I experimented by replacing just the reading lights in the forward cabin. I had halogen, which was nice and bright, but dangerously hot; felt like I was getting a tan while reading at bedtime.

I used a direct replacement LED bayonet mount bulb from West Marine, don't recall the model #. It's not as bright, but better focused. So I can direct it onto whatever I'm reading just fine, without disturbing my sleeping wife. The color is a bluish white; I don't think I'd like it in the main cabin as I like the warmth of the incandescent bulbs. There may be 'warmer' LED bulbs out there, I haven't looked yet. I'd like to replace as many bulbs as possible with LEDs, so will continue the search. I'd be interested to see what others have experienced.

Another option: Sailor's Solutions has an adapter that fits into the receptacle where the original auto style bulb "screws" in. The adapter then becomes the new fitting for the LED device.

They are not cheap, (what LED is!!!!) but I like the lighting. I have replaced most of my cabin lights, slowly but surely this way.

If you do buy one to try out, be sure and order the correct adapter- there are two types.

I actually bought the wrong adapter the first time. I contacted the company and they sent me a new one FREE!

Here is the website and review info.

[url]http://www.sailorssolutions.com/[/url]

Greatest lumens and Recommended by Practical Sailor
- See review here!

Sensibulb Benefits:

* Bright warm light
* Saves energy with exclusive LED circuit
* 120° beam angle
* No radio interference
* Easy to install with unique universal monting system
* Available in red

Testimonials:

* I LOVE the Sensibulbs! I can turn on all the cabin lights and the ammeter hardly registers any change. And the light is bright and warm. Great job!!
Page G., S/V Watercolor, Port Canaveral, FL

* I purchased my first sensibulb a couple of years ago, and thought it was the best bulb I've ever owened. But I have just received one of the new sensibulbs which is much brighter, a bit smaller and very easy to install. I now have a new "Best Bulb I've Ever Owned"
Jim, Palm Springs,California

* "WOW!!!! Worth the wait. This is GREAT!!! I will be sending you another order shortly. Thanks."
Jeff S/V Calypso Westsail 32

See my article on this topic, "Repairing Reading Lights (C36 Mk II)," in the Technical - Maintenance library. Part numbers and cost are in the article. Let me know if it is helpful or if you need additional information.

Check out Ebay, I have bought Surface Mount LED lights for around $10.00, including shipping. I have been happy with LEDwholesalers. There are many other companies selling replacement LED lights.

I purchase the LED 12V bayonet replacement for my C30 dome light, one LED. It was a dim blue light which was ok for the head but not very practical for the main salon.

John I--
s/v Pooka
1994 C36 TR #1339

This is a bit of a hot button for me as I have recently had some issues with my technicians in my shop using LED flashlights. These lights are light weight, very impact resistant, have amazing battery life do to their low current draw. When you try and look at them it is physicly painful to do, all good features that suggest brightness. The only problem is you can not see much with them, when shinning them up into the inspection panels on aircraft for inspection purposes the light seems to evaporate. In a recent FAA Airworthiness Directive I noted a new statement that a specific inspection was to be completed using a bright NON LED LIGHT.

The color spectrum can be very important in a LED light, I think most any are great for recognition lights such as nav and anchor. For cabin lights I would look for feedback on how others like them, terms like warm and balanced would add confidence and I would not be prone to make the decision on the price alone.

Ah not sure how handy you all are. But last year I bought LED puck lights from Menards for $7 on sale and they have 14 lights in the puck. I experimented on one conversion first changing out our inserts on the halogen lamps to the guts of the puck light. It required dissembling the old light and dissembling the puck light and putting the LED and chrome trim ring into the old light fixture.

I took the light right off the fixture so I could work on it and the guts of the puck lights fit right up into the inside of the old lamps. So I ended up doing all of our lights in the whole boat and now the only regular light we have onboard is our steaming light. That I will not change out to a LED. All of our florescent's have been changed over to LED strip lights. A little labor and engineering saved a lot of money for other projects.

