LED Interior lights upgrade, designed to look like factory.

Okay everyone, as you know I'm a fan of making everything look original if possible. While that is not always possible, it's still something I strive for. But in many cases, factory designed (especially for the older boats) is not only outdated and inferior, it just looks old.

In the next few posts, I will show you how to convert you factory light pockets into a very BRIGHT LED while still retaining the factory look, and even still using the factory dash buttons. These posts will be very beneficial to those of you with Saltares/Piratas or Sunsport/Marauders as they have lights underneath their cupholders.

The product we will be replacing them with is from Oznium. http://www.oznium.com/marine-led-light They are their marine grade floodlight. Many of you have seen these before. They are $18 a pop, but are very well built, and very bright! They also work perfectly for this application. The spotlights are an option as they fit as well, but the light spread is not as good.

TOOLS USED:

Phillips screwdriver -medium
Wire cutters
Drill
Roto-zip (or dremel with cutting tip) - A drill can be used with a steady hand and patience
Wire crimpers/strippers
Pencil

First, we take a look at the factory light bucket that you find along the floor. From what I remember of my Comp and Mariah, match with my Saltare. There should be 3 of these lights on the interior to light up the floor. Two at the rear seat facing forward, and one at the observers seat facing back or towards the engine.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_115238.jpg


These lights are held in by 4 screws. Remove the four screws. I recommend doing this by hand as many of us have old wood. Using a power screwdriver can damage the wood making it hard to get a good bite. They shouldn't be hard to remove.

Lift the seat up above the light you are working on. You should be able to see the wires from the light. There will be a black and red or blue and black wire set connected to the white wires of the light. You will not use any of the white wiring so clip the lights at the union on the black/red side. Once you clip the wiring, and the screws are removed you should be able to pull the light out from the front (light side). If stuck, gently push from the back, it really shouldn't take much at all to get them out.

Once it's out, this is what you should have:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_115546.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_115554.jpg

As you can see on the back, there are the two wires. Cut them as closely as possible to the plastic housing as you can.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_115636.jpg

Once you cut the wires, gently work the light out from the front. I've found it easy to use a pick (small screwdriver will work) and push the wires from the back. Then you can pull the light bulb and remaining wiring out from the front of the light.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_115708.jpg

Now comes the fun part.

Once the light and wiring are removed, you have an empty shell with two small holes. Take one of the Oznium floodlights and place the actual light against the back. You are going to trace out the face of the light on the back using a pencil. Your goal is to make a hole small enough for just the neck of the light to fit through. The light has a mounting flange at the base, that will act as the backing to prevent the light from coming through.

Then take a drill, any bit will do, smaller is easier, and drill a small hole in the center of your traced backing. It should look like this:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_121825.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_120110.jpg

That hole will give you a nice starting point to use your Roto-zip, dremel, or drill to make a larger hole, tracing along your mark. The roto-zip is very powerful, and not very forgiving, if you get off, as you can see, it will let you know. So take your time, go slow. Wear gloves to protect your hand that is holding the light bracket, and safety glasses as their will be little bits of plastic flying everywhere.

Once you are done, the light bracket should look like this:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_121017.jpg

As you can see here, I got just a little off with the Rotozip and it bounced and that was all it took. But don't worry. That won't be seen. All you are trying to do is make the light pass through from the back to the front. You may have to go back once or twice to trim the edges to get it fit. Tighter and smaller is better, so if you do this, less is more. You can always trim more.

Once you are able to slide the light in from the back, it should look like this:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_121044.jpg

Now your LED will fit in the housing, from the back, without having to modify the seat brackets, make new holes or anything. It will look factory original, until you turn on the lights.

I put a small bit of silicone on the lights to help hold them in place. Light weight silicone so I can pull them apart if I need to. Which I will be doing, I want a different color.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_121428.jpg

I didn't get any of them actually in the boat, I will tonight and update for reference.




Now, moving on to the boats with Lights underneath their cupholders. Those of you who have these know what I'm talking about. They have a switch to cut them off at the light, but are master controlled by the one switch in the dash. Now I opted to run my interior light in the helm to those cupholders, allowing me to turn on the floor lights, and the cupholder lights separately. The wiring is up to you.

Those who have them, here is what your brackets should look like. Boring, rough looking old lights.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_124114.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_124131.jpg

Once you have all four of the light brackets out, begin your disassembly of the light brackets. I removed my switches to be able to wire directly to my LEDs so I could control them from the front. You can choose to leave yours if you would like them to be controlled by the switch at the bracket.

