Carver Owners Forum

Hi all!
Ok, so I'm heading back down to the lake this weekend and wanted to order replacement LED equivalent bulbs for both navigation lights as well as the stern transom light. They all, at least appear to be, original to the boat.
Any help on the bulb size/style would be super helpful prior to me leaving so that I can order them asap.
Thanks in advance!

Sorry don't know your bulb sizes. maybe you've already done this. however many times the bulb contacts get corroded thus simulating a burned bulb. You could also check the bulb and socket for power and continuity. Cleaning could get you going without replacement, just a thought.

When you get to your boat, pull out your nav bulbs, go online to any of the companies (there are a lot) that sell LED equivalents, match them up and order, easy peasy. While you are at it, do the same with any interior halogens, incandescents, etc. you might have and do the same.

Just google marine LED bulbs.

You need to be careful with the port and starboard lights. The colored filters on the lights assume they're in front of a typical incandescent bulb (which typically have yellow-ish hue). Put an LED there instead and you change the color of the navigation light beaming out to other boats. The green starboard light could look a lot more like a blue light when you're done.

Not as big of an issue with the stern light, mast light or the anchor light, but on these there are also issues with the replacement bulb and the focus of the lens. The original light anticipated a light source from a pretty small filament, centered in the lens. The replacement LED may not have a single "bulb" to replace the filament, but a handful of smaller LEDs to get the necessary brightness. These are spread out and no longer at the focal point of the lens, which means the light won't be concentrated towards the horizon like the original light.

That all said, you might want to just consider replacing the whole assembly with an LED model. They are not really all that expensive, nor that hard to replace.

Km1125 makes a good point about the color of the bulbs. If you go with replacement bulbs, make sure you get the warm white, not natural or cool white. Warm white will be very close to a typical incandescent or halogen.

Great feedback everyone, thanks so much. So yep, we replaced literally every interior light with new LED (both 12v and 120)
Now we're moving on to the interior.
BTW, absolutely stellar point about the Kelvin temp of the bulb and how that affects the overall color output. I'm assuming you're correct that "warm white" (2500-3k) should do ok.
Was more specifically asking if anyone of you actually KNOW the LED equivalent? As mentioned in my OP, I was hoping someone knew the bulb size...I'm guessing it's an 1157?
Either way, we're heading down Friday and if I could find out the correct size, I'd just assume order it now to get it to my home prior to our trip...
Thanks again!

I doubt they're 1157's. Many of those used were Festoon bulbs, especially things like the mast and stern light. The anchor light might be an 1156

I think all the 1157 bulbs were also a dual filament and used a bayonet base with staggered pins so it could only be inserted one way. You won't find those on boats (or I haven't seen them). There are bulbs used which are SIMILAR, but the two pins at the bottom connect directly to the filament, rather than one side of the filament using the metallic base of the bulb as a contact. And the pins aren't staggered so they can be inserted either way.