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8 Best Marine LED Bars – (Reviews & Buying Guide 2021)

The future is here, and we ought to respect it by being keeping up with the trends in our modern society. Even though LED lights have been around for some time, only now we start appreciating their presence correctly. So here we are telling you that you should get the best marine LED bars for your boat if you are after maximum efficacy.

We are also here to help you through the selection process as we understand that it may be a challenging task. So, when you scroll down, you will locate our top list of reviews of marine LED bars and will be able to decide which one will meet your standards.

Additionally, we have prepared a section in which we will give you pointers and tips regarding making the proper selection. Just read away and enjoy what we have put together.

Best Marine LED Bars Comparison Chart

PRODUCTDETAILS
Nilight Led Lights

Nilight Led Lights

  • Price: $$
  • Lumen: up to 10000
  • Size: 20”
  • Wattage: 180W
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Cutequeen LED Spot Light

Cutequeen LED Spot Light

  • Price: $$
  • Lumen: 3600
  • Size: 6.5″x4″
  • Wattage: 4 X 36w
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AUZKIN LED Light Bar

AUZKIN LED Light Bar

  • Price: $
  • Lumen: 24000
  • Size: 7”
  • Wattage: 240W
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Nilight LED Fog Lights

Nilight LED Fog Lights

  • Price: $$
  • Lumen: 1260
  • Size: 12”
  • Wattage: 72 +18W
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EXZEIT LED Boat Lights

EXZEIT LED Boat Lights

  • Price: $$
  • Lumen: 4000
  • Size: 6.3”
  • Wattage: 2 x 72W
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YITAMOTOR LED Light Bar

YITAMOTOR LED Light Bar

  • Price: $
  • Lumen: 6000
  • Size: 9”
  • Wattage: 2 x 54W
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Nilight LED Bar

Nilight LED Bar

  • Price: $$$
  • Lumen: 8,975
  • Size: 42”
  • Wattage: 240W
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The Best Marine LED Bars On the Market (Newest Models)

Here are the systems we think are worth your time. See all the specs and go with the one you like the most.

1. Nilight Led Lights

Nilight Led LightsNilight’s boat LED light bar is universal. You can attach it to any vehicle that has 20 inches of free space. The wiring instructions are included in the kit. You’ll find them easy to follow even if it’s your first time wiring such lights.

The wiring harness isn’t of the highest quality, but you may buy a better one. You also get a switch, a fuse, and mounting brackets with the lights. What isn’t included is a cover for the bar. This product is convenient to use because its angle can be adjusted. It tilts about 45 degrees so you can point the light beam in different directions.

There are two output connectors on the harness so that you can hook up to two LED lights at once. Both must be within 180W, but keep in mind that this light bar is 126W.

Pros

  • The warranty is valid for two years.
  • All parts are metal.
  • It has anti-corrosive protection.
  • Up to 30 000 working hours under normal usage.

Cons

  • The beam may not be as powerful as you would expect from seeing the pictures.

2. Cutequeen LED Spot Light

Cutequeen LED Spot LightNow we present you LED spotlights from Cutequeen. The package includes four pieces, 3 600 lumens each. Every piece is 6,5 x 4 inches and consumes 36 Watts. You can power the units by a 12-volt battery, hard-wire them, or use a plug. They provide about 20-25 feet beam distance, and they produce very bright white light.

The package you receive includes only the lamps with about 4-inch long pigtails that you have to connect to wiring. Along with the lights, there are bolts and stainless steel swivel mounts but nothing else.

Also, each piece has an adjustable mounting bracket and can be fixed at about 45 degrees. These spotlights are made from stainless steel and die-cast aluminum housing. They are water and splash resistant, but you shouldn’t submerge them.

The lamps are super bright and have a flood beam and throw wide beams both horizontally and vertically. You can use them as fog lights.

Pros

  • This product has passed rigorous burn-in testing to guarantee the 50 000 hours working life.
  • Cutequeen LED bars have the FCC, CE, RoHS, certificates.
  • Also, this unit has an IP67 rating for being water resistance.

Cons

  • Wiring and switches don’t come with the lights.

3. AUZKIN LED Light Bar

AUZKIN LED Light BarThis AUZKIN product is a set of two pieces of LED light bars that have the combined power of 24 000 lumens, or 12 000 each. They produce super bright white light and have a wide 170 degrees flood and 30 degrees spot ranges to cover both wide and long-distance.