My wife and I love them and would never go back to the old lights ever. Just our point of view.

Randy

Randy,

The experience I related was from what I have seen in flash lights and reports on aircraft landing lights. Your input is what I wanted to hear before endorsing LED lighting onboard. I think I recall you or someone here using a motion sensing LED puck light in the head compartment, I thought this was brilliant (not a pun) and I went to Lowes to locate one of these right after reading about it but, I could not find a battery powered version or 12 Volt variety.

Randy, do you feel comfortable reading by these lights, or are you using them as just general light? I have tried a few LED's in lamps at home and found the light very unatural and some marine reviews of LED's have also complained of them being glaring and unatural. It sounds like you have created a solution that is very economical with a bit of work to complete the install. Can you post some pictures of your mod or have you already? I do have some florecent lights aboard installed for there low amp draw, some do not like the light from these either and they too vary in the light spectrum output, I do have a Alpenglow combo white florecent and red LED that I am quite happy with. Randy I do not think there are any Menards here on the west coast, do you recall the name of the company that makes the puck lights and strip lights you used?

Steve:

As I read your posting if I was happy about reading by them. The true judge is my wife and I asked her and she said yes she was happy with the LEDS. What I will do this weekend when I go up to the boat is to get the name of the lights I used as I still have a few left to do other projects with. I will also take some pictures of the finished lights and what the light looked like before and I will take one of the puck apart. The light is 12 volt as you you had to buy a transformer for them but I did not as I knew what I had planed to do with them. They also came with a cone reflector that helps throw and spread the light.

Randy

Gents, Any chance of getting specific number(s)/website(s) for LED replacement bulbs?

I replaced one of the overhead lights with a conventional bayonet type base that was the same bulb used in automobile tail lights. It worked fine but I like the idea of the LED lights especially their power consuption and cooler operating temps.

As I recall there are three types of replacement bulbs. 1) Plan nav station desk light, 2) Overhead lights over sink and table in main salon 3) White covered light in aft cabin near engine access. 4)Basic light swivel fixtures on walls in main cabin, head, vee-birth and aft cabin. I'm looking for LED replacements for the ceiling lights in the main cabin and the basic swivel lights throughout.

Any assistance will be appreciated.

Gary Welch
Kenosha, WI Lake Michigan
1995 fin keel # 1480

If you are a C36IA member, you receive Mainsheet magazine. Within the last six months there was an article on converting to LED lighting by an owner of one of the other Catalina models. He described his experience in finding the right color of light, and recommended a website--which I don't recall. That might be worth looking at.

I have been referred to [url]www.marinebeam.com[/url], for LED shopping. Haven't done any business with them, however, so can't offer any thoughts.

I plan to replace some bulbs in the main Salon with LEDs this summer, to see how it works, so I will look forward to learning more on this topic.

--Nelson Lee

I did a fairly extensive review back in 2008. While some things have changed many have not. The Sensibulb then, as now, is the clear winner. I have not had a chance to update this thread with the new improved Sensibulb but it is now even brighter.
[SIZE=3][B]
[URL="http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=103101&#post580357"]LED Bulb Comparison (LINK)[/URL][/B][/SIZE]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/106062161.jpg[/IMG]

Informative post, I think we should get school credits for having read it or at least get a Bulbology Merit Badge.

One area that would have been interesting in the test would have been to have a strip of primary colors to see how the various lights effect color balance.

Thanks for the data, it is obvious we can get equivilent light out put using far fewer calories with LED's.

Steve:

Here is the info I was mentioning about the LED puck lights I got form Menards. They are made by QUANTUR and the item number is 346-6464. They are an 18 light puck. They sold for $12.99 but when I picked them up I got them for $7.99 I did not take any pictures yet of the installed conversation. I did a quick search on Google for Quantuar led but nothing came up.
More to come next week.

