Marine underwater boat lights are a great way to make sure that you and your crew have visibility underwater. They provide the necessary light so that you is seen, which is very important for safety reasons. These underwater boat lights come in many different types: they are waterproof, led, underwater and marine grade. We will explore what each type of underwater boat light means below!
What are underwater boat lights?
Underwater boat lights are usually used underwater to provide light. Boat owners often purchase this type of product for safety reasons. They emit LED beams of light that project through water for about 50 feet in front of your vessel. You will need more than one type for your boat because different wavelengths penetrate water differently: one goes down farthest but doesn't illuminate much below, other penetrates less deeply but illuminates better.
Types of marine underwater lights
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Waterproof underwater boat lights are built to be able to withstand harsh underwater conditions which makes them perfect for marine use. They can also be used on land, but they will need special housing in order to do this. These models come with long cables for ease installing.
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Underwater LED boat lights provide bright lighting due to their energy efficiency, low power consumption, and durability over time (LED bulbs last ten times longer than traditional incandescent lamps). You'll never have to replace these!
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Marine-grade boat lights are the best for using them for long distances or in harsh conditions, especially in winter or in cold water.
How do underwater led boat lights work?
It’s a system consisting of lights, cables, and an underwater power supply. It's installed underwater, usually some on each side of the boat to allow for 360-degree lighting around the vessel. The light then casts a beam up into the water column where it can be seen from below by fish or other marine life for example in order to attract them for fishing purposes.
What size of waterproof led boat lights is best?
For small boats, kayaks, canoes, or inflatable boats it's better to use an LED model because it's simple to use it. Underwater models will be good for medium boats. And marine-grade models will work well with big boats or yachts.
How do I benefit from underwater lights for boats?
Marine underwater lights are a great solution for those boaters who enjoy night trips or fishing.
The main benefit is having additional lightning and increasing the boat's visibility.
They give the vessel an appearance of being much bigger and more powerful than it really is, which will help draw fish to your bait or lure.
Moreover, underwater LED boat lights can be used as "fishing" spotlights by illuminating areas where you believe fish may congregate in order to increase the chances of catching one with your rod and reel.
What are the drawbacks of waterproof boat lights?
Earlier generation LED lights and halogen lights will sometimes fail in part or completely, or may simply not appeal as much as newer LEDs that have more features, like extra colors or synchronization with your music and above-deck lights.
Their Installation can be tricky and difficult so you may want to hire a professional if you don't have experience with this type of work.
Are underwater boat lights worth it?
Yes, they are, especially you stay on the water for longer periods of time.
They provide the ultimate in lighting for boats, fishing lures, and underwater marine equipment applications. They're designed to be used at any depth in fresh or saltwater as well as on land with no heat dispersion problems due to their lack of a glass bulb like halogen lamps have. The white light emitted from these lights is bright enough to illuminate objects underwater up to 50ft away while still not being excessively blinding so you can see what you're doing too!
Important tips to using for boat underwater lights
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Different models come in a variety of beam angles, so you need to make sure that particular model is matched to your needs. If visibility is an issue then go for wide beams with more coverage but if depth and distance are your goals then choose narrow-angle pontoon underwater lights.
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The best way to attach underwater marine lighting fixtures onto a boat or pontoon without drilling holes into it is with magnets! You can use them just like any other magnet by placing them on either side of the surface where you want the fixture attached.
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Boat Led lights emit less heat than halogen lamps because they don't contain glass.
How to care about led fishing lights for boats?
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Make sure that all parts are tightly screwed in place before the light goes underwater.
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Prevent corrosion and check the lights for dirt and saltwater, which you need to clean.
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Clean and dry fixtures before storing.
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Don’t run them out of the water if no need.
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Don’t clean them using abrasives.
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Invest in quality equipment to avoid the disappointment of a quick breakdown.
Things to consider before buying ocean underwater lights
Type
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You can find models that use a variety of light sources.
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LED pontoon underwater lights is the most popular choice as they do not heat up and have an increased life span, which saves on maintenance costs in the long run.
Material and form
These models usually are made of marine-grade materials that are waterproof, resistant to corrosion which is good for underwater use. There are - aluminum, polycarbonate, or stainless steel. They'll last a lot longer underwater.
Price
Choose not very cheap models as they are not as durable and you will need to replace them sooner.
Ease of installation
There are innovative models of transom lights for boats that are self-contained, meaning you can install them underwater without having to take your boat out of the water.
Color Options
There are some color models that you can choose from - single color or bi-color models.
Green light and white light are the most common colors used to attract fish to boats.
Blue underwater boat lights are less bright and is typically used more for aesthetic and ambient lighting and is commonly used as transom lights.
The red color is usually used as bow lightning.
Orange underwater lights are typically used for navigation or attracting fish as well.
Purple underwater lights can be useful when fishing in turbid water conditions, such as rivers with sandbars that stop light from penetrating the surface. They also have the added benefit of being visible to fishermen onshore who see them shining through the trees and bushes while they cast their lure into nearby waters.
