Replacement Cabin Lights - H27

[fawcettandrew]

Hello and thanks in advance for any information on good replacements for the now very old and yellowed overhead lights in my 1978 Hunter 27.

I certainly am not a light snob and i am wondering if there are not affordable LED lights at my local IKEA which would make effective upgrades.

Again - thanks in advance,

Andrew

 

[Benny]

Don't know about IKEA but rather than having to adapt some fixtures to be able to use existing wiring perhaps your local chandlery will provide better if not less expensive options. Get some dome light fixtures at West Marine or Defender that use Xenon 10W bulbs. They run about $21 a piece. A similar in size LED fixture will run you around $85. I bypassed the power budget considerations of cabin lightning by adding a generator so LED upgrades other than navigation lights are a non issue.

 

[Neil McDonald]

Two things to think about. Are you concerned about power consumption and are the lights for task lighting or area lighting? If no power concerns then several Xenons would work well - which is what I have right now.

If power consumption is a concern, then go for Sensibulb LEDs for task lighting or Alpenglow fluorescents for area lighting - their energy efficiency is quite similar and both products are top of the line for their respective types. I am currently adding two Alpenglows to supplement my Xenons.

 

[fawcettandrew]

Thanks for the quick reply guys, i'm going with the Alpenglow fluorescents idea.

A.

 

[Steve Dion]

Andrew: The Alpenglow units are great. I have had them in two boats and would highly recommend them. You may want to consider something a little smaller for "basic" lighting (like a v-berth) that does not need to be highly lit.

 

[Neil McDonald]

Unless you are willing to drill the cabin roof for mounting screws for the Alpenglow units, you may want to fabricate a small wooden mounting plate that you can first epoxy to this ceiling. I am using Wiremold 300 raceway series conduit (available at Home Depot) to neatly run surface mounted power wires to these units.

For your V birth you may wish to consider an ABI 7" Stainless Steel light unit available from Defender and fit it with a Sensibulb. (Main Sail's best buy recommendation). Good luck!

 

[Greenman]

I am in the process of upgrading the lights in my H27 as well, the old original tent trailer style bulbs/fixtures had to go (says my wife ). I will put up some pictures as soon as they are done. I went with the Fluorescents as well in the main cabin and head, and an LED reading lamp in the v berth.

Thanks for the idea of epoxying some nice wooden blocks to the headliner, it will cover up some nastiness from the PO and give the lights a very nice finished look, not to mention easing the mounting procedure.