Posted by Apex Lighting on 20th May 2024
How to Build a Complete Dock Lighting Setup on a Budget
Proper lighting is an essential part of dock ownership. Any functioning waterfront needs full coverage to ensure safety getting on and off your boat. The last thing you want is guests tripping or falling in after an evening cruise. Illuminating water’s edge is also helpful for other boats in the vicinity, clearly outlining your property and structures to prevent possible collisions. Not to mention, identifying your dock from neighboring ones, so you can easily navigate home at night.
Beyond basic safety, lights enhance your dock’s visual appeal, creating a more enjoyable experience for all. It’s the perfect way to elevate the entire atmosphere and add some personality to your landing. The possibilities are endless, whether it’s choosing color changing LEDs to set the mood, or highlighting certain landscape features with a well-placed spotlight.
But outfitting your waterfront can really add up, especially when you start shopping for quality fixtures. To help you pick the best pieces on a budget, we’ve put together a list of affordable lighting essentials every dock owner should consider.
Full Budget-Friendly Dock System
So where to start? When it comes to dock lighting, you want fixtures that will withstand the elements, made from marine-grade materials (especially where wiring is involved). Thankfully, high quality doesn't have to mean high price tag. From pathway lights to underwater features, here’s how to build a full dock setup without breaking the back.
Lumitec Nautilus Surface Mount Piling Light
Let’s start small. Piling lights are a simple, versatile way to illuminate your walkway, with plenty of wiggle room for budget constraints. Ideally, every post on your pier should have a fixture to clearly indicate their position and brighten the path. But it’s possible to start with just a few strategically placed piling lights to get the job done.
Our top pick in this category is Lumitec’s Nautilus series. Available in 316 stainless-steel or hand-polished bronze finish, these little LEDs are the perfect mix of style, function, and affordability. Each is completely water sealed and IP67 compliant, designed to hold up to high moisture and even saltwater environments. And with their adapter for easy mounting on curved or flat locations, they fit anywhere you need them. Mix things up by choosing the full-spectrum RGB output, and enjoy endless color changing fun.
Our Price: $164.99
Lumitec Scallop Surface Mount Pathway Light
Ground-level pathway lights are another dock staple, great for safety and ambiance. In most situations, these are mounted directly to the deck floor, spaced anywhere from 8 to 10 feet apart. We recommend installing one between each dock post to provide adequate coverage. They work nicely on their own (for those watching their wallet), but provide a beautiful, more complete presentation when paired with down-facing piling fixtures.
The Lumitec Scallop pathway lights offer incredible bang for your buck, hands down our favorite when it comes to budget-conscious, top-quality fixtures. They’re low voltage, water sealed, and IP67 compliant, making them safe for wet environments. And their sleek, low profile design fits seamlessly in any setup, featuring a beam angle carefully engineered for maximum illumination with minimal glare. Choose from solid white LED or the popular full-color spectrum option, either of which can be managed via smartphone or tablet using Lumitec’s POCO Bluetooth Controller.
Our Price: $164.99
Kichler 16016 LED Adjustable Small Accent Light
Now that the walkway’s covered, let’s look at ways to expand your setup, starting with accent lights. These compact, go-anywhere fixtures are the perfect way to highlight landscape features or illuminate hard-to-reach corners of your property. Place them in your yard, shining upwards at trees or sculptures for dramatic effect. Or draw attention to important safety features on the dock, such as life preservers, by setting them to shed light on key areas throughout the night.
When it comes to affordable accent lighting, nothing beats Kichler’s versatile VLO fixture. Priced at just under $100, this small, adjustable spotlight comes equipped with the Lumen Effects System, allowing you to easily switch between three outputs (100, 200, or 300) for the perfect illumination. Its durable brass and aluminum construction, and compact size, suits this food for a wide range of applications. And the 50,000 hour LED lifespan means it won’t need replacing anytime soon.
Our Price: $99.95
Ready to take things up a notch? Add some unique fair to your dock, day and night, with the perfect piling cap fixtures. These ornate lights mount on top of deck posts to give your setup a more striking silhouette, while still providing plenty of waterfront illumination. Available in a wide range of styles and sizes, there’s no better way to personalize your landing while giving things a more professional presentation. The trick is finding fixtures that work well and look nice, without costing an arm and a leg.
