LED Replacement Lamps for older Navigation Lights

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Author Topic:   LED Replacement Lamps for older Navigation Lights

AtoZ posted 11-27-2008 11:49 AM ET (US)
Has anyone used an LED to replace the bulb in a classic Boston Whaler combined sidelight lamp (say on a 1989 Montauk)?
David Pendleton posted 11-28-2008 12:08 AM ET (US)
I have a bit of experience in this area.
What type or style of incandescent bulb does it use?
Chuck Tribolet posted 11-28-2008 11:33 AM ET (US)
The bow light was USCG approved with the original incandescent
lamp. It's probably a festoon style bulb mounted vertically
(it is on the 97s) which would make for very even light
distribution. LEDs tend to be rather directional. With an
LED bulb, it would no longer be USCG approved, and quite
possibly not even approveable.

Chuck
David Pendleton posted 11-28-2008 01:15 PM ET (US)
I replaced the 31mm festoon bulbs in my navigation lights (Perko 963's) with high-flux LED's.
They are brighter than the original 10w incandescent bulbs and while more "directional" than the original bulbs, more than cover the required 112.5 degree arc.
CG approval was not an issue for me.
Riverwhaler posted 11-28-2008 05:27 PM ET (US)
Dave sounds interesting. Where did you source these from?
AZdave posted 12-06-2008 09:19 AM ET (US)
I was looking at Ancor connectors as I finish up reinstalling my navigation lights after installing a new rub rail. You can look at their bulbs here http://www.marinco.com/productline/led-bulbs In many ways they would seem to be better bulbs than the incandescent. Lower current draw and longer life would be the two obvious advantages. I do understand Chuck's point on directionality, especially with the festoon type. Dave
jimh posted 12-06-2008 02:55 PM ET (US)
I have two observations to add:
--they don't make incandescent miniature light bulbs like they used to; the new ones don't seem to last as long as the old ones, and
--my 1990 Boston Whaler still has the original light bulbs, as far as I know. I don't do that much boating after dark, so they lamps don't get much use.

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Author	Topic: LED Replacement Lamps for older Navigation Lights
AtoZ	posted 11-27-2008 11:49 AM ET (US) Has anyone used an LED to replace the bulb in a classic Boston Whaler combined sidelight lamp (say on a 1989 Montauk)?
David Pendleton	posted 11-28-2008 12:08 AM ET (US) I have a bit of experience in this area. What type or style of incandescent bulb does it use?
Chuck Tribolet	posted 11-28-2008 11:33 AM ET (US) The bow light was USCG approved with the original incandescent lamp. It's probably a festoon style bulb mounted vertically (it is on the 97s) which would make for very even light distribution. LEDs tend to be rather directional. With an LED bulb, it would no longer be USCG approved, and quite possibly not even approveable. Chuck
David Pendleton	posted 11-28-2008 01:15 PM ET (US) I replaced the 31mm festoon bulbs in my navigation lights (Perko 963's) with high-flux LED's. They are brighter than the original 10w incandescent bulbs and while more "directional" than the original bulbs, more than cover the required 112.5 degree arc. CG approval was not an issue for me.
Riverwhaler	posted 11-28-2008 05:27 PM ET (US) Dave sounds interesting. Where did you source these from?
AZdave	posted 12-06-2008 09:19 AM ET (US) I was looking at Ancor connectors as I finish up reinstalling my navigation lights after installing a new rub rail. You can look at their bulbs here http://www.marinco.com/productline/led-bulbs In many ways they would seem to be better bulbs than the incandescent. Lower current draw and longer life would be the two obvious advantages. I do understand Chuck's point on directionality, especially with the festoon type. Dave
jimh	posted 12-06-2008 02:55 PM ET (US) I have two observations to add: --they don't make incandescent miniature light bulbs like they used to; the new ones don't seem to last as long as the old ones, and --my 1990 Boston Whaler still has the original light bulbs, as far as I know. I don't do that much boating after dark, so they lamps don't get much use.