sbu22
Guru
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2011
- Messages
- 1,253
- Location
- US
- Vessel Name
- Panache
- Vessel Make
- Viking 43 Double Cabin '76
Need some good advice. I have two 12v TACO LED spreader lights that I use to downlight the aft deck on the boat. Roughly an 11’ x 12’ area. The spreader is about 12’ above the deck. One is about dead. The other is fine. They are about 6 years old.
I went to order a replacement and found that TACO no longer has them. Looked on line – no trace. Found what looks like the current TACO replacement - Taco Metals 6W LED Spreader Light ($60 at West) – that all the marine supply places carry it. Except, in reading the user reviews, I keep finding users griping about failures due to the low/no weather integrity – apparently the unit has air vents that, when the lights are directed downward as mine will be, let rain accumulate in the housing and eventual leakage and failure.
I know I can get $200-300 units like the big boys use on working boats. They would probably light my deck like an operating room. I assume they’re pretty good but a little more spendy than I want or need. Anyone have a recommendation for, say, a <$100 LED unit?
Appreciate the help.
Bill
I went to order a replacement and found that TACO no longer has them. Looked on line – no trace. Found what looks like the current TACO replacement - Taco Metals 6W LED Spreader Light ($60 at West) – that all the marine supply places carry it. Except, in reading the user reviews, I keep finding users griping about failures due to the low/no weather integrity – apparently the unit has air vents that, when the lights are directed downward as mine will be, let rain accumulate in the housing and eventual leakage and failure.
I know I can get $200-300 units like the big boys use on working boats. They would probably light my deck like an operating room. I assume they’re pretty good but a little more spendy than I want or need. Anyone have a recommendation for, say, a <$100 LED unit?
Appreciate the help.
Bill