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T O P I C R E V I E W
stanirish
Posted - 07/07/2021 : 11:48:00 I replaced the navigation side lights (bow) on my Cat25 with led's; but can't find an led light for the stern (white, anchor light) that fits the existing base with three 3 screws.
Any suggestions or am I being too nerdy in insisting it fit the stainless steel base embedded in that location?
7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
Voyager
Posted - 07/09/2021 : 21:30:22 I looked up the Meerkat White LED and found the following buyer’s comment: ***** Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021 Color: WhiteVerified Purchase Great product.shiny,works as expected. Cables were backwards though, red was negative,black was positive.so we quickly figured that out.lol. looks nice, we will see how the metal hold against weather. We ordered again and placed in some storage areas and above bilge pump area .
Voyager
Posted - 07/09/2021 : 21:26:02 Stanirish, Your selection sounds like a great choice for a white LED nav light provided it offers a 2 mile range. Nice to have a spare if you need it.
Dave, I’ve found that LED white lights are very effective as navigation lights where they are unfiltered. Use as a stern white, a steaming/bow light, and as a white anchor light is perfectly acceptable and it would take a hard-ass patrol-person on a bad night to come and give you a hard time for that.
HOWEVER, I would only recommend a purpose-built, USCG-approved red-green navigation light be used on our boats.
That said, I’ve seen more than one poorly equipped boat using a white LED in a red-green fixture. You can see their greenish blue light from a mile or two away.
Stinkpotter
Posted - 07/08/2021 : 15:55:22
quote:Originally posted by Voyager
...It made the red side run dim (since there’s very little red light component in the white) and it made my green side look blue. This DOES NOT meet the USCG regulations...
For this reason, the USCG does not approve LED bulbs to replace incandescents in running lights. They only approve a complete fixture made for an LED. Around here (home of the Coast Guard Academy), running at night with the wrong combination could draw a flashing blue light. You can probably get away with it for an anchor light or steaming light.
stanirish
Posted - 07/08/2021 : 15:45:00 Thanks for the suggestions. I decided to go with the (Pack of 2) Meerkatt White Marine Barge Boat Yacht Light Stainless Steel LED 8 Diodes Bow Navigation Pontoons. Need just one on the stern and it fits on the existing base and screws match, good for my needs. Happy sailing!
Voyager
Posted - 07/08/2021 : 13:42:21 Joe Robert, that’s the light bulb I bought for the stern. I also tried it for my bow red-green running light, but I was dissatisfied with the color of the light. It made the red side run dim (since there’s very little red light component in the white) and it made my green side look blue. This DOES NOT meet the USCG regulations. I re-installed my old incandescent festoon bulb in the bow. Takes a little more power but it meets safety standards. I realize that I can buy a purpose-built red-green with separate LEDs in it, but I did not.
Voyager
Posted - 07/08/2021 : 13:36:16 You could replace your current fixture with an Aquasignal or Hella stern light. For my Aquasignal, I purchased a DR LED white festoon navigation bulb. It is USCG rated for 2nm visibility and it works great. If your fixture requires an odd-shaped lightbulb, you might be better off replacing the whole enchilada. That said, messing with the wiring that runs through the stern pulpit could be a challenge. My wiring terminates inside the fixture so it was an easy conversion. If you purchase a pre-wired fixture with a pigtail, that will be a challenge to splice it in, especially if you have to pull cable through your stern pulpit.
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.