You can attach these lamps to pre-existing wiring, but we suggest you use separate fusing because each of these are 240 watts. Bear in mind that the wiring isn’t included in the package. The lights come with 45 degrees swiveling brackets and the mounting hardware, which consists of nuts and bolts.

What is more, you should keep in mind that these lights can be submerged for a couple of hours but are not to be installed underwater. Also, they have cooling fins and have no problem with overheating even after working for a long time.

Pros

  • 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Come with one year warranty for replacing defective items, which is more than other products from the list that have none.
  • These lights are rated IP68 – submersible.
  • They also have dust protection.
  • Under normal usage, the lifespan of these bar lights is 50 000 hours.

Cons

  • You have to purchase a switch, a fuse, and wiring separately.

4. Nilight LED Fog Lights

Nilight LED Fog LightsThese Nilight lamps’ lifespan is over 30 000 hours with regular usage. You receive one combo bar and two smaller flood lamps. Also, the package includes wiring harness, brackets, and their respective hardware for mounting. Their lights are white, and the three pieces combined to give out a strong beam.

The three lamps use combined power of 180 watts. Keep that in mind, when you begin their installation. You may need to or want to wire them separately. If you do so, you will need to buy additional switches. Overall, you shouldn’t have a problem with the installation because it’s pretty straightforward and simple.

Furthermore, you can adjust the angle of the three spotlights as their brackets allow that. The thing to know is that you fix them before you screw them on the surface.

Pros

  • Like other products from Nilight, this one also comes with a two-year warranty.
  • You can mount the brackets horizontally without a problem.
  • Two extra fuses come in the box.

Cons

  • The provided wiring harness is short and only has two leads, so you need to buy one more to connect the third lights bar.

5. EXZEIT LED Boat Lights

EXZEIT LED Boat LightsThis product from EXZEIT is a flood beam only. The package actually includes not one but two pieces. Also, with the two flood lamps, you receive two mounting brackets, and the nuts and bolts for the installation. The work-life of these lights is up to 30 000 hours.

With the power of 2000 lumens of each light, you get an illumination range of 120 degrees. These lamps are incredibly bright and help you see about 100 yards ahead. Each piece is regulated to 20 watts consumption, which makes them considerably more energy-efficient than others.

The size of these lights is 6,3 in length and 1,7 in width. They are well-built, they have aluminum housing and marine-grade pigtail wires. You can definitely tell they are high-quality and durable. You need to acquire additional items like a switch and toggle to complete the installation.

Pros

  • It has an IP68 rating for water resistance. The lamps can withstand being submerged for one or two hours and at about one foot in depth.
  • After mounting the units, you can slightly tilt them up or down and left or right.
  • These two lights can endure a different harsh environment.

Cons

  • The brackets aren’t stainless steel like the description says.

6. YITAMOTOR LED Light Bar

YITAMOTOR LED Light BarThese mounting LED lamps from YITAMOTOR offer a combination of flood and spot beams. Each bar is 1260 lumens, and both create a very powerful shine allowing you to see about 20 feet ahead. They are also suitable to use as fog lights. The housings on these bars are made of die-cast aluminum alloy, which increases their durability and endurance. Also, both have adjustable mounting brackets, and their installation is quite simple.

One of its advantages is the cooling feature. Both bars have enhanced air circulation surface, which helps with faster heat-dissipation. Their lens’ surfaces are improved and have a high light transmission. Unfortunately, the wiring kit doesn’t come with the lights. The manufacturer recommends a specific kit, but you have to pay additionally for it.

Pros

  • These items come with two years warranty.
  • You can choose between red or black units.
  • The light bars have a life span of up to 50 000 hours.
  • They are rated IP67 for water resistance, meaning you can submerge them only about one meter deep and not for long.
  • These bars can endure harsh weather and are also dust and shockproof.

Cons

  • Instructions aren’t included in the box.

7. Nilight LED Bar

Nilight LED BarHere is another mounting LED bar from Nilight. This is one of their largest, whole 42 inches in length and is also curved. It is a combination of spot and flood beams. Also, the bar draws three amps with these lights you bet a beam angle of about 170 degrees.

A wiring harness doesn’t come with the LED bars. Only brackets, the lamps, and mounting hardware are in the box. You can adjust the angle of the bar because the brackets allow for a slight tilt, but screwing the nuts and bolts make the lamp stable.