Amber underwater boat lights are primarily designed for night-time use around docks where visibility may not be great because it emits less intense illumination than other colors do.
Brightness
Some models are not as bright, so you will have to look for ones that are at least 60 lumens. The higher the lumen number is the brighter it will be underwater. If you want your underwater led boat lights to produce some really bright colors then make sure you invest in models that are at least 60 lumens.
You can easily adjust the brightness underwater with a dimmer switch, or you could just set it to your preferred color and then turn off the extra colors so that they're not too bright underwater. You might find some models on sale now which have different settings for various depths of water - these usually come with instructions and are easy to use when you want multiple levels of brightness.
The higher priced models will generally be more intense underwater and brighter than the cheaper ones but this isn't always true because there are many factors involved such as how much light is emitted by your LEDS underwater, what type of lens covers them (glass versus acrylic), whether they emit UV
Waterproof
One of the most important underwater boat lights features is that they are waterproof. The underwater boat light's housing and its seal should be designed to withstand water pressure, corrosion, saltwater spray, or any other kind of exposure while submerged in water.
Salt-resistance
If you do a lot of boating in salt water, then transom lights for boats with resistance to this type of environment would be the best option. Consider how much saltwater exposure you're going to be getting when looking for underwater models because this type of environment may require special types of protection against rusting or corrosion due to its corrosive properties.
Beam Width
The beam width determines the type of marine underwater lights you'll need. If you're looking for something that covers a wide swath underwater, then a wider lens would be necessary.
If your underwater model's goal is to illuminate an object in specific detail down below, then it may require narrower lenses with smaller beams to get the best viewing experience - and some models even have adjustable beam angles so that they can be adjusted from narrow-spotting coverage to more widespread lighting needs depending on what you want them for.
It can be frustrating to have best underwater boat lights with a beam width that isn't wide enough. You need to avoid underwater boat lights that only provide about 30 degrees of light. Make sure that the underwater boat lights you get will go as far down into the water as possible, which means having at least 100-degree beams.
Number of LEDs
Try going with a waterproof led boat light that has at least 50 LEDs because it will be able to cover a wider area by providing you with more lighting than other options.
Power
Some of the underwater boat lights come with a power pack, which is powered by an AC adapter or battery and needs to be connected to shore power for its work. Other models have built-in batteries so they don't need any connection and all you have to do is turn them on when needed. The last type of underwater led boat lights have no external wiring whatsoever - as soon as they're submerged in water, they start working automatically. All models require some installation process.
Most models usually power via battery or solar. They're going to have a longer life span and will also be much cheaper in the long run because you won't need to replace them as often, but they can weigh quite a bit more than solar-powered ones.
The power needs vary greatly depending on what type of boat you're using it for. For example, if your boat light is usually used at night then try getting one with high-powered LEDs that last up to 12 hours per charge. If it's only going to be used during the day then get an underwater LED boat light with lower energy consumption (around 50% less).
Size
Boat lights come in a variety of sizes, from being as small as the size of your professional cell phone to very large lights that weigh up to 14 pounds. The weight is mostly determined by the type and amount of battery power it has inside which is measured in watts (W). A good rule of thumb is for every watt you want an underwater light with double the battery life per charge. If you're not sure how much energy or lumens are needed then ask yourself what's going to be using it most often? Nighttime use or daytime use?
The bigger underwater LED boat lights also usually have more powerful LEDs than those smaller ones so they last longer even if their batteries die out quicker due to having higher wattage
Durability
The underwater LED boat lights are usually made with a durable material such as aluminum, polycarbonate, or stainless steel which is good for underwater use. This means they can take a beating of waves and still work in the long run.
When picking out a LED boat light don't forget about the lens either because if you're purchasing an underwater marine lamp then these lenses will help distribute its beam more evenly on the water surface. But if you've got other types of boats then this may not matter too much and should just pick your preferred color temperature instead.
Energy-Efficiency
The efficiency of underwater lights is measured in lumens per watt. They are more energy-efficient than traditional bulbs, which require a lot of air to produce light. This is because underwater lamps use LEDs instead of regular incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. They harness the power of LED chips and emit only what's necessary for underwater visibility.
There’s also less heat being produced from these marine underwater boat lights that help reduce electric consumption too!
The other great thing about LED underwater lampshades is that they're virtually indestructible so don't worry if you drop your fixture into the water with an open circuit: it will still work when retrieved as long as there isn't any moisture in the connection points between components inside (i.e., no corrosion).
Lifespan
The lifespan of underwater lights can be quite long. LED models have a much longer lifespan than traditional models. In fact, some fixtures can last up to 50,000 hours! The average life span of LED underwater lights is 20-25 years and you don't need to worry about changing them for long period.
Boat lights statistics
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These products are one of the most effective security measures you can use.
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A lot of benefits that make them worthwhile to purchase.
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They provide protection against theft.
