Cabin Lights. Why so hard to find the right one?

[Trundlebug]

For the last 3 years I've been searching around to replace the interior lights in the boat.

The old / existing ones, fitted OE are Aqua Signal surface mounted on the ceiling with integral switches and festoon bulbs. Although they still work fine, the gold rims have gone very patchy and they are looking dated and tired.

So I want to replace them with something more up to date but of a similar idea. That means:-

• Round with brass or brass plated rim (not gold painted), with a look of quality and elegance if possible
• Surface mounted (not recessed - very little room above, and don't want to cut big holes in roof lining)
• Integral switch, rocker type not a sticky out toggle switch that could scalp me if I caught my head on it
• LED bulbs (SMD's) or easily converted if the base cost is low enough
• Slim section - less than the existing 50mm, should be easily possible with LED's.

So far, the best I've found is in Force 4 but doesn't have the gold rim:
View attachment 16172

But I wished it looked like this
View attachment 16173

I've looked everywhere, at sites in Sweden, Italy, Germany, UK, USA and still no joy. The ones that look anything like cost nearly £200 each (Hella Eurolight, but no brass rimmed versions available) or are too bulky and would need converting. Given that I need to buy 8 of them, cost is a consideration, but just being able to find something that fits the spec is beating me at the moment.

I can't believe it can be so hard.
Anyone any ideas?

 

[Talulah]

How about this.
http://www.ecs-marine-equipment.co.uk/marine-equipment/interior-lamp-item-1118.html

although it does have a sticky out toggle switch. (You could change the switch.)

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Try these sites, your lower picture light is at Marine Scene link below. I am doing the same as well, looking for new interior lights.

http://www.nauticexpo.com/tab/interior-lights-_4.html
http://www.boatelectricals.co.uk/marine-lighting/interior-lights/
http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/1582/halogen-24v-downlighter-lamp

 

[pappaecho]

Take off your existing rims and have them remetaled.
Replace existing festoons with high output LED replacements.
Job done!

 

[SHUG]

Here is a selection:
http://www.asap-supplies.com/search/lighting page 2

 

[tjbrace]

Google TIMAGE they have a great selection.

 

[Trundlebug]

Thanks for the replies so far, there are a couple of suppliers I hadn't come across before.

Sorry to be picky but the same problem persists.
The nearest to what I'm after is the one from ASAP
View attachment 16178
Low profile, looks good, LED, BUT they ruin it by fitting COOL white LED's, and a sticky out toggle switch, sticking out DOWNWARDS just where someone could, and would hurt their head. DAFT!

It really wouldn't feel comfortable spending £40 each then having to butcher / modify them and spend a further £20 on replacement LED's and switches.

The one from BE looks almost identical to what I have already
View attachment 16179
the rim is better but the diffuser looks just the same, and it has a toggle switch!
So, overall a backward step from what I have at the moment apart from the brass surround. Not slimmer, and no rocker switch!

All the other suppliers listed have some fabulous lights except none have integral switches and the best choices are recessed models not surface mounted.

GRRR!

From sheer frustration after 3 years I've even thought of setting up my own business, selling cabin lights just so I can get what I want!
Can it really be so hard or is it me?

 

[ithet]

If they are lacquered brass then even if they look very badly tarnished they can be brought up like new very easily as the tarnish is only on the surface. I have the Vetus Yolanda, which sounds like it could be what you are looking for, and the rims scrubbed up beautifully.

http://www.vetus-shop.com/type-yolanda-120-brass-excluding-festoon-bulbs-p-2014.html

 

[prv]

I sympathise. My requirements were quite similar to yours, although I also wanted them smaller and directional. I ended up making my own fittings, using LED units from Bebi. I carved them from sapele left over from building the chart table, using a hole-saw to get the rough blanks and then a home-made lathe to turn them to the dome shape I wanted. They've polished up nicely with plenty of oil, and match the various pieces of new woodwork I've done around the cabin, all from the same batch of timber.

Pete

 

[wooslehunter]

+1 for cleaning up the originals. I have swivelling brass lights which are solid lacquered brass. They were looking terrible & only decent replacements I could find were £80 each. Being nice old ones everything unscrews so I could take them apart easily. I got a polshing kit from Axminster: couple of polishing mops, some polishing & glossing compound & a screw-like beasty for fitting the mops in a drill. Some time later I had lots of very shiney bits & after coating with some halfords lacquer, hopefully they should stay good for years. I did the same with my clock & barometer, both of which were tarnished too. The only hard work was removing the old lacquer with wire wool. I'm sure there's an easier chemical method but the wire woold worked OK.

 

[ithet]

I'm sure there's an easier chemical method but the wire woold worked OK.

If the brass parts are completely removable (as for the light surrounds) boil in a solution of Sodium Bicarbonate until the laquer peels off. After rinsing boiling in vinegar (suggest outside!) will turn the tarnish pink, and it can then be cleaned off with metal polish.

 

[Trundlebug]

The problem is, the existing units have a brass effect rim on a plastic base. Not a case of polishing out the tarnishing I'm afraid, replacement is the only solution I fear.

 

[dmmbruce]

I have just been doing the same hunting round for fittings. I want to go over to LEDs through-out.

As the posts above indicate, almost all the ostensibly marine outlets seem to buy from the same wholesaler. And most of their range looks as though it has not changed since the 1970's and 80's. They have just put LED units in the the same old tired fittings.

The best ideas I have seen are from the caravan/motorhome suppliers. These are much derided by some posters but they supply narrowboats and sea boats too. One that has some different stock is improbably called www.rainbowconversions.co.uk .

I hope this helps you.

Mike

 

[ffiill]

www.towsure.co.uk
Also cross check with Discount Towing which is Towsure by another name-it was the origional Towsure Mail Order company and continues to run supplying same equipment as Towsure but with a different pricing structure.
Important if buying a Tow bar because bought thru Discount Towing you pay about 1/3 less for exactly the same item!
They do a nice circular real brass rimmed one;nice halogen spots /bunk lights and a variety of others.
Also sure you will find some good examples on e bay.
Generally check out any online Caravan Camping Stores.
PS just checked out Rainbow Conversions-a really good selection there

 

[Trundlebug]

I think I've found what I want but...

Thanks for the latest suggestions.
I've had a look through and still couldn't see anything that quite fitted the bill.
I have used Towsure before, and have a couple of very good recessed swivel adjustable halogen spot lights with a twist on /off action, but can't see them listed any more.

By far the best site and supplier I have come across to date is in Sweden, http://www.batsystem.se/

They have what appears to be exactly what I need, the Saturn gold
View attachment 16192
170mm dia, and only 17mm thick! Fantastic.
Except, the Saturn gold is a halogen (OK so I would need to convert it, that's perfectly feasible) and their UK supplier is EC Smith who doesn't list it...

Just as frustrating is that the Saturn chrome model is a 12 LED SMD 2.4w, precisely what I want, but chrome finish only...

So the treasure hunt continues..