An unfortunate thing when you need to use this unit on a boat is that the screws aren’t stainless steel and can rust quickly. On the other hand, a helpful thing about the installation of these light bars is that you can set it upside down without a problem. The brackets allow for such a setup, and since the bar is encased, water won’t get inside.

Pros

  • It has a standard Nighlight two-year warranty.
  • This light bar can be submerged at 3 feet deep for about 30 minutes.
  • The unit comes with a very effective cooling system. There are ten 1-inch fans with a 0,26-inch space between them for faster heat dissipation.

Cons

  • This product may be water-resistant, but it gets condensation on the inside.

8. AUTOSAVER88 LED Light Bar

AUTOSAVER88 LED Light BarHere is a combined flood and spot beam curved marine light bar from AUTOSAVER88, and it comes only in black. Everything needed for its quick and simple installation comes with the lamps. Brackets, bolts and nuts, the wiring harness, and a switch are all included in the box.

The LED chips here are of high quality, and there’s also a thick tempered glass to protect them. You shouldn’t stare directly at the lights because they are too strong. The light’s housing is made from thick aluminum and is also quite durable to extreme weather conditions.

This unit has a convenient heating system. You can even adjust the fans to allow for better heat dissipation so they can cool down faster.

Pros

  • This light bar has a 4D fisheye lens, which makes the beam broader.
  • Surprisingly low power consumption of only about 60 Watts.
  • No need to disassemble the units to adjust the angle. After mounting it, you can still tilt it up and down.
  • This product is rated IP68 for being water and dustproof marine lights.

Cons

  • The wiring harness isn’t the best quality.

Why use LED Bars on Your Boat in the First Place?

Marine LED Bar ReviewsSorry guys, it’s not the 20th century anymore. All people owning a boat are after efficiency and comfort. The best way to achieve maximum visibility in any conditions on the water nowadays is by investing in an LED bar. No other type of lighting can give you the efficacy of LED bars. Let’s make a quick comparison vs. halogen, vs. fluorescent, and vs. incandescent lights.

  1. Halogen lights. These are the brightest lights you can get. But did you know that 90% of the power required for them is converted into heat? This is a double-whammy for all of us boat enthusiasts.

First of all, power consumption is enormous. You don’t want to end up with a dead battery in the middle of the water, right? Well, using halogens is a clear path to achieving just that. Many boat owners install these only to rarely (if ever) use them at all because of fears that the boat won’t start again.

Second of all, the temperature around the halogens gets unbearable and even dangerous. There are many cases in which something has caught fire just because of being in close proximity to these lights. No, forget about halogens on your boat.

  1. Fluorescent lights. Such lights are also known as mercury lamps. There is a mercury vapor inside, which is activated by electricity.

The big downside here is that such a lamp costs more to buy. The second knock on fluorescents is the fact that they cannot produce a very bright light and cover large areas. Such lamps may be suitable for underneath your kitchen cabinets but definitely not on the railing of your boat.

  1. Incandescent lights. Here we have the typical bulbs that we use in our garages and bedrooms. The problem with such regular bulbs is the power consumption to brightness ratio.

The overall investment is not worth it because of the short life of these bulbs and the low quality that you will get no matter how expensive of a product you purchase. A 10W bulb won’t get you anywhere. You need something in the range of 400-500W, which will, in turn, suck out the life of your battery.

Alright, well, what do LED lights do? All they do is meet every standard that a boater might have when it comes to lighting. There are three main aspects that we want to be perfected, and if they are covered, the new are all good.

  • Low heat
  • Longevity
  • Little consumption of power

Guess what! LED bars give you all three of these and even a little extra. The marine-grade lights will also be waterproof and may even have extended range. We got no doubt that if you want to see in the dark while boating, you should go to an LED bar.

What is a Marine LED Bar exactly?

There are many types of LED lights you can have installed on your boat. But here we are focusing on one specific product – the LED bar. You have perhaps seen them on off-road vehicles or other boats. This is a strip of LED lights in a housing of various proportions. The main objective of such a unit is functionality. You use them to brighten your path, not just for aesthetics.

