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Before our 2016 Gulf Island and Desolation cruises we would like to replace all cabin lights with LED's as well as the navigation bow and stern lights.
Could you please provide type, serial number and where to buy the LED lights. We prefer the soft warm light For the cabin what type of replacement LED LED for the bow LED for the stern
Does Amazon CA sell LED?
Henk & Johanna "Floating", a few off your "barnacles". "Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016) "Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018) "Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023) "Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)
Henk, I replaced most of mine with Imtra LEDs (reasonably priced), and my mast head light with a Dr. LED (expensive). I bought all of them at Fisheries Supply in Seattle, and they generally have them in stock although I haven't looked recently. Since you'll likely be coming through Seattle on your next trip, and they're just a couple of miles off of I-5, it'll be fairly easy for you to visit.
They make both "warm" and "cool" bulbs. I used warm in my colored running lights, and cool in my stern light. This was what Imtra advised. I don't see a listing for "cool" bulbs, but the people behind the counter in electrical are both very knowledgeable and helpful.
I also replaced all my interior lights with LEDs, I can dig through my Amazon receipts to find which ones if you'd like.
David C-250 Mainsheet Editor
Sirius Lepak 1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --
These work great in the spots over the dinette. Bright, warm, full spectrum light, and they don't extend down past the fixture at all. You'll still knock your head against the fixture, but not the bulb :
The rocker switches in those spot fixtures were making inconsistent connections, and rather than replace the fixtures I found these, which were a perfect fit to replace the existing switches:
I replaced all my dome lights with the LED versions from Catalina Direct. They're just OK - a little too cool in color. CD may have improved them since - I don't know. Based on the wider variety of LEDs now available, I'd look harder to find warm white and red festoon bulbs to go in the original dome fixtures, and also replace the rocker switches like I did for the spots (if a fit can be found).
We all have our opinions about these things, so I will say that I really don't agree with putting any kind of white LED bulb inside the red/green nav light. The bulbs don't emit on the right frequency, leading to incorrect color when viewed from 2 nm away. I'd go with green and red LED fixtures that were specifically designed to emit the color and luminance required by USCG. I know I disagree with David about that, but it's my opinion FWIW.
Rick S., Swarthmore, PA PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor) New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)
The LED's arrived this morning. Installed the LED lights in all 6 cabin fixtures and am very pleased with the brightness, warm and full spectrum light. Thanks guys for your great help
Henk & Johanna "Floating", a few off your "barnacles". "Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016) "Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018) "Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023) "Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)
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.