LED anchor light replacement bulb question...

JamesTXSD

Has anyone here replaced their stock anchor light bulb with an LED cluster? The advantages: less power draw, no failure due to vibration (busted filament), lasts virtually forever. I've looked at the Dr LED website; looks good to me. Anyone here made the switch? TIA.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Robbi · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:46 pm Post subject:

I made the switch about two years ago and have had zero problems. It was a bit expensive, but I am pleased. Robbi

jstates

Has anyone done LED replacements for the current Navigation lights, or built in cabin lights? I have seen the LED string lights that some have installed.

Thanks

Jim

Valkyrie · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:18 pm Post subject:

I bought some replacement LED's for the cabin lights and sent them back. There were a number of LED bulbs attached to a flat panel which plugged into the existing socket. The light produced was too dim for use, in our opinion.

However, we bought four LED swivel reading lights and love them. Very bright, effective and miniscule draw. Two are mounted in the v-berth, one on the port dash and one aft of the dinette.

Photos in our album.

Nick
"Valkyrie"

oldgrowth · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:49 pm Post subject:

I have a LED rope lights on the back of my cabin for the deck light. They are at the top of this photo.

Prior to the LED lights I had regular 12V deck lights. The LED’s give more light, better light and they do not drain my battery down as fast. Eventually I will replace all my lights with LED’s.
________
Dave

SeaSpray · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:25 am Post subject:

Hi Jim,

I bought an LED anchor light online from a company in Fiji. Don't remember the name but I am sure you can find it. The LEDs are mounted in PVC caps. It looks a bit funky but it is very bright when I have compared it to other boats at night. It is brighter than a WM sold light that sells for over $100.

I want to get the same type of lights for the running lights and mount them in the standard fixtures on my boat.

Steve

Larry H · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:53 am Post subject:

This summer on our Alaska trip, we saw many boats with LED anchor lights. Those lights were somewhat dim, hard to see, and had a blueish light compared with regular anchor lights.

I would be sure that the LED anchor lights are certified by the US Coast Guard.

If you get hit at night in a anchorage and your anchor light is not approved, you could lose the lawsuit, as well as your boat.

journey on · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:13 pm Post subject:

Whilst in Georgian Bay this summer, I noticed that several Canadian boats used the solar powered garden lights for anchor lights. They certainly don't meet any Coast Guard regulations, but they do offer advantages. First they turn on at dusk. Second, they're cheap. Third, they recharge themselves.

They can't replace a regular anchor light, but they will do if you're in a small anchorage, and you're the only one with an anchor light. They may be the dim anchor lights in Alaska.

Before you write, Judy never lets me forget to turn on the anchor light when we're anchored.

Boris

SeaSpray · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:19 pm Post subject:

Here is the link to the light I bought.
http://www.bebi-electronics.com/index.html

I am sure that the LED lights sold at WM and other dealers are CG approved. I have read that sailboats with anchor lights on the mast use the garden lights at boat level for additional visibility to smaller boats.

I also saw many of these garden lights in Canada.

Steve

ffheap · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject:

Hi Folks,

The law on anchor lights is that they have to be seen for 2 MILES on a boat C-dory size. I don't think the Coast Guard says that one light or another is approved by them.

You will have to get one and see for yourself.

From my point-of-view, "it ain't what's legal, it's what is seen".

Fred

Larry H · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject:

If you go to a marine store and look inside a box for a navigation or anchor light, there will be a paper showing the certification for the light.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject:

Maybe things have changed... when I got my captain's license, we discussed "Coast Guard approved" and were told there's no such thing. The CG gives requirements and it's up to the manufacturers to make their product to meet those requirements. If a light can be seen for 2 miles (and apparently there's criteria to be met for that), then it meets the requirement of the law.

I'm trying to remember the exact wording, but it was something like: "The Coast Guard isn't Good Housekeeping - there's no approval process. A product either meets the requirement or it doesn't."

On foggy or low visibility nights, besides our anchor light, I hang a battery lantern in the cockpit... good to have something at or near eye-level.

Larry H · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

Perhaps that paper is the manufacturers certification that the light meets a certain CG spec. I don't have one handy right now.

I think that if you make your own light, then you would have to certify your own work. If it should ever come to a lawsuit, having a manufacturer to pass the blame to would help.

Larry H