To remove the lights, you will have to pry up all the little tabs holding it in place.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_124228.jpg

Once all done, it should look like this. A clean bracket with nothing in it:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_124334.jpg


A BRIEF TANGENT!::::::::::::::::::::
While doing this I also drilled a small hole for a smaller LED from Oznium. I chose a different color (red) This would allow me to turn off my bright blue lights if it was really dark, and switch to red. This would give my passengers light, while not blinding me while I drive. Red is better for night time driving.


Now, with the old bracket empty, here's the tricky part...........................................jus t slide the new LED into place! They fit PERFECTLY!!! No cutting required. I dropped mine in, and just used duct tape to hold them in place on the backing.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_130421.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...429_132030.jpg

Then all you have to do is screw the brackets back into place after you choose your wiring. I had to do some very creative wiring to get all floor lights onto one circuit, and all the cupholders onto another. Those of you with a Saltare will understand. I basically ran a wire from one seat light in the back to another, and then tapped into the light going to the observers seat on the starboard side.

I then isolated the cupholders onto the cupholder switch (it has it's own dash switch). I ran my red lights onto the acc switch just pass the two interior switches. These lights barely draw any power so there isn't any concern of overloading the switches. Put in a fuse if you think it warrants it, but those switches are designed to pop if they get overloaded.

Once you have it all bolted back together you will have very bright LED's in all the factory locations. Nothing will look out of place, not even the new LED's since you won't be able to see them. The beauty of the stock light pockets is they have half-shaded. So they keep the light focused downward to stay out of the driver's vision if he looks back.

The end result, as many have already seen is: The settings on the camera were not enhance to give you a real effect. As you can barely see the Yellow Malibu right next to me on the other side of the dock. This is to give you as close to real world example as possible. They are that bright.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...e/DSC_0020.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...e/DSC_0023.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...e/DSC_0032.jpg


SOME TIPS:

-Bright blue lights like these will attract bugs. At the wake event in the above pictures, while my boat was a hot topic that night, it was also a bug magnet. I had to clean off hundreds of bugs before anyone could sit down. I will be replacing my LEDs in winter with red, with blue accents to help with that. And since it's so easy, it should take me about an hour.

-Patience is key, it's an easy task to do on a rainy afternoon. Turn up the music, sit down somewhere comfortable and get it down. But take your time.

-When wiring up the cupholder brackets, it's much easier to remove the speaker, and then the whole housing by removing the two 1/2 bolts on the back side. This will allow you to feed the wiring through much easier. Plus it allows you to clean up the gunk that builds up at the edges.

Nice write-up. I've got none of those original lights so this was all news to me..... LED lights are one of those things that just keep ending up on my to-do list. One of these years, I'll address it.

Great write up & even better results (as expected from the Haugmeister). My 89 only had lights under the cupholder pods (I think a PO covered/lost the holes somewhere along the way), but I sure like the glow provided by your extra floor lights.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wotan2525

Nice write-up. I've got none of those original lights so this was all news to me..... LED lights are one of those things that just keep ending up on my to-do list. One of these years, I'll address it.

---

All the Supras had them, but your seats were redone when you rebuilt your boat right? Most likely they were ditched.

If you wanted to put them back in, all you would have to do is use a small hole saw, cut the holes, and then put these replacement pods back in. They have an LED Version, but both the incandescent and LED are white. Get the cheaper incandescent and do this modification, and it will look stock again, and be functional as well.

http://www.perko.com/catalog/categor...s/product/419/ Cost is about $7 to $8.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sybrmike

Great write up & even better results (as expected from the Haugmeister). My 89 only had lights under the cupholder pods (I think a PO covered/lost the holes somewhere along the way), but I sure like the glow provided by your extra floor lights.

---

Yep, your Saltare had them at one point. You can put them back in if you want. Thanks for the compliments.

Since I didn't really show good pictures of the end result, I took some last night. I tried to take some with the lights on, and my Iphone just butchered them.

So here are the ones without the lights on. Tonight I'll break out the good camera and get some light shots.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...tare/photo.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...are/photo5.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...are/photo4.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...magejpeg_2.jpg

And here are the cup holder pods.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...are/photo2.jpg


Standing from normal, you can't even see them. Never mind the missing teak, it's getting redone this week.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...are/photo3.jpg

haugy, good write up and love the idea. LED's are also on my list, but so many things have trumped it. I think I'm missing some of the original lighting on my Sunsport. I basically only have lights under the rear cup holders and up front. When I do this I'll either add the stock lighting assemblies like you have, in the proper places or do some other creative idea like hidden rope lighting...haven't decided yet. Good to know about the blue attracting bugs issue...that would certainly be an issue here, as well.

i've been looking forward to this thread. those pics you originally posted (and posted again in this thread) look fantastic. chalk me up as another w/o the factory lights in seat bases. i highly doubt mine weren't original but as we all know, you can almost never trust a previous owner. i'm wondering if there was a starting date around '88-'89.

also put me in the camp of wanting to do this project. i never get out at night now though. i used to have a neighbor's slip to borrow but not anymore. envious of you guys who get out at night, love the late night cruises. wifey, not so much.

how about led nav lights or tower light? i'm living vicariously through you guys, don't leave me hangin...lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salty87

how about led nav lights or tower light? i'm living vicariously through you guys, don't leave me hangin...lol.