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They help promote safety at night by making it easier to spot obstacles and other vessels on the water.
- If you really want high-end underwater LEDs then make sure your light fixtures meet these specifications: 50 watts max., 400 lumens min., 120 degrees beam spread angle (although some boaters may prefer 70 degree angle).
FAQ
How to use transom lights?
There are some main ways to install transom lights for boats, including a transom to add some visibility to the back of the boat. This can be a good option to consider if you want the lights to serve as more than just underwater fishing lights.
If you have LED strip lighting - just attach it across the back of your boat. This is one of the easiest options because it’s basically all-inclusive and self-contained in that it does
Why do boats have underwater lights?
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They are used on boats to improve safety, security and make docking easier.
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They help with fishing.
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Light is necessary for boaters because it provides visibility at night or in foggy weather conditions.
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They also act as deterrents from theft and vandalism by making your boat more visible from a distance (most thieves like to operate under the cover of darkness).
What is The Usual Warranty of These Types of Lights?
Most models come with a lifetime warranty.
Underwater boat lights are often sold by how many watts they produce, and underwater light bulbs typically last 100 to 120 hours on the low setting before needing replacement.
The bulb can be replaced without taking out the whole underwater lamp just by unscrewing it from its base (usually) and screwing in a new one right away!
Can underwater lights attract fish?
They really might be great for underwater fishing.
Fish are attracted by vibrations and underwater lights will create a vibration in the water that could potentially attract them (but you have to make sure not point the light at fish).
It would also help if underwater boat lamps were of some kind of natural color like green or aqua - this is because such colors more closely resemble sunlight underwater than artificial white lighting does.
What color underwater light is best?
The most popular colors of boat lights are red, green, and blue.
Red underwater boat lights are popular because they catch the eye of larger fish and provide good contrast. Green lights are thought to be better for attracting smaller baitfish, and blue underwater boat lamps work best in cold water (since these colors can penetrate it more easily).
How long do the underwater lights last?
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LED models usually have more long-lasting life spans than halogen models.
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Underwater boat lights will typically have a lifespan of about 50,000 hours.
Tip: LED underwater lamp life span is roughly half as long as halogen lamps due to the heat produced by the LEDs causing them to burn out more quickly. Halogens also emit UV radiation that causes plastic housings and lens covers on underwater boat lamps to degrade over time which can shorten their lifespan even further.
Where do you mount underwater lights on a boat?
There are many ways they can be installed. The most used are:
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Bow Lights: at the front of a boat, to illuminate an object coming from behind or in front of it. These lights are also known as "Aiming" underwater lamps on boats because they're usually used for targeting and fishing when someone is navigating a large vessel through narrow channels.
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Stern Lights: mounted at the stern (rear) of a boat's hull to show its presence - mostly used by commercial vessels with low exhaust emissions that need longer running times than other models which may result in their visibility being compromised over time due to soot buildup around the propeller area. This underwater lamp type emits red light instead of white or blue like you would typically
How to wire up underwater boat lights?
To wire them underwater, you will need to wire the power and ground cables from your battery or engine block. The positive cable should go straight into the light bulb socket that is on top of your underwater lamp. If it's a plug-in type underwater lamp, then just connect the two wires together with a butt (screw) connector; if not, use a terminal screw clamp to attach them securely in place so they don't come loose later.
What are transom lights?
Transom boat lights are usually used for common lights the boat from back. They are most often installed on the outside of a boat, mounted in the stern area or at each side near (or above) where underwater lights would be located.
A typical transom light is typically made up of three units: an outer housing for protection against weather and salt water; a sealed beam or LED lamp unit that shines forward through a lens to provide illumination anywhere from spot to floodlight patterns; and mounting hardware such as brackets, screws, nuts and bolts.
What color light attracts fish best?
The best color to attract fish is green because it works better in both clear water and water with bad visibility.
How many lumens are underwater boat lights?
The underwater boat lights can be up to 5000 lumens.
How many lumens do you need for underwater lighting?
It's enough to have underwater boat lights that are no less than 400 lumens (400-500 lumens would be sufficient).
Why do underwater lights attract fish?
Boat lights, as any light under the water, no matter what the color, reflect light into the water column, creating a glow that attracts fish and other sea life.
Where should underwater boat lights be installed?
They can be installed as bow lights or stern lights.
Do fish like color-changing lights?
Color-changing underwater boat lights are great for attracting fish. The best place for this is the bow.
Can LED lights go underwater?
Sure there are underwater boat lights that are waterproof.
What lights need to be on a boat at night?
At a minimum, underwater boat lights should be installed on the bow and stern.
Do underwater lights attract bugs?
They can attract bugs to the boat, especially near the shore.
Do I need a single color or bi-color light?
It depends on what you want to do.
Bi-color underwater boat lights are cheaper and can be programmed by the owner for a variety of colors or functions, including flashing, strobing, fading in/out or color chasing.
Single-color underwater boat lights are brighter but more expensive. They're also not as customizable as bi-colors.