Boat lights have come a long way since the hurricane lanterns that helped sailors at sea in a storm, although many cruisers still have one on board in case of electrical failure. Here we look at lights to make your boat visible, inviting, comfortable to live in, and safe.
MPOWERD Luci Lights are solar powered, inflatable, fast charging, compact, lightweight, portable & water resistant – perfect for boating, camping, hiking, emergency breakdowns, power outages, hurricanes, home décor, weddings, and celebrations.
The Luci Pro 1423 compact solar lantern, with its cell phone charging capabilities and 150 lumens [135 lumens matte] lasting up to 50 hours on a single charge, is a great all-in-one product.
Lights with adjustable angles, soft warm white illumination, red lights to avoid night blindness, dimmer switches – there are many options.
When choosing a light for a particular spot or task, consider best material for easy cleaning and exposure to damp, and a construction that will not obstruct or snag.
LED lights have become the norm on boats for their long lifespan, energy efficiency, ability to operate in cold conditions, lack of heat/UV emissions and more. Converting to LED is easy with the variety of bulb and adaptor fittings now available.
Surface mounted or recessed, courtesy lights illuminate areas such as passageways, walkways, deck floor, companionway stairs, transom steps and low hanging ceilings.
They make navigating any area of a boat or vessel at night easier, reducing accidents such as slips, trips, and falls.
Introduce an additional layer to your boat décor, from low key under counter/shelf lighting, glowing gunnels to festive deck displays.
Strip Lights from Nautic LED and NTE Electronics are available in cool white, warm light, blue and red. There are indoor, water-resistant, waterproof, and even dimmable versions – so select the best fit for your purpose. Clips and connectors make them easy to easy to install.
The solar-powered Luci Light String is an eco-friendly option. Accent light bezels from SeaSense make it easy to locate your fishing rod or drink in the dark, and next time you party ashore, take along a Dorcy Glowstick.
One can never have enough working flashlights on board and our range includes something to suit everyone’s pocket.
Don’t forget to add spare batteries and bulbs to your shopping list to make sure your flashlights work when you need them most.
It is difficult to imagine not having this essential bit of equipment on a boat – giving light when on deck, up the mast, in the engine room, on the dinghy, or ashore.
Some are waterproof and others water resistant. Every crew member should have his/her own.
Taco’s Rub Rail-mounted LED navigation lights for 18 to 30-foot boats are sleek, low-profile lights designed to allow for cleaner, open decks with unobstructed viewpoints.
Easy-to-install they meet ABYC and USCG requirements for sail and powerboat designation, have a water-resistant IP68 rating and provide hours of maintenance-free, reliable use. Sold in pairs with one 3-watt port (red) light and one 2-watt starboard (green) light.
ACR 3963.1 C-Light is a rugged, reliable USCG/SOLAS approved 20 Lumen LED Light with an operating life of 30 hours. Waterproof tested for 24 Hours at 1 meter.
ACR Auto HemiLight™3 flashing survival light attaches to almost any life jacket to safely meet USCG, MED and SOLAS requirements. It has a bright 20 Lumen White LED, an operating life of greater than 20 hours and rounded edges to maintain the integrity of inflatable life jackets.
Davis 3300 Utility-Light is energy efficient and features a light sensor that automatically switches on at dusk and off at dawn. It sports a dual-function Fresnel lens that projects light for up to two nautical miles (3.7 km).
Seasense Livewell/Utility Lights are impact resistant and waterproof. Designed for livewells, lockers or compartments, they can be used above or below water level with through-wall mounting.
Our extensive range of Navigation Lights are not included in this Technical Corner – for those, please follow the link.
