Let Us Light up Your Boat!

West Marine offers a comprehensive selection of marine lighting products. Choices include interior and exterior boat lights, a selection of lights for your dock plus a variety of trailer lights. Online and in our stores, you will also find portable lights, including headlamps, flashlights, hand-held spotlights and personal safety lights.

Looking for a specific brand of marine lighting? At West Marine you will find boat lighting products by ACR Electronics, Aqua Signal, Attwood, GoLight, Hella Marine, Imtra Corporation, Jabsco, Lumitec, Marine Sport Lighting, Perko, Signal Mate, Doctor LED, Hella Marine—and yours truly, West Marine.

Most of the lights that we offer feature long lasting, energy saving LED technology. In many cases, old-school incandescent fixtures can be retrofitted with LED replacement bulbs—but if you don't want to switch from incandescent lights to LED lights, we carry replacement incandescent 12V and 24V bulbs to fit most applications on your boat.

Exterior lighting products include navigation lights, deck lights, dock lights, courtesy lights, spot lights, floodlights, underwater lights and docking lights to improve safety when approaching a dock at night.

Interior lighting products include a variety of cabin lights, such as overhead dome lights, bulkhead (wall) lights, chart lights and utility lights. Interesting choices include rope lights and a variety of courtesy lights that make navigating dark passageways safe.

Trailer Lights

Meet the legal requirements and ensure that your trailer is seen by others with a dependable set of LED trailer lights. LED trailer light kits from popular manufacturers such as Grote Industries and Wesbar are a great way to upgrade from incandescent bulbs. LEDs are virtually maintenance-free, are not susceptible to thermal shock and are great upgrade for your trailer.

Navigation Lights Ensure Visibility After Dark

We offer navigation lights to meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations and keep you visible and legal on the water after dark. Navigation lights include bi-color bow lights, port and starboard running lights, stern lights, tri-color masthead lights, pole lights, all round lights, anchor lights and steaming lights. For kayaking at night, we also carry kayak lights. We also carry personal safety lights to help rescue crews spot you if you are ever separated from your boat.

Replacement LED Bulbs Make Retrofitting Incandescent Fixtures Easy

As mentioned, West Marine offers LED replacement bulbs. The bases of these bulbs are designed to fit almost any application on your boat, including double and single contact bayonets, G4, Bi-pin and festoon. LED replacements from Doctor LED and West Marine are plug-and-play replacements for your old incandescent bulbs and draw much less power.

Portable Lights

Online and in our stores you will find high-powered flashlights, spotlights, headlamps and other portable lights. Wearing a headlamp is a great way to free both hands for the job when tackling tasks at night.

Among portable lights we also offer personal safety lights, designed to alert rescuers to the location of overboard crew.

Underwater Lights

Adding a set of underwater lights to your boat is a great way to enhance the nighttime ambiance of your boat; and for anglers, attract bait. Multi-color lights adjust to any mood and can be programmed to cycle through colors for a personal light show on the water.

Types of Marine Boat Lights

Navigation & Running Lights (Required by Law)

Navigation lights communicate your vessel’s position, heading, and status to other boaters.

• Red (port) and green (starboard) sidelights

• White stern or masthead lights

• All-round anchor lights

• Placement governed by maritime regulations

These lights are mandatory for nighttime operation and low-visibility conditions.

Deck, Cockpit & Work Lights

Designed for visibility while fishing, docking, or working onboard.

• High-output white LEDs for task lighting

• Flood or spot beam patterns

• Mountable on T-tops, rails, or hardtops

• Essential for night operations

Interior Cabin Lighting

Improves comfort and usability below deck.

• Dome lights, strip lights, and reading lights

• Warm or cool color temperatures

• Low power draw for battery efficiency

• Dimmable options for overnight use

LED systems are widely adopted because they provide strong illumination without excessive energy consumption.

Courtesy & Accent Lighting

Low-intensity lighting for safety and ambiance.

• Step lights and pathway lights

• Under-gunwale lighting

• Color-changing options

• Helps prevent trips and falls at night

Flexible LED strips are commonly used for accent lighting because they can conform to curved surfaces and install easily.

Underwater Lights

Mounted on the transom or hull for visibility and aesthetics.

• Illuminate water around the boat

• Useful for night fishing

• Enhances safety while swimming

• Available in white or colored LEDs

Underwater lights also increase visibility around the vessel in low-light conditions.

Trailer & Utility Lighting

Supports safe transport and launching.

• Waterproof tail lights

• Marker lights

• Submersible LED designs

• Required for road safety compliance

LED vs Traditional Marine Lighting

LED technology dominates modern marine applications.

Advantages of LED Lights

• Extremely energy efficient

• Long service life

• Low heat output

• Resistant to shock and vibration

• Minimal maintenance

Traditional incandescent or halogen lights draw more power and require frequent replacement.

Choosing the Right Brightness & Beam Pattern

Lighting requirements vary by application.

• Flood beams for wide area coverage

• Spot beams for distance illumination

• Adjustable output for different tasks

• Higher lumens for open decks and offshore use

Proper selection ensures visibility without glare or wasted power.

Color Selection Guidance

Different colors serve specific purposes onboard.

• White: Maximum visibility and task lighting

• Red: Preserves night vision

• Blue/Green: Popular for underwater and accent lighting

• Warm white: Comfortable interior illumination

Color temperature and brightness should match the intended environment.

Power & Voltage Considerations

Most marine lighting operates on low-voltage DC systems.

Common configurations:

• 12V systems (most recreational boats)

• 24V systems (larger vessels)

• Low current draw allows extended runtime

Energy-efficient lighting reduces strain on batteries during extended trips.

Marine-Grade Construction & Durability

Lighting installed on boats must withstand harsh conditions.

Key protective features include:

• Waterproof or submersible housings

• Corrosion-resistant materials

• UV-stable lenses

• Sealed wiring connections

• Vibration resistance

These features ensure reliable operation in saltwater environments.

Installation & Placement Considerations

Proper positioning maximizes effectiveness and safety.

Important factors:

• Avoid glare that impairs night vision

• Ensure compliance with navigation rules

• Protect wiring from moisture and abrasion

• Use marine-rated connectors and switches

Professional installation may be beneficial for complex systems.

Applications by Boat Type

Fishing Boats

• High-output deck lights

• Underwater lights for attracting bait

Cruisers

• Interior comfort lighting

• Navigation and safety systems

Sailboats

• Low-draw lighting to preserve battery capacity

Performance Boats

• Accent lighting and visibility upgrades

Reliable Visibility, Safety & Style On the Water

Marine lighting systems are essential for safe operation, efficient onboard activities, and enhanced nighttime enjoyment. From required navigation lights to powerful deck illumination and underwater effects, modern LED solutions deliver dependable performance with minimal power consumption, helping boaters operate confidently in any lighting conditions.

Questions?

For help with selecting navigation lights, read our West Advisor article Navigation Light Rules. Of course, West Marine associates are always ready to help at a store near you.