I'm thinking about having some lights installed on a 42 Bertram. Any favorite brands or brands to avoid? Of course, cost is a factor. 14'10" beam. I'm thinking I'll need 4?
We've been using SeaBlaze X for a few years now and are very pleased with their product at this price point . Well built with a bronze housing. internal circuitry, no large heat sink on the back side. Easy install. Good brightness @ 3000 lumes. The X series are White and Blue @ around $350.00 ea. Well reviewed on line and good customer support &warranty on all Lumitec products SeaBlaze offer's a full spectrum LED for a bit more $$.
I installed 3 Aqualuma units a few years back. No metal parts and light engine removable from inside the boat. Work great, BUT they foul quickly since you can't antifoul them. A weekly light scrub with a scotch brite pad is OK, (I can reach mine through holes by lying on the swim platform) but a nuisance. Evidently, there is a brand that will mount the lights under the swim platform, just clear of the water surface. Seems like a better idea to me, but can't speak from experience.
So far none of my experience with lumitec has been good. I ve yet to have a seablazeX last more than two years and their mirage line of overheads can't be used outside because the stainless is barely stainless. I ve also had the springs fail after only a year from corrosion .
Good to know. I don't have any experience with their stainless dome lights. I've used a few of their LED utility lights in anchor lockers and haven't had any failures as of yet. We found the quality of the product to be commensurate to the price point. We've used Ocean LED before @ $2,800 per fixture and had far to many unfortunate problems at that price point. What does your Lazzara have installed? Have they been less problematic?
Me too on the Ocean LED's. I want to put some underwater lights on the boat but I had such a bad experience with Ocean at $2-3K each I've been spooked. I'm surprised the SeaBlaze stuff works and holds up at $350. I guess there is no correlation between price and durability. I have a haul out coming up and I'm tempted to try them.
We have the original HID (factory installed 2009). Don't know if they been replaced before I started running the boat. Don't recall the brand off hand
I have had the Lumitec SeaBlaze X's for 2 seasons on my Ocean. They work well and have held up. I think Lumitec had problems with the Seablaze 3's. They failed on my boat and I replaced the with the X model. Much better build. No leaks or fogging.
I would not recommend the Ocean LED Amphibian Pro. Both our units outer lenses failed shortly after warranty expired. Two lights should be fine for a 42 Bert.
The first pair I had in 2011 lasted 2 years. I asked around the yards, and others in the industry in my area and the Lumishore seemed to get overall positive ratings. I had 2 Lumishore SMX 52 lights installed last month, and they seem fine for my 44 ft boat. I think 3 would be ok, but 4 may be overkill for a 42 unless you want it lit up bigly.
I have just installed an additional 2 x Lumitec Seablaze 3 on a Jeanneau Velasco 43F, as well as replace a failed unit. Total lights now are 7 lights - previously 5. All have been installed with fuses in line etc. Problem is now 2 older lights aren't working when linked to the power source with the others, but will work when wired on their own, except there are some LEDs "blinking". Anyone else had similar issues?
There probably is a transformer that steps down the voltage and only supplies x amount of watts and either they're exceeding that, or they don't need a step down in the voltage, wire the 2 seperately to another switch?
There is antifouling wax for UW lights, available even at the Big Blue and White chain stores: It can be applied underwater.
Recently I found a company that can repair Ocean, Sea Vision, Deep Blue and others. I haven't used them but they have there own manufacturing facility in Flowers Branch, Ga. Looking into them rebuilding my HID Blue or possibly buying new ones. http://aqualights.us/