It’s no secret: Owning a boat is a major financial commitment. And that doesn’t just mean the initial purchase. Once the sale’s complete and title delivered, your investment has really only begun. The problem is, after taking that first hit, your wallet may not have a ton of funds left for additional purchases.

So how can new owners make the most of their craft on a budget? One area that definitely deserves attention is lighting. Proper boat lighting is not only a necessity, it can immediately elevate the appearance of any vessel. Investing in some high-performing fixtures is a great way to customize your craft, while keeping it primed for adventure day or night.

Thankfully, there are amazing products on the market that offer top-quality lighting, at costs that won’t cause sticker shock. There’s no need to overpay for professional-grade lights. You can fully outfit your boat, from underwater and flood lights, to interior and accent illumination, on a reasonable budget. Below are a few of our favorite top-of-the-line products that won’t give you buyer’s remorse.

Top Boat Lights for Any Budget

To help budget-conscious shoppers, we’ve assembled everything needed to light your vessel from bow to stern—without breaking the bank. Here are our top picks for products that offer serious performance, at a reasonable price:

SeaBlaze Quattro LED Underwater Light

If there’s one area new boat owners should splurge on, it’s underwater lighting. But thanks to Lumitec’s new SeaBlaze Quattro, you can get top-performing submerged lights at an unbelievable value, from the undisputed leader in American-made marine LEDs.

The SeaBlaze Quattro replaces Lumitec’s popular SeaBlaze 3, while leveraging advancements from the SeaBlaze X, to offer a new standard in budget-friendly underwater lighting. This beauty boasts more than 2000 lumens, in either Dual Color White/Blue or Full Spectrum Color Changing configurations, with multi-mode output and strobe. And its marine grade bronze body adds just the right touch of visual flair.

Our Price: $332.99 - $413.99

Bluefin LED Piranha P6 Nitro

If you’re looking for a little more punch, the BluefinLED Piranha P6 Nitro is another affordable option for underwater lighting that packs a massive output in a compact size. One of our best selling underwater lights, the P6N pushes a full 3700 Lumens, while staying small enough to mount on transom or even sides of the hull.

We’re talking serious bang for your buck here. On top of the blinding beam, this easy-to-install fixture offers multiple lighting colors (Cobalt Blue, Diamond White, or Dual-Color White/Blue), an optical-grade high-impact lens, and a composite body with Guard X coating to prevent marine growth. And rest assured, your purchase comes with a 2-year warranty for added peace of mind.

Our Price: $420

Caprera 3 LED Flood Light

Moving on to flood lights, Lumitec wins again with this palm-sized fixture that offers huge illumination for a modest price tag. The Caprera 3 LED spreader puts out 1200 lumens (with dimming), while drawing next to no amps (1 amp at 12VDC) and retailing for around $200 or less.

There’s no expense spared with this innovative flood. The powder-coated die-cast aluminum housing is fully waterproof and available in Black or White to match your vessel. You get the choice of single, dual, or full-color spectrum output, all Bluetooth compatible with the POCO Digital Lighting Control system. Still not convinced? The Caprera 3 is also incredibly easy to mount and uses only two wires, giving you limitless placement options.

Our Price: $107.99 - $205.99

T180 LED Recessed Down Light 7"

Now for the perfect overhead illumination. You really can’t go wrong with the new T180 LED 7" fixture from IMTRA Marine Products. Made in the USA, this recessed down light is an easy way to upgrade your illumination, without hurting your pockets.

The T180 comes in Polished Stainless Steel or White Finish housing to match any aesthetic. Better yet, there’s a variety of lighting options available, from single Warm White or Cool White, to dual-color White and Blue, or White and Red. Tack on easy installation, stress-free wiring, and a 5-year warranty—all for under $200. How can you go wrong?

Our Price: $169.95 - $189.95

NaviLED PRO LED Navigation Lights

Certain purchases may simply be required after buying your boat. Navigation lights are just one of those costs that you can’t avoid. Thankfully, Hella Marine offers these high-quality port, starboard, and stern fixtures to replace worn-out lights or update your craft without spending a fortune.

The NaviLED Pro navigation lights are no bulb, no maintenance and boast a minimum visible distance of two nautical miles. Available in either Black or White shroud, each fixture is highly shock and vibration proof, made of high-impact resistant acrylic lenses for ultimate durability and dependability under any conditions.

Our Price: $124.95 - $159.95

Joyce LED Reading Light

Taking things inside, here’s our top pick for a simple, adjustable wall mount that won’t break the bank. Made by Quick Marine Lighting, the Joyce LED Reading Light provides style and function in any setting, with a chrome aluminum body and mirror polished finish that looks expensive, at a price that isn’t.

Get daylight (4500K) color output wherever you need it. This versatile reading light easily illuminates any dark interior, hitting every hard-to-reach corner with full side-to-side and up-and-down swivel. As an added bonus, the LED comes with an average lifetime of 50,000 hours, so you won’t need to buy a replacement anytime soon.

Our Price: $310.95

Ibiza Engine Room Light

When it comes to your engine room, the brand new Lumitec Ibiza is a sleek and powerful option at an ideal price point. This compact mount light will have no issues brightening up any engine space, thanks to its hefty 1000 lumens. And at less than $200, the value really can’t be beat.

As with all Lumitec products, the Ibiza offers the latest innovations in lighting, in a beautifully made fixture. You get the choice of single or dual color (White, Red/White, or Blue/White) LED to match your needs, and White or Black housing to seamlessly blend in with your craft. USCG Certified Ignition Protected and incredibly simple to install, this little light is worth every penny.

Our Price: $154.99 - $193.99

LED Rope Light Per Foot

Finally, our ultimate hack for fun, affordable accessorizing: Rope lights. These PVC-encased LED bulbs are sold by the foot, so you get completely customizable lighting at a price that fits any budget. Fix them to your cabin, deck, or even the sides of your boat for illumination that’s beautiful, functional, and a great safety tool.

The perfect way to add some personality to any craft, tailor your look by choosing from a wide range of color options, including Warm White, Cool White, Red, Blue or Green. Our rope lights are fully waterproof and suitable for any marine application. They’re also easy to install, long lasting, and energy efficient—what more do you need?

Our Price: $3.75 - $7.95 (per foot)

The Best Deals on Boat Lighting

At Apex Lighting, we strive to offer the best prices on top-quality marine lighting, with options to fit any boat owner’s budget. Customers get the best deals available on a wide range of exterior and interior fixtures, from industry leading brands such as Lumitec, IMTRA Marine Products, BluefinLED, Hella Marine, and more.

There’s also financing available, to help new owners make their purchases more manageable. Apex Lighting customers can get no interest for six months on qualifying purchases of $99 or more. See our Financing page for details.