---

Yeah my wife and I do a date night every two weeks where we drop off lil'squirt at the Inlaws and go out. In the summer it's a nice cruise at around 6pm to the restaurant on the water. Enjoy dinner and drinks until dark, then cruise home.

Salty, it's funny you mention that, those are on my list. But I have another project lined up before that one. *evil grin*

I'll try to make some time to post a thread of my LED's - switched em all. Bow, stern, tower, gauges, interior (you'll love or hate them), UW transom. Not nearly as factory pure as Haugy's, but it'll give another perspective.

Come on, Haugy - we knew you weren't done. Can't wait to see what you've got brewing... Again, great job on the LED's (especially nice touch with the toggled colors).

Nice write up and great work. I too have been planning on doing this in my sunsport. Definitely doing red to avoid the bugs and blinding brightness from the other colored led's. Plus my boat is red/white with red carpet... I'm diggin' those floods under the cup holders but I was planning on trying this red led light in the link below for floor lighting. After reading your write up though, I think I should probably just go your route. It has to be brighter. May order the sea sense anyways just to see. It's only a few bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000QU...dir_mdp_mobile

Looks great Haugy! Definitely will have to look into to this when it gets a little cooler outside. None of my interior lights work currently, and I haven't looked into why, so I may need some additional electrical work when I do it. Thanks for the great write-up!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by whelchel86

Nice write up and great work. I too have been planning on doing this in my sunsport. Definitely doing red to avoid the bugs and blinding brightness from the other colored led's. Plus my boat is red/white with red carpet... I'm diggin' those floods under the cup holders but I was planning on trying this red led light in the link below for floor lighting. After reading your write up though, I think I should probably just go your route. It has to be brighter. May order the sea sense anyways just to see. It's only a few bucks.

---

The red on a red boat does look awesome, I can vouch for that. The SeaSense will not be as bright, I will bet on that. So far I have not found any as bright as Oznium's. Can't hurt to try those out though since they are a factory fit.

Here is my old red Mariah with Red LEDs.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...s/P1050920.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...s/P1050351.jpg

Not to hijack or redirect, but is the seat mod write up coming soon. Been anxious to see that one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Okie Boarder

Not to hijack or redirect, but is the seat mod write up coming soon. Been anxious to see that one.

---

I'll take pictures this weekend. Monday I'll write it up. 8)

I wish I had the upper cupholders up front...I don't have any light up there. :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by haugy

I'll take pictures this weekend. Monday I'll write it up. 8)

---

Cool, thanks.

Part of the light's effect comes from the semi-reflective dome the light is recessed in. And realistically, you can't even see it. The original lights were white in there, so its not far from looking original.

WOW! nice post, awsome pics. I got my carpet redone and just covered the light holes. Don't do much in the boat at night. Just found a new reason to uncover those little guys!

thanks for taking the time to post this!

I have done all my lights to LEDs and I love them- on the rear facing nav lights I used 'warm white' LEDs to avoid problems with the law. They do look almost like the old bulbs- only much better as you can sit with the anchor light on all night without worry. Haugy, great write-up, I wish we lived near each other so I could hang out on that sofa in the photo, have a beer and mess with boats!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ngavdba

I'm surprised you didn't spray paint the body before installing the lights. A touch of black spray paint would make 'em look like new. My only critique.

---

Actually, all I had to was use some plastic cleaner to remove the oxidation, and they are back to black. SPRAY PAINT!?!?!?! Whatchoo been smokin willis? Ain't no spray paint going anywhere in my boat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blackntan90

I have done all my lights to LEDs and I love them- on the rear facing nav lights I used 'warm white' LEDs to avoid problems with the law. They do look almost like the old bulbs- only much better as you can sit with the anchor light on all night without worry. Haugy, great write-up, I wish we lived near each other so I could hang out on that sofa in the photo, have a beer and mess with boats!

---

Come on down anytime, door is always open and the beer is always cold.