Deck/Spreader LED Light Recommendation

[sbu22]

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

 

[IRENE]

Bill,

We are in the same predicament, though I don't know the brand of ours. We also have the powder coating coming off. They are operating but on their last legs, so I will follow along...

Cheers

 

[Miz Trom]

I've been searching for a good set of marine-rated solar lights for a similar purpose. Have only been able to find the cheap ones from China thus far.

 

[High Wire]

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

One of those might be my review. I bought a set off Amazon. Supposed to be waterproof but had vents on the back!! Returned immediately. I wound up replacing my old Perko SS spreader light bulbs with LED replacement bulbs that have been working great for a couple years.

 

[Rusty]

I have four LED lights from Rigid Industries. They have worked fine for the last five years or so. About $115 each at Amazon ...https://amzn.to/2MwCjjO or ebay ... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rigid-Indu...939383&hash=item2a2bc3c515:g:iRgAAOSwstxU27jJ

 

[caltexflanc]

Here you go, these are very good and designed for boats. The company is very helpful if you have any questions

https://store.marinebeam.com/exterior-led-fixtures/

 

[Flatswing]

re: replacing incandescent bulbs with LED's. Some cruisers report significant interference with vhf transmission with the cheap LED replacements - rope lights especially. The LEDs from Marine beam are higher quality (reflected in price) but are reported to be interference free.

 

[wkearney99]

One of those might be my review. I bought a set off Amazon. Supposed to be waterproof but had vents on the back!! Returned immediately. I wound up replacing my old Perko SS spreader light bulbs with LED replacement bulbs that have been working great for a couple years.

The trick with Perko spreaders (the metal round kind) is there's two different versions. One used a wire spring to hold the bulb in the fixture. The other uses a flexible plastic split-ring. The latter doesn't leave enough room for the LED replacement bulbs. So check first to see which kind you've got. If you see a black retaining lip you should be fine. If you see a white/metal ring you may not be able to find a drop-in LED replacement bulb that will fit.

As for vents, I've often wondered what's worse, vents that allow intrusion or plugging them up and risking issues with condensation.

 

[sbu22]

Much appreciated. Need to read up tomorrow.

 

[markpierce]

Have spreader lights. They're a desirable option. Pursue solution!

 

[Wxx3]

I bought lights just like these 4 years ago. I put them on the bow as fog lights, but now use to see anchor chain when it's coming up or to highlight hull if anchored in some busy place.
In any case, no light failure, but notice the mild steel bracket will rust quickly.
This winter I will replace, two for bow and two fro spreaders for $24.
Sorry, can't beat that.

https://www.amazon.com/YITAMOTOR-Lights-Driving-Waterproof-Warranty/dp/B01HM2L9LW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1535191844&sr=8-8&keywords=led+fog+lights+round

 

[sbu22]

You can't beat it! I just can't get their configuration to work in my case without more work than I want to do.

Went with the Marinebeam 15w spreader light. Supposedly IP 67 rated. 304 brackets as well. Looks like I won't need any new holes drilled.

Appreciate the help and thoughtful suggestions.

 

[AKDoug]

I have four LED lights from Rigid Industries. They have worked fine for the last five years or so. About $115 each at Amazon ...https://amzn.to/2MwCjjO or ebay ... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rigid-Indu...939383&hash=item2a2bc3c515:g:iRgAAOSwstxU27jJ

Me also, just two diffused floods, and a flood/spot 14" bar on the bow for the dark season. Can't beat the quality of Rigid Industries...

 

[muttskie]

Here you go, these are very good and designed for boats. The company is very helpful if you have any questions

https://store.marinebeam.com/exterior-led-fixtures/

+1. Very good quality for a good price.
I have used these on two different boats. No complaints.
https://store.marinebeam.com/15w-led-spreader-deck-light-for-boats/

 

[CaptTom]

I bought these on amazon almost three years ago for $15 a pair.

First, take all the steel hardware that comes with them and go to the chandler for stainless replacements (will cost more than the lights!)

Second, if there is RF interference, I've never noticed. I rarely use the spreader lights, and when I do, it's unlikely I'll be on the radio.

Finally, at about one-tenth the price of even the cheapest "marine" lights, I won't feel bad if I only get three years out of them.

 

[Delfin]

I have four LED lights from Rigid Industries. They have worked fine for the last five years or so. About $115 each at Amazon ...https://amzn.to/2MwCjjO or ebay ... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rigid-Indu...939383&hash=item2a2bc3c515:g:iRgAAOSwstxU27jJ

I have the same lights and the same experience. I believe they are designed for off road, and seemed quite rugged when I installed the. Bright as heck.

 

[caltexflanc]

I bought these on amazon almost three years ago for $15 a pair.

First, take all the steel hardware that comes with them and go to the chandler for stainless replacements (will cost more than the lights!)

Second, if there is RF interference, I've never noticed. I rarely use the spreader lights, and when I do, it's unlikely I'll be on the radio.

Finally, at about one-tenth the price of even the cheapest "marine" lights, I won't feel bad if I only get three years out of them.

Look at the Marinebeam lights, your math is way off. I do understand that a lot of TF folks are more interested in initial costs vs total cost of ownership.

 

[AKDoug]

The Rigid Marine series is powder coated, has SS hardware, and the electrical connections are bombproof. They are designed for the marine environment, if you want them to work, keep on working, and give you good performance they are hard to beat!

 

[CaptTom]

Look at the Marinebeam lights, your math is way off. I do understand that a lot of TF folks are more interested in initial costs vs total cost of ownership.

Marine Beam: $69 each = $138 for two (plus shipping)
Amazon: $13.19 for 2 (free shipping options available)

$13.19 is less than one-tenth of $138, by my calculation.

But I am very interested in TCO, too.

Mine have lasted three years so far. Assuming they fail tomorrow, that's $4.40 per year TCO. The Marine Beam pair for $69 would have to last 31 years to equal that TCO. Put another way, I'd have to use them until 2049 to break even.