Our hardwired Pagoda LED Piling Lights are a beautiful, economical choice for those looking to upgrade their boat dock. Made to order, right here in the USA, these stunning, waterproof mounts are constructed out of aluminum and available in six different powder-coated finishes (Black, White, Green Patina, Rusty Iron, Laser Bronze, or Silver). Perfect for wood or concrete pilings, pick from two different bases to fit your needs, a Flange Base or Junction Box Base that provides additional room to make 120V wire connections. For even more customization, we offer the option to outfit your Pagoda lights with any color LED, including full spectrum RGB.
Our Price: $221.99
Kichler C-Series Flood Light 12w
Sometimes you need a little extra power. That’s where a solid, commercial-grade flood light might come in handy. These are typically a step up from accent lights, meant to fully illuminate high traffic or work areas, but can also be utilized to show off your yard or keep buildings lit for security purposes. We recommend positioning one at your primary boarding zone, to improve visibility when docking at night and help passengers disembark safely.
The Kichler C-Series flood offers serious illumination at a reasonable price tag. With a 1000 lumens output and wide voltage range of 120V-277V, it should more than cover any lighting need, from landscape embellishment to more heavy duty applications. This stylish fixture boasts an integrated cowl, robust knuckle design, and die-cast aluminum construction with textured polyester powder coat finish. The durable, IP66-rated housing is suitable for any marine setting, perfect for placing at water’s edge to identify potentially hazardous obstacles.
Our Price: $184.95
For those ready to invest a bit more into their setup, underwater lights are the move to make. Installed below your dock on pilings or seawalls, these fixtures elevate any landing, transforming your waterfront into a dazzling nighttime display. Create a serene, yet instantly identifiable setting by picking the perfect hue to match your aesthetic. Lighting the water this way also tends to attract marine life, for improved fishing after dark. They’re also great to use in water fountains or pools, to add a touch of color anywhere.
While underwater fixtures tend to get pricey, Lumitec offers an easy entry point with their modular Mantis system. The full Mantis 3-Light Kit includes everything needed to turn your residential dock into a resort oasis: three color-changing lights with 25’ of cable, stainless steel mounting straps and screws, an AC-to-DC power converter, and easy installation guide. But for a more budget-friendly approach, the lights are also sold individually, and can be used as standalone units by adding a 24VDC Power Supply. An excellent option for those not ready to take the full financial plunge.
Our Price: $522.99
Now to power your new setup. Control boxes are an often overlooked yet vital component of dock lighting systems. These function as the “brains” of the operation, allowing you to easily manage all your fixtures from one central location, turning lights on or off, as well as cycling through color options (when available). You want something durable and weatherproof, to withstand harsh marine conditions, but also simple to use and install. Able to handle a large number of lights, boasting all the necessary bells and whistles while keeping things cost effective.
When it comes to small docks and DIY projects, Lumitec’s Mantis Power Control Box is your best, all-in-one solution for lighting management. This newest iteration runs up to fourMantis Underwater Lights, 18Scallop Pathway Lights, or 18Nautilus Piling Lights for complete illumination control. Its watertight enclosure keeps electrical components safe from the elements, and the innovative zip-mount mounting system makes installation a breeze. Simply plug the included 6' power cord into any standard GFCI outlet and you’re ready to take charge.
Our Price: $439.99
Finally, our ultimate hack for decorative outdoor lighting on a budget. Rope lights are the pinnacle of fun meets function, a unique way to add character and brighten up any space. You can fix these small, PVC-encased LED bulbs virtually anywhere, along guard rails for added safety, or bordering hangout spaces to enhance the mood. They come in a variety of colors and can be cut to any size, so you get the perfect lighting to fit your needs (and your budget).
We sell our rope light strings by the foot, allowing you to purchase the exact amount necessary for each project. Tailor your look by choosing from Warm White, Cool White, Red, Blue or Green LEDs, all long lasting, energy efficient, and dimmable with a low voltage dimmer. Ideal for DIY displays, the 3/8” diameter strands are incredibly easy to install, and fully waterproof for any marine application.
Our Price: $3.75 - $7.95 (per foot)
The Best Lighting at Affordable Prices
At Apex Lighting, we strive to offer the best prices on top-quality marine lighting, with options to fit any dock owner’s budget. Customers get the best deals available on a wide range of outdoor fixtures, from industry leading brands such as Lumitec, Kichler, BluefinLED, MegaLED Europe, and more.