As any hardcore boater knows, there are many benefits to adding interior lights to your boat.

Whether you own a bowrider or megayacht, proper lighting is essential for after-dark or pre-dawn excursions. It improves nighttime visibility and safety by allowing the boat to be seen, even in foggy conditions.

And if you love to fish in the tranquil of the night, the right kind of lights can actually attract fish and deter bugs.

But interior boat lights can be much more than just functional. They can make a boat more fun and stylish, whether you want a full light show or subtler lighting accents.

You can add aesthetic and practical lights:

• Under the seats
• At the helm
• On your wake tower
• In your audio speakers

These 3 easy tips will help you get the most out of boat interior lights and fulfill your lighting needs.

1 - Consult a Professional

When it comes to planning and installing boat interior lights, you can’t go wrong with a professional.

Even before any talk of the engineering aspect of the process, you still have the planning and purchasing stages to deal with. You must be able to answer questions such as:

• What kinds of lights are best for your needs?
• What about compliance? Do you know if there are any specific lighting features required by the safety laws in your region for your particular type of boat?
• How do you differentiate high-quality products from shams?

If you can’t answer these questions, it's best to leave it to the pros. They’ll handle every step of the process and provide guidance to help you make the right decisions.

Besides, leaving it to the pros will make your life much easier (even if you know what you're doing).

Apex Lighting has highly-trained and knowledgeable sales reps, qualified lighting designers, and licensed and insured electricians to help you with every step of the process of lighting your boat’s interiors; from planning and design to purchase and installation.

“At Apex Lighting you can find anything and everything you need for lighting on your boat or yacht. The people that work there are very knowledgeable and are willing to help you every step of the way.”
— Heather Clark

Why You Should Hire a Licensed Electrician

When dealing with electricity in any capacity, it’s always a good idea to enlist the services of a licensed electrician.

It might be tempting to try to save money by doing your own electrical work or hiring an unlicensed electrician, but this can lead to disastrous results.

Doing so is not only illegal but also carries with it a significant risk of injury or even death.

Something as simple and harmless as installing a dock light fixture can lead to unsavory results if done incorrectly. After all, you’re dealing with the potentially lethal combination of electricity and water.

You’re better off hiring a licensed and insured marine electrician as you’ll not only save money in the long run but also have peace of mind.

By hiring a trained expert, you:

• Receive standard service that’s up to code
• Get the best quality materials and fixtures
• Avoid possible electrical accidents
• Have liability coverage in the event of any trouble

There’s simply no substitute for hiring a licensed marine electrician. The few bucks you may save upfront by cutting corners are simply not worth risking your life.

2 - Before Making Any Purchases, Plan Thoroughly

Lighting a boat’s interiors requires thorough planning, which should be done before you make any purchases.

Don’t just go out and buy anything that takes your fancy. Everything must serve a purpose and take your needs, and your boat’s specifications, into consideration.

For a smaller boat, planning will be simple since there isn’t much interior space. But for larger boats with more interior space, there is much more to be done.

Whatever the size, follow these helpful steps to create a functional lighting plan for your boat:

1. Draw a floor plan of your boat’s interiors. This step is especially important if you have a larger boat or even a smaller boat. Take note of where everything is, including seats, furniture, and windows, if applicable.
2. Consider what each area will be used for. This will help you determine what kind of lights are needed where.
   
   For instance, you might decide to have more mood lighting in one section of the boat and more functional lights in another, depending on how you use each part.
3. On your floor plan, indicate where you’d like to install your lights. Start with basic lighting, then define where you want more functional or aesthetic lighting.
   
   For example, a galley will need more light for cooking and food preparation while a cabin will require softer lighting for sleep and relaxation.
4. Finally, choose your light fixtures. Now that you know what types of lights you need in each part of the boat, you can begin researching options for each. Find a reputable supplier and get in touch with their sales team to help you look through your options.

Apex Lighting boasts a 26-year track record and the largest collection of high-quality lights and accessories for all scenarios and use cases. Reach their sales team at 954-421-3267.

Whatever you do, don’t forget to plan for energy efficiency as boats often have limited power. This is what makes LEDs such a great option for boats. They’re long-lasting, energy-efficient, and don’t generate too much heat.

The table below outlines a few interior lighting types for different purposes:

3 - Learn What Factors Make for Great Interior Lighting

Before buying anything, there are four primary factors to consider when looking for high-quality interior boat lights:

• Rust-proof design: Corrosion-resistance is everything for boat interior lights. Look for lights made with marine-grade, rust-proof materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze.
  
  For lenses, choose something that’s made of shatterproof polycarbonate and injection-molded plastics. These materials are renowned for their durability.
• High-quality components and circuit board design: High-quality boat lights cost so much because they make use of high-quality materials. That’s why price is often an excellent proxy for quality.
  
  Cheap manufacturers use a printed circuit board with a substrate made of aluminum instead of copper. They also use other low-quality components to keep costs low.
  
  Such lights might work for a little while but will soon require attention, which means more costs for you—especially since you might have to hire an electrician to swap them out. Better to pay a decent price upfront and side-step the headaches down the line.
• Efficient heat dissipation: Lights generate heat which their casings need to be able to withstand. Thankfully, this problem can be solved with lights made of high-quality marine-grade materials.
  
  In addition to being corrosion-resistant, such materials often also come with great heat dissipation properties.
• Power source: This is often where people have the most trouble. Most boat interior lights are rated for 12V DC, which means any voltage other than that will most likely fry the light. Only deviate from this if the instructions say otherwise.

Fulfill Your Boat Lighting Needs With These Quick Tips

So, there you have it: three easy tips to fulfill your lighting needs with boat interior lights.

When you’re ready to buy interior lights for your boat or hire a professional team to plan, design, and install your boat’s interior lights, reach out to Apex Lighting by calling 954-421-3267 or leave a message. They are ever ready and able to deliver high-quality work with fast turnarounds.

“Great company, awesome products, very professional and knowledgeable. Thanks again for the lights; my boat looks awesome at night.”
— Robert Pujol