Lighting suggestions

[sailaway78]

What are some of you using for interior lighting. I want to lighten, brighten up the inside of my boat. It currently has those little 10w square framed lights that are used in boats, motor homes and what ever else. Am replacing the headliner with a bright white hard plastic, but still need more light. What do some of you think is the best output for the wattage used. Are there better things around than the little two tube flourescents. I would love to use some LED's, but haven't really seen any that look like they would work, look very good, and what I have seen are just too expensive. Surely there is something available that makes a decent amount of light, looks reasonably nautical and good, doesn't draw too much voltage and that I won't have to take out a mortgage to buy. Have even considered using some 110V's and running them through an inverter.

 

[Dave Groshong]

The Doctor LED fixtures we

offer here are state of the art, a patented technology, and of course satisfaction guaranteed like everything else sold on this site:http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?fno=400&group=820&cat=2203Dave GroshongCustomer ServiceSailboatOwners.comToll Free 877-932-7245 ext.116, Mon-Fri, 9-5 Pacific.

 

[Stu Jackson]

110 thru inverter NOT worth it

Too much current drain. You can easily find 12V bulbs that fit standard lamp sockets if that's the way you want to go.Some other sources: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?topic=3736.0Also, before you go full out consider what it'll look like. We bought two halogen down lights at Home Depot, one over the galley the other over the saloon table. They were 12V lamps sold in one pack already wired into the transformer for home use. All we bought were the replacement lamps and wired them right in to the 12V lighting wiring - we never use both the old and new at the same time anyway. Someone else I know bought the ones with the transformers thru his inverter and used a lot more amperage for the same lighting.That said, the new lights punched up the space, but we actually stayed with the old fixtures to provide two different "types" of lighting, plus the trawler lamp. Our lights are shown here: http://www.c34.org/projects/projects-aquavite.htmlAnother skipper I knew replaced all his lights with fluorescents because that was the rage eight years ago. The affect was appalling at best, weird at worst and so jumpy as to make you nervous to be within three boat lengths of his boat when the sun went down! He also didn't know the difference between cool white and warm white fluorescents. Ghastly...So, plan carefully and don't overdo it. Maybe try one or two out and see how you like them. You'll be surprised at how much your new overhead will bounce what light you now have around.

 

[Ross]

Consider where you need the bright light

and where you just need enough light to not kill yourself as you move about at night. I have four compact 115 volt florescent lights run off a 50 watt inverter and a couple of 12 volt halogen goose neck lights. for just moving about after dark I light a lantern or two.

 

[Rich (P303)]

LED...

is the way to go. I think I will purchase a couple of 12V LED tubing... cut to length and try and hide along the port and starboard top shelving... behind the rail... "OUT OF SIGHT"... to reflect up off the white headliner.

 

[Roger (Ninette Manitoba)]

LED automotive light

I changed to an automotive LED this past fall and was quite pleased with the result. It only cost about $14, and was available in clear, amber or red. Now I must say that my boat is only 20' LOA so not a large cabin by any means. I have one overhead light in the main part of the cabin over the table and it is significantly bright to read by. I believe it is a 10 or 15 w LED. I have a smaller LED that plugs into a cig lighter for bedtime reading, or a nightlight (using the head etc)I have one other self contained battery operated light with a conventinal bulf in the V berth area, for night time reading, but the cabin light is sufficient for seeing into that area as well. Battery drain is minimal. I think I calculated that I could leave it on for a week before it drained my battery.I am planning on installing a 55w halogen spreader light this spring. It will definatly use up more power, but I don't plan to be using it for extended periods like I would the interior cabin light.Check your auto supply stores for these 1156 or 1157 base replacement bulbs. It is worth a try.

 

[jackhartjr]

Dave...

...I purchased two of those White/Red combo LED lights that look exactly like yours for if I am not mistaking half what yours are selling for. Why so high?PS...I purchased them over a year ago at a place that sells boating, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor sports stuff.

 

[Benny]

LEDs are the way to go. They provide brightness,

long life and low power consumption. I have mounted in the cockpit a pair of LED light fixtures powered by AA batteries. They avoided having to run wiring and run independnt of the boats electrical system. They work great for when you try to enter the boat after dark.

 

[Steve Dion]

I second AlpenGlow

I second the AlpenGlow lights. I put them in my H'31 and again in my Hunter Vision 36.For anyone that has those crappy recessed florescents that were in the Hunter, Bob has direct replacments for them. When he made mine, I also have a second switch with Red LED's for night time cruising. These lights are 2 - 3 times the cost of the low end units from Guest and other companies, but the bulbs are much brighter and seem to last forever.

 

[Hogan]

Horse Trailer Lights

Yep, that's what it called them. Look on Ebay Motors and search for horse trailer lights or aircraft lights. I bought two units with 36 white LED's with three power positions, and easy to mount fixture for under $20. I put one over the galley area in my H260 and it is great. The other I mounted above the settee for reading. Powered by three AAA cells. I recommend highly.

 

[Bill Blask]

S2 Headliner replacement

I have the original headliner that is detaching from the overhead in several places in my 1979 S2 8.0C. What "hard plastic" material are you using to redo your headliner? Where might I get that material? How are you attaching it?

Any information would be valuable for this novice S2 maintainer!

Best regards,
Bill Blask

 

[kendall]

alternatives

What I use in many cases are the solar yard lights, pretty much self contained and remain lit for a long while. The advantage is that there is no drain on the main batteries, but a lot of them (especially the cheaper ones) are designed to stay lighted whenever it's dark and you have to wire in a switch, plus they aren't very bright individually so you may need a few of them scattered around.

Have a couple in the garage, and one in the entryway at home so I don't have to walk into a dark spot. build a shelf under a port to keep them in the light for charging

Depending on how well you shop you can pick them up for about $20 for four of them, which together give enough light to move around in a boat comfortably. Most of them use AA ni-cad batteries

Ken