED Running Lights

OGM lights cost from $149.99 to $399.00



LopoLight LED Running Lights

LopoLights cost from $167.99 to $859.00



Perko 170 Series LED Running Lights

The 170 series runs from $199.99 to $250.00
 
Rich (P303)

Rich (P303)

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Jun 1, 2005
772
Pearson 303 Robinhood, ME
Maine Sail said:
This is not entirely true as there are a few decent bulbs at prices under $25.00 that give off nice light.

As for running lights be very cautious putting aftermarket bulbs into other fixtures. Running lights are USCG certified & tested for ratings as a fixture and bulb combo. If the bulb the manufacturer tested with was not an LED, and you install an LED, and then you get into a night time accident, the lawyers could eat your running lights and you for lunch.

The only certified aftermarket bulb fixture combos are the Dr. LED/AquaSignal set ups. Dr. LED bought AquaSignal fixtures, installed their bulbs, and then paid to have them tested and certified for use in certain AquaSignal fixtures.

The only other option is to buy pre-made LED lights from Hella, Bebi or any of the others who have USCG certified LED running lights but they can be expensive..

Even at $40.00 per bulb I find them to be a very good value and certanly cheaper than an alternator or battery bank upgrade.
Click to expand
I agree with Mainesail on this one... actually I absorb everything he says... but I digress.

The question you must ask is... how often do I actually use my nav lights? If the answer is often... you might want to go the LED OEM route.

I purchased a HELLA, LED anchor light... it is the nuts, but expensive +/- $120. Coast Guard approved. Saw another LED anchor light at the Portland boat show... +/- $300... it was a quality fixture... but who is going to see it 45' in the air?

The rest of my nav lights are incandescent... but when they are on... I would be motoring anyway.

Planning to get a HELLA LED chart light and a couple of 6' LED rope lights to brighten up the cabin.

Good Luck.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Rich (P303) said:
The rest of my nav lights are incandescent... but when they are on... I would be motoring anyway. .
Click to expand
Motoring in Maine at night !!! Now that takes gusto!! You must have a good spotter with night vision binocs for the pot buoys..;););)
 
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