Nav Lights

[Dockhead]

I have been using AquaSignal Series 44 LED nav lights for some years, and I like them very much -- they have splendid optics and tremendous visibility, exceeding the standard probably by double, I think.



The only problem I have is that my sidelights are mounted on my bow pulpit, and despite having quite high freeboard at the bow (I guess at least 5 feet), I sail a lot in heavy weather and do bury the bow in waves on a regular basis. These nav lights are sealed, so do fine in this regime by themselves, but their weakness is that brass tabs come out of them to clip the cables to, and these don't like being immersed in sea water.


Lately one of these has simply corroded off, rendering the side light useless


I think I need nav lights without any terminal -- with potted connections and wire coming straight out, and no junction. Anyone ever hear of any good LED nav lights which are arranged like this?


I might fiddle with these myself and see if I can improvise a potted, soldered connection, but I'm not quite sure that this will work, with the tabs already so far gone.


Grateful for any tips.

[a64pilot]

Not real familiar with Series 44, but have you looked here?
I have many of their lights and a couple of aqua signal, I’m not really impressed with the aqua signal ones, the secondary anchor light I have failed from water intrusion, and it’s about 10’ off of the water mounted on my Solar panels, so nothing but rain has ever gotten to it.
https://store.marinebeam.com/led-por...n-side-lights/

These have no metal, and no connections, just about a meter of wire coming out that you splice into, they are waterproof, and nothing to corrode.
Real easy to work with people too, call them and you talk to them directly, not some call center.
All my interior lights are Marine Beam, and I went with their suggestions once or twice.

If you go this route, buy an extra housing just in case you bust the light somehow, if you were to hit it with something and tear it off, the housing will break and the light should be fine.
Spare is about $8 I think.

[Orion Jim]

I went with Hella NaviLED Pro. Sealed unit, 7+ foot pigtail. Excellent units.

[rgleason]

I am looking for reliable and sealed LED replacements to my very old Perko A-16 round stainless steel port/starboard, deck/horizontal navigation lights, preferably 2nm, but 1nm might be acceptable.

I am always replacing lousy cheap bulbs that burn out, the lights are not waterproof and blow out when we take bow waves. It is totally untenable and not at all convenient to replace these in the middle of the night bouncing around, while unscrewing 3 small wood screws, replacing the bulb which is often reluctant to come out because they are poorly manufactured chinese junk that do not fit.

I think this is the same problem Dockhead is trying to solve, so I am very interested in a good answer/solution!
..and I don't think they need to cost an arm and a leg.

Hella NaviLED - 2NM NaviLED Deck Mount Port and Starboard Pair


Not cheap, about $136 each. The cover comes off, but I don't know how the rest of it works. Is this the pro version?

- no, these are 3.54" long x 2.94" wide x 1.52" high. Pro are bigger and different

[dlentz]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

I went with Hella NaviLED Pro. Sealed unit, 7+ foot pigtail. Excellent units.

+2

[rgleason]

My port and starboard are currently mounted on the top of the teak toe rail. I notice that these lights are often mounted higher for visibility, up under the bow pulpit just where the pipe turns down. Is this a change that I really should consider and how difficult is it to do? - If I were to make this change, the Pro version would be more appropriate I think.

[rgleason]

Does anyone have experience with Marinebeam Nav Lights?
https://store.marinebeam.com/uscg-ce...ed-nav-lights/

I might be interested in these 2nm, SKU: N3-112-PAIRW, UPC: 852665415169 LED Navigation Side Lights (Pair) 12V/24V - Horizontal Mount $69 for the pair, but are they good? Are they Chinese?


These are the 2nm side mount LED Port/Starboard Navigation Side Lights
$89

[Fortytwo]

https://www.sea-dog.com/groups/103-l...e-mount-lights

[Tillsbury]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Does anyone have experience with Marinebeam Nav Lights?
https://store.marinebeam.com/uscg-ce...ed-nav-lights/

I might be interested in these 2nm, SKU: N3-112-PAIRW, UPC: 852665415169 LED Navigation Side Lights (Pair) 12V/24V - Horizontal Mount $69 for the pair, but are they good? Are they Chinese?


These are the 2nm side mount LED Port/Starboard Navigation Side Lights
$89

I have the marinebeam integrated anchor/tricolour/strobe at the masthead and it’s excellent. No interference, hugely bright, precise colours without a coloured lens, and very small indeed.