The US coast Guard is warning boaters about the dangers of replacing incandescent bulbs in there boats navigation lights with LED lamps. Boat navigation lights must be certified by third party testing facilities to make sure they comply with US Inland Navigation Rules. Replacing the original lamp with anything other then the original type bulb used to certify the fixture can result in the light on longer meeting Navigation Rule requirements. Testing assures the light has the proper intensity to reach a nautical mile, is sharp around the edges of the lens and is smooth across the entire arcs of visibility. They must also produce the proper color and comply to proper corrosion and temperature requirements. The USCG is very strict about navigation lighting. The boat operator is responsible for making sure all navigation lights comply with Navigation Rule requirements. LED navigation lights are available for boat owners who wish to upgrade there vessels navigation lights to LED.

LED boat lights are a great idea for all boats, but you must make sure the lights you install meet all USCG regulations. LED lights greatly prolong you boats battery life and will provide you with decades of reliable service. Even on boats that are used daily.

The lights used in the new Ford vehicles combine red, green and blue LED’s that can switch the color of the cars interior lighting scheme from the default “Ice Blue” color to orange, red, green, purple, or blue. OSRAM Sylvania Inc. is providing Ford with the LED’s. The new lights are more expensive at first, but Ford expects the LED lights to last longer then the cars expected 150,000 mile lifespan, saving it’s customers money in maintenance costs. Incandescent bulbs will fail for many reasons including heat-stress and vibration. The LED lights don’t have a filament like incandescent bulbs do. The LED’s will last over 10 years, even in high mileage vehicles.

Boat manufacturers and owners should take note of Ford’s switch to interior LED lighting. It marks the beginning of a new age of more reliable and energy efficient lights. LED boat lights provide boat owners with extremely reliable and long lasting lights that you can actually use without worrying about draining your battery.

The Unites States Navy is in the process of replacing the existing linear fluorescent tube lamps used in most of it’s light fixtures to LED lamps. Energy Focus, Inc., of Solon, OH is providing the new lamps. The company has recently completed testing of it’s new military IntelliTube(TM) product that has the ability to be used in existing fluorescent sockets by simply plugging them in. The Lamps have a tiny microprocessor that allows the circuit to detect and actively reconfigure itself to the lamp it is pluged into. “the Navy can immediately begin to benefit from the significant energy savings gained through Energy Focus’ LED lighting by simply changing the light bulbs installed on every Navy vessel.” said Joe Kaveski, Energy Focus CEO.

The US Navy is switching to LED lighting because it understands the benefits of conserving energy aboard it’s ships. Owners of private boats and yachts can do the same. There are many places LED lighting can be used on private vessels to conserve battery life including interior lights, task lighting and underwater LED boat lights.

The California Energy Commission is helping to supply funding for the projects with Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants have already helped Carpinteria replace 199, 138 watt HPS streetlights with 29 watt LED streetlights. The upgrade will trim $11,600 dollars from Carpinteria’s budget while reducing CO2 emissions by 33 tons a year. Carpinteria will save even more with reduced maintenance costs because of the extremely long life span of the LED’s.

The city of Santa Cruz is using a variety of funding and financing options to replace it’s 1,753 HPS streetlights. Santa Cruz used $150,000 in federal stimulus funds to replace 242 HPS streetlights , and hopes to get a $180,000 Housing and Urban Development grant to replace another 350 lights. They are also in negotiations with PG&E to receive $250,000 in financing to replace another 500 streetlights. The loan will be repaid with future energy savings from the switch to LED’s. In all Santa Cruz hopes to reduce it’s $450,000 annual streetlight budget by 40% and reduce energy consumption by 70%.

Marinas, waterfront bars, restaurants and hotels can drastically reduce there outdoor lighting costs by replacing inefficient HPS and incandescent lights with energy efficient LED lights. Parking lot lights are the obvious choice, but many other lights at these establishments that can be replaced with LED’s, drastically reducing your energy consumption. Look for security type lights that burn all night. Replacing flood lights around buildings, walkway lights and underwater dock lights with LED’s can reduce your outdoor lighting costs by 70% and almost eliminate maintenance costs for years.