Other Boat Lights that You Maybe Interested in are:

  • Spotlights – these will shine a focused beam of light over a specific area. We’ve all seen prison movies and how they use those spotlights to track moving targets. Such units have many merits when installed on a boat. This is why we recommend seeing our thorough reviews of marine spotlights. We have narrowed the list down to a few top products, and you can’t go wrong with any of them.

 

  • Lights for the deck – such lights are handy when you look for something inside your boat. Using a flashlight is rarely comfortable while boating, and having stationary lights on the inside of the hull is quite beneficial. These lights are not going to be very bright, but they will eliminate the darkness on board. Additionally, if you get them in specific colors, they may add to the aesthetics of your vessel.

 

  • Underwater boat LED lights – not only that, these will make your boat look fantastic, they will also serve a purpose. The water around the vessel will be lit, meaning that you will be able to spot any obstacles and dangers. Such units are essential when docking.

What are the Best LED Light Bars for Boats?

Best Marine LED BarsThe answer to this question is simple: “Whatever works for you”. Of course, there’s more to it, and that’s why you are reading our guide. The top products are on the list above, so check them out again if needed. Even after you do it, we are sure you may need to know more about buying LED light bars for your boat.

As far as functions and qualities go, a good LED bar will give you all of the following:

Range

LED bars are heavy-duty lighting systems, and they are meant to provide you with an enormous amount of light. Even if the light fades out with distance, a good product will allow you to see far, far away. Bear in mind that if you get a good range, you will likely have to sacrifice some of the spread. A good range is typically achieved by utilizing a LED bar, which is somewhat narrower and not very wide.

Widespread Pattern

This one depends on the size of the bar, similar to the range we mentioned above. Some units are as wide as 50 inches. This means that you will be able to see what’s happening all around the front of the boat. Our piece of advice is to look for a system that is as wide as possible. Another way of achieving that effect is to purchase several small bars and have them installed at a distance from one another to cover more area.

Waterproofing

Marine-grade LED bars have to be able to survive around water. But some of them may be only water-resistant when we recommend getting something that is waterproof. Pay attention to the IP rating of the system. According to our standards, anything that is IP69 or as low as IP68 will be excellent.

Power Consumption

A significant advantage of LED lights is the fact that they use little power. However, some bars may require more than others, and you have to carefully check if you got a battery strong enough to power everything on your boat. When it comes to voltage, the maximum a LED bar should require 30. The minimum will be 9V. In any way, always check the amp draw of your marine LED bar.

Installing a Marine LED Bar

There is nothing definite here as the most critical step perhaps is making sure the connection is secure and waterproof.

  1. The spot of the light depends on the shape of the housing. Some LED bars are small, and they are meant to be put on a rail over your head or on the side of the boat. You will be able to tell as their housing will have a little rivet hole.

Wide LED bars typically rest on the hull of the boat or the roof. In any case, you will need to drill holes.

  1. After you’ve picked the correct spot for the LED bar, drill as many holes as required for the product. Don’t forget to check the size of the bolts so that you can use the correct drill bit.

 

  1. Clean the area after drilling. Making holes will leave behind some dust and debris. Wash everything before putting the LED bar in. If you are unsure how to maintain the lights of your vessel, we recommend visiting the boat equipment section of our Marine Mag website and become familiar with all the options you have.

 

To make it even easier for you, we can point you in the direction of our top reviews of marine hull cleaners. You can’t go wrong with any of the selected products.

 

  1. Before tightening the nuts and bolts, make sure that the power cord is also in its place. Drill a hole for it if needed too. You don’t want the wire to be visible unless it is on a rail over your head. If the LED bar is at the front of the boat, make sure the cord is tucked in nicely and that it goes in immediately after coming out of the bar.

Do I Need a Relay Switch for my LED Bar?

This depends on the amp draw of your LED bar. If it doesn’t require a lot of power, then you will not need a relay switch. But if you fear that the regular switch may overheat, then, by all means, use a relay switch. What it does is it allows a low current circuit to control a circuit with high current.

Wrap Up

After reading our piece, you now know that the best marine LED bar is perhaps the most crucial lighting addition to your vessel. If this is so, then we are happy to have helped you in your search. Make sure you check out some of the other articles related to boat lighting, as you would be surprised how many different areas of your boat you can brighten.

If you are still unsure about picking the right LED unit, just go through our reviews of bars one more time and put your doubts to rest. Send us questions in case you have any, and don’t forget to comment. Thanks for reading!

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