The rapid technological advancements in the boating industry have resulted in new and convenient ways of lighting marine vessels.

Rope lights and LED strip lights—two of the most commonly debated light sources—are among the popular boat lights used by sailors to provide creative lighting solutions in the waters.

When taken at face value, you’d simply think that these two lights are one and the same.

However, despite having a lot in common, rope lights and LED strip lights vary in several ways, right from their definition:

• Rope lights are a string of tiny light bulbs neatly tucked away in a clear cylindrical plastic or epoxy tube that can withstand heat. Since they emit low light, they’re primarily used for decoration.
• LED strip lights are flat, flexible circuit boards with LED lights mounted on their surface. They have adhesives on their backside, which allow them to stick to surfaces easily.

If you’re torn between the two, here’s a breakdown of their similarities and differences that will help you make a more informed lighting decision for your boat.

Similarity 1 - They’re Flexible

A great feature that rope lights and LED strip lights have in common is their flexibility.

Unlike traditional bulbs, they can be placed anywhere in your boat, from curved surfaces to bends and corners. The only limit is your imagination.

This makes them better lighting solutions than traditional bulbs, especially in unreachable areas like along your boat’s sharp corners, where they’ll bend and contort to the desired shape.

Rope and LED strip lights can also be utilized in your boat’s exterior and interior. This flexibility makes them a convenient and cost-effective way of lighting your boat since you won’t have to purchase separate outdoor and indoor lighting sources.

Note: While both light sources are flexible, an LED strip light is mounted to a malleable ribbon of circuit board that can be bent to a 90-degree angle and made to fit any surface through a shifting gradient. This makes it more flexible and excellent for sharp edges.

Similarity 2 - They’re Remote Controlled

Another fascinating similarity between rope lights and LED strip lights is that you can turn them on and off using a remote controller.

Having such a control offers many benefits:

• It helps save on energy by ensuring that your boat is getting the right amount of light, and only when you need it.
• It allows you to choose pre-configured lighting settings like decreasing or increasing brightness, changing colors, and adjusting light mode, all in the blink of an eye.
• It’s incredibly convenient as you can manage your lighting from a distance or schedule them to adjust at particular times of the day.

Some rope lights and LED strip lights allow you to connect them to your Wi-Fi or mobile apps. This enables you to make lighting changes anytime and from anywhere, even when miles away.

Similarity 3 - They Come in Multiple Colors

If you want to add soft accents to brighten your boat or get cool lighting effects in your gunwales, behind your panels, or under the console, consider investing in some rope and LED strip lights.

Both lights offer a broader selection of colors than conventional lighting and stay brighter for longer without losing their color till they run their course.

This is particularly true for LED lights. Rope lights with incandescent bulbs lose their color with time because, as time passes, the painted bulbs fade, peel, or chip.

But LED rope and strip lights have use light-emitting diodes, which retain their brightness as long as the lights are functional.

Apex Lighting offers only the best quality LED rope and strip lights to ensure they stand the test of time and retain their colors throughout.

Their lights come in various captivating colors that will light up your boat even on the darkest winter nights and make a statement from miles away.

These colors include red, green, blue, warm and cool white, green, and multi-colors, among many others.

Now, let’s discuss the three key differences between rope and LED strip lights.

Difference 1 - Light Source

One of the greatest differences between rope lights and LED strip lights is their light source.

Rope lights consist of individual light bulbs enclosed in a clear plastic tube, which form a long strip powered from end-to-end.

Because of this end-to-end power output, they can be cut every few inches without interfering with the light’s overall performance.

They come with either incandescent or LED bulbs and have a 120/220vAC or a 12/24vDC power input. However, LED bulbs are more energy efficient and have a longer lifespan (up to 25,000 operating hours).

On the other hand, LED strip lights consist of surface-mounted LED chips that come in different sizes and are fixed to a flat tape. They mostly have one power input—12/24 vDC.

Unlike rope lights, LED strip lights provide more flexibility in terms of color configuration.

They come with color-changing options and multiple single colors, which often result in brighter and more diffuse lighting.

Difference 2 - Brightness

Brightness is a crucial factor when choosing a light source for your boat, where visibility and illumination are key.

While rope lights have equal brightness throughout their length, they’re not as bright as strip lights.

Rather than one chip, they have a string of small chips connected to a single source, making the brightness even throughout the strip’s length but with less intensity.

Still, their brightness is enough for soft illumination around your deck, or for creating different moods like relaxation and festivity.

On the other hand, LED strip lights can produce extremely high, more defined lighting, depending on the amount of light output.

They offer different levels of brightness depending on the LED chip configuration; the larger the chips, the greater the brightness levels, and vice versa.

This makes LED strip lights an excellent choice for task and display lighting. Their brightness makes them visible from miles away, even at night or under harsh weather conditions like mist and fog, where visibility is normally restricted.

Apex Lighting offers some of the brightest LED strip lights from reputable brands to provide the highest illumination you need. The lights have changeable settings with a wide variety of colors, patterns, and dimming options.

"...They were easy to install and provided more than sufficient light for my application. Very satisfied with my purchase!" - Mark H, Verified Buyer

Difference 3 - Size

While rope lights have small tubes, they’re still thicker than LED strip lights in diameter. Their tubes have a diameter of 1/2–3/8’’, and their mounting clips (which hold the tubes in place) sometimes add to their width.

Despite this size increase, rope lights are still compact enough for use in small spaces within your boat.

But strip lights, even with their mounted LED bulbs in place, cannot go beyond 3/8’’ in width and 1/16’’ in length.

They’re much smaller than rope lights and can be installed where no other type of lighting can fit, making them ideal for tight spaces.

Rope Lights vs LED Strip Lights: Which Is Better?

No standard rule states the better light source between the rope and LED strip light. You only need to pick the one that works best for you.

If you want accent lighting to improve your boat’s aesthetics or set a particular mood, LED rope lights are an excellent solution. But for task lighting and better visibility, opt for LED strip lights.

Below is a summary of the differences between the two lighting solutions.

Regardless of your light choice, ensure it’s high-quality and will stand the test of time.

LED lights are the perfect long-term solution for all your boat’s lighting needs. They’re energy-efficient, positively impact the environment, and provide up to 25,000 operating hours.

Apex Lighting provides only the best LED rope and strip lights manufactured by reputable global brands with a proven record of excellence.

Browse our entire collection to shop for your favorite LED lights. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We’ll be more than happy to answer them all.