Trojan Boat Forum

Those led bulbs are smart...didn't know they existed. So, I put whole new led fixure on mine. They cost too much...but having those lights not working often is just dangerous and my bulbs were always corroded.

I bought mine here because their closeout site is great for other stuff:

http://www.itc-marine.com/navigation.html

http://www.itc-marine.com/overstock.html

Tony in Sw FL
1982 F-36

The lcd bulbs look to me to be ''directional'' and may not illuminate the
bezel fully...
I end up taking my lights apart every season to clean them.
There is an electrical lube anti corrosion paste I might try on the contact ends..

You could just replace them outright, like our friend has stated, too

I have replaced the bulbs in my Perko teardrop navigation lights - I dont have the info totally but here is the link from the company:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/BA9S6_specs.htm

- they are about 3.50 each.

Yes they are directional - the Led I have is 4 Led's firing up.. BUT they are sufficient in lighting up the whole bezel and match the incandescent bulb brightness. You have to order green and red - you cannot go with just white because the LED will overpower the lens color (supposedly).

That being said... I would like brighter lights. i have been looking for the side firing LED's and if anybody knows where these are I would be most appreciative.

I also switched out my stern light with the LED festoon light and it is uses 9 firing white LED's which is VERY bright ... and lights up the entire swim platform area. Very neat.

I notice that the bulbs you are looking at are lacking an important feature... A regulator is a very important aspect of LED lighting, and a big part of what you are paying for in a bulb. Take a look at this link for a quick primer (and a cheap fix) -

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_lighting_leds.html

I'm sure that not everyone cares, but I for one would be careful about using running fixtures and/or bulbs that were not approved by the Coast Guard. If I ever get involved in a nighttime accident, I don't to be held legally liable on account of having improper lighting.

Rules regarding Coast Guard Certification were enacted for boats manufactured on/after:

Effective November 1, 2002:

The rule will direct manufacturers of uninspected commercial
vessels and recreational vessels to install only navigation lights
certified and labeled as meeting the technical requirements of the
Navigation Rules.

It states in part that each light must ``be certified by an independent laboratory to the requirements of [Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL)]
1104 or an equivalent standard'' and be so labeled. The ``independent laboratory'' must be recognized by the Coast Guard as bonafide.

However... boats manufactured prior to November 1, 2002:


Another comment recommended that when non-certified lights need to
be replaced that they be replaced with certified lights. The Coast
Guard disagrees with this comment. A planned amendment to Navigation
Rule 38 will grandfather all existing lights, whether installed or on
the shelf, implying that original equipment may be replaced in kind.

Comments also expressed concern about bulb ``monopolies'' resulting
from this rulemaking. The labeling requirements call for
``identification of the bulb used in the compliance test.'' Although
``identification'' will include bulb make along with specifications
regarding wattage, rated voltage, and filament configuration, this rule
does not preclude the use of any make bulb that allows the performance
requirements of the light to be satisfied.

In my case, a 1978 trojan - the LED bulb replacement for my perko sidelights exceed the 1 mile requirement and are brighter than the incandescent equivalents. The stern light LED bulb I use exceeds 2 miles.

Now I could be totally reading this wrong but this was my justification on using the LED bulbs in my particular situation.

I also believe that festoon lights...did not become widely used until way after your boat or mine was built - i.e. 1971 and 1978 respectively.

I believe the BA9S bulb (a bayonet style bulb) is the bulb replacement that you are looking for your sidelights. IF you have the original installed Perko teardrop style navigation lights. I do not remember what I had for my stern light - I changed it out when I bought my boat but I kind of remember it being a bayonet style bulb also.

The link you gave also lists some BA9 bulbs in white that also feature side firing LEDS which would make your original teardrops shine like a beacon - so much that the light emitted may over power the color of your lens and produce a whiter light that may not be seen as red or green from far away. I did not see the bulb being offered in red or green.

The link I gave you has the BA9 Bulbs in red and green. Like I said they are plenty bright enough - I just want brighter - I like to be seen at night. The stern festoon light is extremely bright as is my steaming light..and a very intense white light - very different from most boats on the water now. You will lose your anonymity after you switch... so behave.

The interior LED white lights are a very intense white light and give a very artificial looking light quality that is not very pleasing on the eye for direct lighting. I opted not to use LED inside except for indirect lighting.

My choice for internal lights are the recessed or hockey puck halogen lights that come with a 10 watt bulb. The 10 watt halogen bulb that is included will cut your battery drain in half over your stock incandescent lights from 1971. I switched out the 10 watt bulb with 5 watt bulbs from IKEA - not a noticeable difference in light but a considerable difference in heat output and again I have reduce my battery drain again. The light produced is a more natural light and the style of fixture will update the looks big time.

http://www.itc-rv.com/overstock.html is where I ordered those.

There are new LED bulbs out on the market that advertise a warm white light... I have not seen these yet.

I use warm color LEDS - strips only.
I bought 3 of these for example ... http://cgi.ebay.com/WARM-WHITE-48CM-PVC ... mdZViewSee

I'm looking at 1156-PCB-WHP9 White LED Lamp

http://superbrightleds.com/specs/pcblamp.htm
With 9 White High Power LEDs
Available in Cool White or Warm White
120 Degree Beam Pattern
Built-in Buck Driver allows wide operating voltage range of 8~30VDC (8~14VAC)

http://superbrightleds.com/other_bulbs.htm, go down to ...

Another Warm 1156 (Bayonet) base LED ...
http://www.svhotwire.com/dr_led_cabin_lights.html