‘Buying A Great Boat’ by Arthur Edmonds- This book will help you choose a boat that fits your needs.

‘Getting Started In Powerboating’ by Bob Armstrong- This book will help you decide on what options you will want on your new boat.

‘Go Sail’ by Steve Sleight- This book and DVD will introduce you to the sport of sailing.

‘Recreational Kayaking: The Essential Skills and Safety’- This video will give you tips on buying and using a kayak.

You don’t have to live in Bradenton to find these great books and video’s. Before you go out and buy that new boat, do yourself a favor and head to your local library to check out these excellent resources.

Be sure to check out the pages and posts of this website to find tips on buying the underwater led lights for boats that are right for your new boat.

LED’s Don’t Save Power- 90% of the power that goes into an incandescent bulbs creates heat, not light. LED’s use 1/8th to 1/10th the power of an incandescent light and less then half the power of CFL’s. The world spends over $600 billion a year on electricity for light. 23% of your power bill goes to lighting costs.

LED’s Don’t Work- Manufacturers have already turned to LED’s to light everything from TV’s to street lights. LED’s are much tougher then traditional bulbs and last 35,000 to 50,00 hours.

It’s Just A Light Bulb- LED’s have more in common with a computer then a light bulb. LED’s are chips. They have no glass and no electrodes that will break and contain no mercury. Some LED light even contain technology that allows them to be dimmed and brightened through a remote network.

LED’s Are Too Expensive- 60 watt equivalent LED bulbs are already selling for only $20. These bulbs will save you $10 a year in electricity for the next 13 years. You will make $100 over the life of the bulb and that doesn’t include the cost of all the replacement incandescent bulbs you would have to buy! Also, power companies are looking into GIVING LED bulbs to there customers. The reduced electricity demand would let power companies put off building new power plants for many years.

LED’s Are A Government Plot- Countries around the world have passed laws requiring light bulbs to become more efficient, just as they have always passed laws to protect consumers. The laws requiring lighting to become more efficient aren’t forcing consumers to buy LED or any other type of lights. They require manufacturers to produce lights that are more efficient. LED’s are just the logical choice. Changing century old habits is hard to do.

Underwater LED boat lights give you the same ultra long life, rugged dependability and fantastic power savings in the one place you need it the most. On Your Boat! Shadow-Caster Underwater LED’s are the brightest, most efficient marine LED’s on the market. They won’t burn out and they won’t drain your battery.

Two California environmentalists are traveling the western US showing off the ‘Green RV’, a retrofitted 2003 Airstream trailer pulled by a 2006 Dodge Ram fueled with biodeasel. With funding and expertiese supplied by several sponsors, Cece Reinhardt and Brenda Daugherty gutted the trailer, recycled most of the used materials, and refurbished it with environmentally friendly systems and materials. They plastered the walls an ceilings with natural earthen plaster, installed vida cork planks and natural linoleum flooring along with paperstone and natural linoleum counter tops. The cabinets are veneered with Madagascar Ebony Echo Wood and installed using a low VOC adhesive and finish. The bathroom is fitted with a Nature’s Head waterless composting toilet and the trailer is furnished with Tea Leaf Supreme eco – friendly mattress and an organic twill fabric couch.
What makes this RV truly ‘Green” though is its ability to allow Brenda and Cece to live completely off the electrical grid. A series of solar panels charge 4 Deep Cycle batteries that supply power to the RV. Entertainment is provided by a 12 volt LCD HDTV but the real secret is the RV’s exclusive use of LED lighting inside and out. The interior is illuminated by LED strip lights and puck lights while the exterior uses waterproof LED strip lights. The girls have lived full time in the Airstream since August, 2011. They are living more by living on less.
Technology used in the Green RV is something all boat owners can learn from. It demonstrates how the use of LED lighting can greatly extend your batteries life. By switching to LED navigation lights, LED interior lights and underwater LED boat lights you can worry less about draining your boats batteries and spend more time enjoying the water.