Boat Led Lights: All You Need to Know About Boat Led Lights

FACTS CHECKED BY  Bob Smith

As a boat owner, you want to ensure your vessel is tip-top before heading out on the open water. Yet, one often overlooked aspect of boat maintenance is lighting. Aside from improving your vessel’s look, lighting also increases safety while on the water. In this article, we’ll cover everything about boat-led lights and give you a few tips on choosing the best-led lights for your boat.

What Are Boat-Led Lights?

As its name indicates, boat-led lights are boats using LED lights (light-emitting diodes) to indicate their location. LED lights have become popular in a variety of settings, including lights for boats. At night, LED boat lights can help you navigate, signal to other boats, do night fishing, and avoid hazards.

Aside from that, many people also use LED lights to give their boats a unique look. Boat-led lights are available in a wide range of colors. So you can get creative with your vessel’s lighting.

With so many benefits, it’s no wonder that more and more boat owners are switching to LED lights!

Modern LED illuminated mega luxury yacht

Modern LED illuminated mega luxury yacht

Types of Boat Lighting

Underwater Boat Lights

You can mount these underwater lighting for boats under your boat’s hull, pointing down into the water. Underwater lights can create an excellent effect, making your boat look glowing. They can also help you see better when swimming or diving around your vessel.

If you want underwater lights on your boat, choose ones suitable for saltwater use. That way, you can avoid corrosion and other problems.

Boat Deck Lights

You can mount these lights on the deck of your vessel, pointing up. Boat deck lights are often used for aesthetic purposes, but they can also be helpful for safety.

For example, if you have a dark-colored boat, deck lights can help you see where you’re walking at night. You can also use them to light up your boat’s cockpit or other areas where you might need some extra light.

Boat Cabin Lights

Boat cabin lights are a type of light you can use inside your vessel’s cabin. They come in many different styles, so you can choose ones that match the rest of your boat’s interior.

Cabin lights can provide much-needed light inside your vessel, especially at night, and they can also help you find your way around the cabin in an emergency.

Cabine lights

Cabine lights

Flood and Spreader Boat Lights

You can use floodlights to illuminate the front of your vessel. But spreader lights illuminate the mast or other tall structures on your boat.

Yet, you can use both lights for practical and aesthetic purposes. For example, you can use them to light up your Boat’s deck at night or make your vessel more visible to other boats.

Strip & Under Gunnel for Boat LED Lighting

Light strips can add a unique look to your boat. You can use these LED strips as waterproof boat interior light or exterior of your vessel. Yet, you can mount under gunnel lights under the horizontal beams that run along the sides of your boat.

LED Boat Navigation Lights

When it’s nighttime, boat navigation lights are a must. Boat navigation lights help you signal to other boats where you are, and they also help you avoid hazards.

There are many different types of these lights. Some of them are stern lights, bow lights, puck lights, transom lights, and side marker lights. You can place stern lights at the back of your vessel, while bow lights should be at the front.

Boat board LED navigation light in stainless housing

Boat board LED navigation light in stainless housing

Anchor Boat Lights

Anchor lights are another type of Boat navigation light. As the name suggests, they’re designed to be on your boat’s anchor.

These marine lights help other boats see your vessel when anchored in the water. Anchor Halogen light is usually white, which helps in contrast to the darkness of night.

All-Round White Boat Lights

You can position all-around white boat lights on the mast of your vessel. This incandescent light can be visible from all directions. That way, other boats can see your vessel from any direction.

Docking Lights

With boat underwater dock lights, you can see where you’re going when your boat is at the dock. It will help if you put these lights on the front of your vessel, and their bright light helps you see when your boat is close to another object.

Lights on the dock

Lights on the dock

Advantages & Disadvantages of LED Boat Lights

Boat-led apex lighting offers many benefits over traditional incandescent bulbs, including:

  • Energy Efficiency: They use less energy than other bulbs. So they’ll save you money on your energy bill over time.
  • Durability: Boat lights can withstand harsh conditions like saltwater spray and sun exposure.
  • Versatility: Led boat lights come in various colors, sizes, and styles. That means you can find an option that’s perfect for your needs.
  • Longer lifespan: Boat-led lights can last up to 50,000 hours, longer than traditional bulbs.
Blue underwater illuminated motor boat transom stern with lighting lamps

Blue underwater illuminated motor boat transom stern with lighting lamps

Despite the many benefits of boat-led lights, there are also a few drawbacks to consider:

  • Cost: Boat-led lights can be more expensive than traditional bulbs. Yet, they last longer, which can offset the initial cost over time.
  • Installation: Boat-led lights can be more challenging to install than traditional bulbs. That’s because you should ensure that they are well sealed and waterproofed.
  • Not Suitable in Cold Temperatures: Cold temperatures can damage your boat-led lights. If you live in an area with cold winters, you’ll need extra care to protect your boat-led lights from the cold.
  • Voltage Sensitivity: Boat-led lights are more sensitive to voltage fluctuations than traditional bulbs. That means power surges and other electrical problems can damage them.

Boat LED Lights Buying Considerations

Here are a few things to consider before the selection of led lights:

  • Quality of the Light Fixtures: Boat-led light is available in a wide range of quality levels. So, it’s crucial to choose a high-quality Boat-led light.
  • Cost: A Marine-led light strip can be more expensive than traditional bulbs. But, they last longer, which can offset the initial cost over time.
  • Voltage Compatibility: Boat-led light needs voltage from 12VDC to 24VDC to operate. That means you’ll need a compatible power source before using Boat-led light.
  • Power Consumption: Boat marine led light strips are more energy-efficient than traditional light bulbs. But, they still consume a significant amount of power. So, it’s essential to consider your power needs before choosing boat-led light.
  • Legal Considerations: The United States Coast Guard regulates using boat light LEDs. That means there are certain restrictions on where and how you can use Boat-led light. Be sure to check the regulations in your area before using Boat-led light.
LED spotlights and video surveillance camera on the boat 

LED spotlights and video surveillance camera on the boat 

How to Set up LED Marine Lighting Fixtures on My Boat?

Installing boat-led lights is a bit more complicated than installing traditional bulbs. But, we came up with a few tips to help you install boat-led lights on your vessel:

  1. Choose a power source of 12VDC to 24VDC
  2. Select Boat-led lighting that’s compatible with the power source
  3. Attach the boat-led light to the power source
  4. Seal and waterproof the Boat-led light
  5. Mount the Boat-led light in the location you want
  6. Test the Boat-led light to ensure it’s working

Summary

Boat-led light offers many benefits over traditional bulbs, and some of them are longer lifespan, increased durability, and improved energy efficiency.

We hope this guide has helped you understand the boat-led light. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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