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LED mast lights/nav lights

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  • March 14, 2011 7:22 PM
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    Message # 545957
    Anonymous
    My mast is sitting on sawhorses for a couple more weeks and I thought it might be good to switch over to LED lights while it's down. 

    Not being familiar with the manufacturers I'm hoping someone can recommend a manufacturer that offers quality navigation lights at a reasonable price.

     Also I don't understand why one company advertises masthead light for 500 dollars and another offers a masthead light for 75 dollars. Why would there be such a huge difference in price?
    How would I figure proper sizes? Anything I should consider before buying these lights?
    Eric
  • March 14, 2011 9:26 PM
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    Reply # 546030 on 545957
    Anonymous
    Eric,

      There are some options for LED's, one is replacing the existing light and fixture while the other is replacing the festoon bulbs with quality LED Bulbs. 

    I've debated replacing my lights with LopoLight fixtures, the major detractor is the hefty sticker price.  I've decided to use the existing fixtures and buy the bulbs from Marine Beam http://store.marinebeam.com/led-navigation-bulbs.html for about 30 bucks.

      I've never had a Dr. LED bulb from West Marine that worked, so far the bulbs from Marine Beam have been of very good quality and light coloration.

      There are other links posted here http://woa.onefireplace.org/suppliers
  • March 15, 2011 6:47 PM
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    Reply # 546685 on 545957
    Anonymous member
    Eric,

    We have one of the ORCA Tri-colors and it's fantastic. Very bright, piercingly when viewed in an anchorage with other boats. They're not too expensive, and I would suggest forking the extra $ for one with a photo sensor that'll let you have it turn on and off at twilight.

    That said, if you have a good fixture, why not try one of the Dr. LED fixtures? Sure is cheaper and a ton of folks are using them with success.

    Or one of these:
    http://www.bebi-electronics.com/masina.html

    Cheers,
    Aaron
  • March 16, 2011 9:39 AM
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    Reply # 547034 on 545957
    Deleted user
    Eric: 1.) Why?, won't you have shore power at you slip? 2.) in 5 to 10 years the lights will be even less $$$$ 3.) in 5 to 10 years you will have the mast down again 4.) Things I think are important a.) Lube & inspect the shives in the mast head. b.) check for Cracks or stressed areas in the mast and parts c.) If you fly loose footed fore sails make sure there is a bail on top of the mast head for a block that can swing d.) A Windex would be a great item to add e.) Take pictures of (parts, assemblies, etc) helps when you need to remember what you did what you pined what it looks like and what you can change when sitting at home thinking of what you want to change ..... But if you have no power to your dock or your solar or wind is not there then the leds might help a little. (best power conservation is turning the light off in the morning.) Planning for what might be, has found me spending $$$$ that were not well used, (first gen led @ 85.00 / bulb) now in the trash (via poor light quality) and Stuff, I have Allot of stuff. I send this comment with the question. have you bought a rig tension gauge and have you inspected the wires in detail? you can fake the first with +/- results, but the second is important.
  • March 16, 2011 11:26 AM
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    Reply # 547098 on 545957
    Deleted user

    Check out Bebi Electronics out of Figi. Crusiers we met with them gave them great reviews.

    We have an Orca Green and they are extremly bright, making it easier to pick your boat out at night in the anchorage. Even though are high quaility ours failed after two years. They willingly agreed to repair it for free even though it was out warenty. Unfortunately, due to an injury and being on Mexico we opted to just replace it with a new one.

    Our interior lights are Sailing Solution LED's. We can light the main salon, galley, and nav station for what one incandescent drew.  While they have been great we would give Dr.LED a try as they are cheaper and I like the design better.

    We are now going to replace our running lights with Hella Leds. They are twice as bright as bright as our incandesents and significantly less power draw if have to sail with them.

     

     
  • March 17, 2011 5:52 AM
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    Reply # 547573 on 545957
    Anonymous member
    I need a new steaming light.  However, they seem to have disappeared from all the catalogs that I have.  Puzzling, because as far as I know, they're still required.

    Anybody know where to find one?
  • March 17, 2011 9:38 AM
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    Reply # 547842 on 547573
    Anonymous
    Dick Mills wrote: I need a new steaming light.  However, they seem to have disappeared from all the catalogs that I have.  Puzzling, because as far as I know, they're still required.

    Anybody know where to find one?

    What's a steaming light?
  • March 17, 2011 10:32 AM
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    Reply # 547884 on 545957
    Anonymous
    Steaming lights are also called Mast Head lights.
    I had installed one of these on my last boat: 
      Perko model #1131DP0CHR
    Last modified: March 17, 2011 10:32 AM | Anonymous
  • March 18, 2011 5:31 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 548531 on 547884
    Anonymous member
    Robert McQueen wrote: Steaming lights are also called Mast Head lights.
    I had installed one of these on my last boat: 
      Perko model #1131DP0CHR
    Is that true?  

    I thought that the requirement was that steaming lights are visible only forward, whereas masthead lights are visible 360 degrees.   I already have an anchor light up there.
  • March 18, 2011 7:49 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 548580 on 548531
    Deleted user
    Dick Mills wrote:
    Robert McQueen wrote: Steaming lights are also called Mast Head lights.
    I had installed one of these on my last boat: 
      Perko model #1131DP0CHR
    Is that true?  

    I thought that the requirement was that steaming lights are visible only forward, whereas masthead lights are visible 360 degrees.   I already have an anchor light up there.


    My understanding is that the combination of the steaming light and stern light create a 360 degree circle.  So, if you use a separate stern light, your steaming light should only e visible in the sector that the stern light doesn't cover.  See:

    http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/reviewpages/boatusf/project/info2c.htm

    -Steve
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