I hate LEDs and Halogen - questions.

[DCatSea]

One of my projects this year has been to redo the aft cabin on Mazboot, including fixing a small leak (Done) and putting in new headliner, painting the side walls and lockers, installing fans and new cabin lights. I'm about half way through, with most everything ready to go back in. BUT, I cant find any old style cabin lights, of the incandescent variety.
Yes, i know the arguments for LEDs and / or halogen, but I really can't stand the appalling whiteness and brightness given off by these things. (I also hate them on cars because the drivers seem to keep them on hi-beam all the time).
My questions:
1) Have you changed your cabin lights and have a bunch of incandescent cabin lights (from a 27FC) hanging around that I could purchase?
If not:
2) Do you know where I can find incandescent lights (I've done the google/interweb thing, and Bacon Sails in Annapolis don't have any)
3) Do you have any suggestions for replacing cabin lights that don't give off a blinding white light?

Any ideas most welcome. Thanks.

[Jkraft]

https://store.marinebeam.com/

https://www.doctorled.com/

I use these two sources to retrofit my boats to new lighting. LED is the way to go. I too hate the bright white so I opted for the warm light hue and DR LED even lets them be dimmable now just by flicking the switch on the lamp off and back on. Just throwing this out there.

[WillieC]

I agree with Jkraft. The available technology is not your grandpa's LED. Go for the warm white. We have had them in the A25 interior for a few years now, in the original fixtures. Just this year I finally figured out how to order LEDs for nav lights. Again, this allowed us to keep the original fixtures, with their robust construction and patina.

You may want to upgrade your fixtures, but unless you bring a truckload of cash, you will be disappointed with the shiny plastic crap available.

[DCatSea]

Good advice. Thanks Jkraft and WillieC.
I actually found something on, of all places, A—zon, late last night. If they are c—p I can send them back. I will follow your links J to see what Dr LED offers.

[Jkraft]

Willie is right on that too. If you can retrofit your old fixtures you are better off. The new stuff is all flimsy junk

[DCatSea]

I can believe that. I tend to search "Made in USA" or "EU/UK" for most things.

[WillieC]

Loose connections at nav lights, plus 48 years of age, started to melt the bakelite or whatever it was that went for plastic back in the day due to an incandescent heater/lightbulb being used. Actually, both contributed the heat but it was the current draw that provided the energy. Part of the reason for wanting to switch over to LEDs is the light load they place on these old systems.

I was able to clean up the contacts, lightly grease them with dielectric grease and then build up the melted plastic with jb weld. Marinebeam provided the festoon LEDs that snap right into the tangs. I'm sure I broke half of the ABYC rules in the process...but the WillieC won't burn to the waterline from these fixtures.

The fixture over the galley sink was replaced years ago by a "modern" 12V fluorescent unit, complete with starter, ballast, and ghastly glow. Not wanting to add any more holes in the lid, I simply ripped the guts out of the fixture and replaced it with another of marinebeam's LEDs. This unit switches from red to white light by toggling the power switch. We use the red feature only for re-enacting scenes from The Hunt for Red October. One. Ping. Only.

[DCatSea]

Ping.

[nebulatech]

https://www.sailors-exchange.com/

If you don't mind used, give these very helpful and friendly people a call. Whether you keep incandescent or upgrade to led bulbs, the Sailors Exchange has several used fixtures, and if you catch them when they aren't busy, they will text you pictures of what they have. If that's too much trouble, try checking ebay!

[tego]

Doug, I found an original fixture in great condition in my shop yesterday. PM me and I'll send it to you ASAP. Ben '87 27FC #302

[DCatSea]

Thanks for all the great inputs. I’ll be following up. That said, I found some really nice incandescent fixtures on the Big A that I believe will do the job nicely. I was looking for “made in USA” fixtures and strangely enough Perko presented almost exactly what I was looking for. I’ll post pix once they are up and running.