Randy

Redden Marine Supply sells a near-replacement of the original "brass bell" swivel light in my MkII #1473. The old ones had all quit long ago due to socket failure. At $28 ea. the price was reasonable so I could afford to change ‘em all out at once.

[url]www.reddenmarine.com/marine-supplies.cfm/lights-cabin/sea-dog-corp-40042...

LED bulbs, Type 1142 came from: [url]www.superbrightleds.com[/url].

Now, with cool running LEDs installed, hopefully, the plastic sockets won’t melt this time ‘round.

My 2¢ worth.

I installed two SCAD Sensibulb LED lights from Sailor's Solutions in the forward cabin of my 1999 C36 in 2007 and have been very pleased with the warm color and more than adequate reading brightness. They take about 1/10th of the energy of the bulbs they replaced . . . great when laying at anchor for several days.

I replaced the four main salon lights this spring. We prefer the solitude of an anchorage to the din of a marina when travling around Lake Michigan and energy management becomes a significant issue.

I also replaced the anchor light with an Aqua Signal LED all around light in 2007. A pricey upgrade, but I'm happy I did it. Bright White (easy to spot our boat among others) and draws only .2A compared to a 2.0A incandescent bulb.

John Ross
[I]Branwyn[/I] #1807
Sheboygan, WI

[QUOTE=Solla Sollew;5179]Redden Marine Supply sells a near-replacement of the original "brass bell" swivel light in my MkII #1473. The old ones had all quit long ago due to socket failure. At $28 ea. the price was reasonable so I could afford to change ‘em all out at once.

[url]www.reddenmarine.com/marine-supplies.cfm/lights-cabin/sea-dog-corp-40042...

LED bulbs, Type 1142 came from: [url]www.superbrightleds.com[/url].

Now, with cool running LEDs installed, hopefully, the plastic sockets won’t melt this time ‘round.[/QUOTE]

Which of the 1142 bulbs (part #s) did you install in the reading lamps and which for the overhead?

Thanks

Did you guys see my article on repairing reading lights and installing LED bulbs? It's in the Technical - Maintenance section.

Sid: Look for a private message.

I found a great pricing at Sailor Sam's. Replaced my 4 main cabin lights with LED's, theImtra X-Beam G4 (Back-Entry) LED Bulb, 2.2 watt . Unfortunately bought the wrong bayonet lights and am sending back.

[url]http://www.sailorsams.com/led-lights.htm#LED[/url] Light Bulbs

I've done a lot of research on LED replacement bulbs over the last few weeks and can report that (1) there is a lot of confusing information out there, (2) there are some really good products, (3) there are a lot of cheap knock-off products primarily intended for the automobile market that should be avoided, and (4) it may take some experimenting.

A good place to start, in my view, is [url]www.marinebeam.com[/url]. They have some very good background information on LED lighting. I am testing one of their MR-11 bulbs in my reading lamps in the salon (aftermarket lamps, from ABI. currently using a 10W G-4 halogen bulb) along with the well-regarded "Sensibulb" (which I purchased from Defender). Based on my observations, I'll order some more bulbs for the other salon reading lights. I also purchased a bayonet base LED bulb from MarineBeam to use in the v-berth in the translucent sconce lights (i.e.. really ugly) that were stock on the boat. That bulb is too dim, compared to the 30W incandescent bulb that was in there. So I'm returning it and ordering the more powerful bayonet bulb (called the "super tower").

It is going to take some experimenting to get bulbs that provide adequate light (not too little and not too much) and are not too white/blue in output.

--Nelson

[QUOTE=nelson;6087]I've done a lot of research on LED replacement bulbs over the last few weeks and can report that (1) there is a lot of confusing information out there, (2) there are some really good products, (3) there are a lot of cheap knock-off products primarily intended for the automobile market that should be avoided, and (4) it may take some experimenting.

