I am looking to upgrade the spreader lights on my T-top. Old lights were halogen that pull a lot of amps and since they are over 20-years old have to be tapped on the lens a handful of times to get them to come on sometime. Looks like sky is the limit on what you can spend on these LED jokers. I don’t need anything fancy, simply something to light up the cockpit on a 23-center console for the occasional night trip and to help get items stowed /baits rigged on those early morning offshore runs. I have found some 18-watt units on EBay for $70 for a pair, they are diecast aluminum and powder coated with SS brackets and hardware. Anyone have any experience with these middle of the road cost units. It looks like almost all of the LED units are made of die cast aluminum that is powder coated, wondering how well does the powder coat aluminum hold up against salt?
My experience with the powder coated spreader lights is that the coating starts to flake off in rather short order.
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam F150
Carolina Skiff (old school model)17’ Suz D50
Thanks, that was my concern. Seems like even the high end ones have cast aluminum though as opposed to simply using plastic that you would not have to worry about salt issues
I installed Dr.LED Kevin on the front of my electronics box and two Kevin Jr lights on the rear.
Those things draw almost no power, and have an insane amount of lights. The Kevin is like a spot light, and the two Kevin Jr lights mounted on the T Top are way brighter than I expected. I light the hole boat and area around it up with those things. They are not cheap, but they are built like a tank.
I get salt water on them much more than most, since we go out of a lot of bad weather days. The salt hasn’t had any effect on them thus far, but I only have 1.5 seasons on them so far.
I got mine from west marine, and paid a lot… I had halogen lights, and they constantly busted bulbs in rough water, then cheap LED lights that only lasted 3 or four months. Luckily, west marine has an awesome return policy so I paid extra to upgrade to a quality light.
Remember that if you don’t have the time and money to do it right, you better have time and money to do it again.
Chris @ coastal night lights. The man stands behind the product years after the sale. Nothing but good things to say about the lights and the company! The guys on the hull truth say the same.
Mayhem
Pioneer 197
Saw a good selection of LED at ORILIEYS Auto parts. Would be something that you could put your hands on.
quote:
Originally posted by TTKarlChris @ coastal night lights. The man stands behind the product years after the sale. Nothing but good things to say about the lights and the company! The guys on the hull truth say the same.
Mayhem
Pioneer 197
This! He’s on THT.
Coastal lights prices seem to be a little more reasonable. Thanks for the input deciphering quality on these things online is hard because they all make the same claims and they all pretty much look the same. When there is a $100 or more diffence in cost deciding on something is tough.