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With all the power-saving and longevity benefits of LED lights, it's easy to see why boat owners replace traditional light bulbs with LEDs. But doing so with navigation lights can violate the fixture's certifications. This has serious consequences, as US Inland Navigation Rules and International Navigation Rules carry the force of federal law.

"A certified navigation light fixture is a combination of a specific lens, a specific bulb and the necessary foundation and wiring. The boat owner or operator must ensure that when bulb replacement is necessary, only the original type bulb is used," said Phil Cappel, chief of the US Coast Guard's Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch. "Any substitutions can result in the light no longer meeting the Navigation Rule requirements."
"The lamp assemblies are designed and tested with a specific light source," said Brian Goodwin, technical director for the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC).

Precise tests determine if light reaches nautical mile requirements. Light output must also be sharp at the edges and smooth across the arcs of visibility. This prevents light from appearing to flash like a buoy rather than project consistently when the boat rotates and rocks.

New LED 360 round light is installed. Had my first chance to use the LED nav/anchor lights tonight. Wow. Stupid bright and makes the boat look MUCH better. It's like checking out a modern car with LED and HID lighting compared to an old car. Much more modern and it gives it a "high tech" look. I highly recommend them to everyone.

Great post! I've tried in vain to find a complete LED replacement fixture for my bow, but haven't even been able to find one that physically fits. So I'm still running around with a bow fixture that you can fry an egg on.

I'm sure other H180 owners would like to see some pics of the "certified Attwood fixtures for inland boats" that you installed on your 2000 H180.
In case they want to purchase them for their boats. Being that many of the LED Attwood fixtures do not fit properly on many Four Winns boats, as was the case with 230Mike.

I went so far as to buy one of those. It does not fit the contours of my deck.

Author:	Cap'n Morgan [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:18 am ]
Post subject:	Are you Illegal ?
If you replaced any of your NAV light bulbs with LED bulbs...... YOU ARE. Quote: With all the power-saving and longevity benefits of LED lights, it's easy to see why boat owners replace traditional light bulbs with LEDs. But doing so with navigation lights can violate the fixture's certifications. This has serious consequences, as US Inland Navigation Rules and International Navigation Rules carry the force of federal law. "A certified navigation light fixture is a combination of a specific lens, a specific bulb and the necessary foundation and wiring. The boat owner or operator must ensure that when bulb replacement is necessary, only the original type bulb is used," said Phil Cappel, chief of the US Coast Guard's Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch. "Any substitutions can result in the light no longer meeting the Navigation Rule requirements." "The lamp assemblies are designed and tested with a specific light source," said Brian Goodwin, technical director for the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC). Precise tests determine if light reaches nautical mile requirements. Light output must also be sharp at the edges and smooth across the arcs of visibility. This prevents light from appearing to flash like a buoy rather than project consistently when the boat rotates and rocks. The simple solution if you wish to upgrade to LED navigation lights is to replace the entire light assembly with a certified product. This ensures their navigation lights are safe, and legal.

Author:	Cap'n Morgan [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
Guess who ?........... ric wrote: New LED 360 round light is installed. Had my first chance to use the LED nav/anchor lights tonight. Wow. Stupid bright and makes the boat look MUCH better. It's like checking out a modern car with LED and HID lighting compared to an old car. Much more modern and it gives it a "high tech" look. I highly recommend them to everyone. Yeah, stupid bright I'm sure

Author:	blue dragon [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:50 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
Lmao! I guess thats kinda like those people who put HID bulbs into their car's headlights which were originally designed for halogen bulbs.

Author:	hutch9900 [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:23 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! I bet I could guess who!!

Author:	230 Mike [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:25 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
Great post! I've tried in vain to find a complete LED replacement fixture for my bow, but haven't even been able to find one that physically fits. So I'm still running around with a bow fixture that you can fry an egg on.

www.iFourWinns.com https://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/

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Author:	Mark T [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
230 Mike wrote: Great post! I've tried in vain to find a complete LED replacement fixture for my bow, but haven't even been able to find one that physically fits. So I'm still running around with a bow fixture that you can fry an egg on. Can I have my eggs over easy then ?? Have you tried West Marine ?? http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=50581

Author:	230 Mike [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
I went so far as to buy one of those. It does not fit the contours of my deck.

Author:	Graham R [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:41 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
I never boat in the dark; too many poorly marked lobster pots and floating lines; illegal, but the authorities (= tax recipients) do not enforce the regulations here. The "marine" bulbs on my boat are unused; an Ebay opportunity ? I can imagine that on the road, if someone fits some inappropriately high wattage / output bulbs to their headlights then it can dazzle people. However, on a boat with the light fittings restricting the angle of the light emitted, what problem does it cause if a boat has LEDs fitted which mean the lights are visible from much further away ? Isn't that a good thing?

Author:	ric [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
All my LED navigational lights are USCG certified Attwood LED fixtures for inland boats of my size. I triple checked before purchasing. The white all round light is adjustable to make sure you get the angle of the light correct for it's lens to work. Rick 1, Haters 0

Author:	Paul I. [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
They other thing here is. If you buy the LED fixtures, for the most part, there sealed/potted. No socket to rust up!

Author:	TX H210SS [ Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
Led is bad for ya..that's why it ain't in the paint no more!!! Seriously my factory lights r just fine, but I do need a new horn. The sal busted and its shot...

Author:	Cap'n Morgan [ Thu Mar 01, 2012 7:05 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
I'm sure other H180 owners would like to see some pics of the "certified Attwood fixtures for inland boats" that you installed on your 2000 H180. In case they want to purchase them for their boats. Being that many of the LED Attwood fixtures do not fit properly on many Four Winns boats, as was the case with 230Mike.

Author:	ric [ Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:41 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
Cap'n Morgan wrote: I'm sure other H180 owners would like to see some pics of the "certified Attwood fixtures for inland boats" that you installed on your 2000 H180. In case they want to purchase them for their boats. Being that many of the LED Attwood fixtures do not fit properly on many Four Winns boats, as was the case with 230Mike. Sure, I'll take some after work today. The screw holes on the new fixtures didn't line up obviously, but they are the same size/shape as the original ones so I just drilled new pilot holes and screwed them on. Took a whole 15 minutes to install both front and rear and the original holes that are not used are covered by the fixtures and not seen.

Author:	Mark T [ Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
230 Mike wrote: I went so far as to buy one of those. It does not fit the contours of my deck. If the contour wasn't too out of wack, you could use a thicker gasket on the bottom to seal things up. Or bring out the belt sander and re-contour your deck to the lights !!

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Author:	230 Mike [ Thu Mar 01, 2012 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Are you Illegal ?
I thought of the thicker gasket, it isn't a big enough deal to me to go to the trouble of jury rigging stuff where the boat is concerned. That fixture was going to leave a noticeable gap under the front.