A good place to start, in my view, is [url]www.marinebeam.com[/url]. They have some very good background information on LED lighting. I am testing one of their MR-11 bulbs in my reading lamps in the salon (aftermarket lamps, from ABI. currently using a 10W G-4 halogen bulb) along with the well-regarded "Sensibulb" (which I purchased from Defender). Based on my observations, I'll order some more bulbs for the other salon reading lights. I also purchased a bayonet base LED bulb from MarineBeam to use in the v-berth in the translucent sconce lights (i.e.. really ugly) that were stock on the boat. That bulb is too dim, compared to the 30W incandescent bulb that was in there. So I'm returning it and ordering the more powerful bayonet bulb (called the "super tower").

It is going to take some experimenting to get bulbs that provide adequate light (not too little and not too much) and are not too white/blue in output.

--Nelson[/QUOTE]
The new [URL="http://www.sailorssolutions.com/"][B]Sensibulb[/B][/URL], that just began shipping last week, is nearly 40% brighter than the ones I tested back in December 2008. [URL="http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=103101&#post580357"][B]LED BULB REVIEW (LINK)[/B][/URL] When I plugged them in I was STUNNED!!

According to Nick, one of the owners of Sensibulb/SCAD, they have had four output upgrades since I ordered my last bulbs in 2008. This most recent change is a major change from the two emitter design to a single emitter design. To say the least these guys stay on top of the technology and don't rest on just having a "good" product as they want to sell the "best" product.

While many other LED's have remained unchanged in technology, output and color temp and dropped the price accordingly, as their technology became like a dinosaur saddle, the Sensibulb price has remained the same but the technology is and has always been totally cutting edge and the "latest and greatest".

I honestly did not think it could get much better than the ones I have been using but it has. I bought one of the first Sensibulbs to ever hit the market at the first boat show they displayed at. That bulb is still going strong and has LOTS of use on it.

The new ones are about equal or better than a 20W halogen and the color is very warm and pleasing. While not cheap they are about the best you can buy and also have no radio interference something that plagues other LED bulbs. With LED's I have found that you do get what you pay for. I own three different generations of the Sensibulb, as well as many other LED bulbs, and the Sensibulb is just an AMAZING product. Yes, you may pay more, but you actually get more.

I have no vested interest in the Sensibulb company but am willing to pay the premium as I have found no equal or substitute at any price.

The new bulb has only one teeny tiny LED emitter as opposed to the two of the last model but is still the brightest LED interior bulb I have seen. The Sensibulb was the brightest LED Practical Sailor tested and this one is a full 35-40% better in output than those. I have seen 10 emitter bulbs not even half as bright as this new Sensibulb. If the technology keeps going at this pace we will soon see LED car headlights and LED's lighting baseball stadiums.

Oh and the two pesky things that bugged me about my 2008 bulbs was the dinky little wires and the rather wimpy G4 clip that held the bulb in place. They have now beefed up the wires and made the clip a LOT more robust.

Two thumbs up to Nick Cancro and the crew at SCAD for keeping on top of things and listening to customer feedback!!!
[B]
June 2010 Sensibulb (even Sensibulb does not have a photo of the new ones):[/B]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/126141365.jpg[/IMG]

[B]2008 Sensibulb:[/B]
[IMG]http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/104232998.jpg[/IMG]

No need to "experiment" with lower quality units when the Sensibulb is readily available.;) Oh and ALWAYS order direct from Sailors Solutions to be sure you are getting the NEW units not the older style still in stock at many vendors. If you ask Nick for the 10% [I][B]"I read about them on a sailing forum discount"[/B][/I] Nick will give you 10% off.

Some Cape Dory owners got together and bought Sensibulbs by the case and saved some decent money though there is not a lot of margin on these bulbs to begin with..

Based on my own, admittedly subjective and non-technical, assessment, I prefer the Marinebeam MR-11 over the new Sensibulb, for my particular needs. The Sensibulb is actually too bright for my reading lamps, and it is quite expensive, relative to the Marinebeam MR-11, and almost everything else out there. It is a good bulb, however, and I'll keep it, if for no other reason than showing it to people: it looks like it was pulled out of the guts of a laptop computer!

--Nelson