The Saltwater Magazine for Gulf Coast Fishing!
Underwater Lighting
Offers boaters tough, beautiful and efficient L.E.D. Underwater Lighting
Many North American boaters know that underwater lights are a great way to lend an air of distinction and class to any cruising yacht, sportfisher or sailboat. They may not know, however, that an innovative company from "Down Under" has introduced a new and better way to light up the watery realm beneath their vessels.
Many North American boaters know that underwater lights are a great way to lend an air of distinction and class to any cruising yacht, sportfisher or sailboat. They may not know, however, that an innovative company from "Down Under" has introduced a new and better way to light up the watery realm beneath their vessels.
Aqualuma Underwater Lighting of Queensland, Australia
has launched a new LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting system that provides
several "brilliant" advantages over traditional underwater lights.
For starters, Aqualuma manufactures these thru-hull lights with a one-piece
housing of high-impact polycarbonate - the same material used to make bulletproof
glass. The company has shown in its testing labs that the light face can
even be struck repeatedly with a heavy hammer without damage to the casing
or LEDs. This rugged design is more than tough enough to take a pounding
at sea or survive an accidental strike from debris while underway. It also
makes Aqualuma the safe and reliable choice for use in vessels that exceed
speeds of 40 mph and they are pressure tested for water tightness up to
1,300 feet.
The heart of Aqualuma's system is a long-life, high-output LED light engine. Available in white, blue or green, these lights pierce the darkness and create a bright, pleasing aura around your vessel. Still, they operate with very low DC power consumption - drawing 0.5 amps per light at 12V or 0.3 amps at 24V. Since they use LEDs rather than incandescent lamps, Aqualuma lights produce very little heat and can even be operated out of the water without damage.
This unique system was the brainchild of brothers Carl and Grant Amor who were looking for - but unable to find - the best lighting options for their boat. As they began their search several years ago, they kept coming across what were considered top-of-the-line lights, only to discover that each had major flaws. "We couldn't find anything on the market that wouldn't give us trouble," says Carl Amor, who, with his brother Grant, finally pulled out a whiteboard and developed a list of all the problems they continually ran into with lights on the market: corrosion, leaking, etc. Knowing they were not going to settle on lighting that was just going to fall short, they began tackling each weakness one by one - developing a lighting system that would not let them down - and ultimately created Aqualuma Underwater Lighting.
Aqualuma underwater lights are ideal for use while anchored up or relaxing on a mooring. These pleasing lights are not only attractive, they naturally attract fish and all sorts of marine life, turning the waters beneath your vessel into a virtual underwater aquarium. Top saltwater anglers have long known the fish-drawing power of underwater lights for attracting squid, baitfish, tuna, sharks and other pelagic species at night. Green-hued lights have proven especially effective in attracting broadbill from the inky depths - good news for the growing number of South Florida anglers who venture out in pursuit of this ultimate gamefish.
Aqualuma lights come with 13 feet of cable and are designed for easy, affordable installation. Since the housing is made from corrosion-proof polycarbonate, no bonding wires or anodes are required, and there's no lens sea] to leak. If necessary, they can be serviced from inside the boat, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming haul- outs.
For more information about this unique underwater lighting system, visit Aqualuma's website: www.aqualuma.com. Boaters can also contact exclusive U.S. Distributor Fluid Technologies at 3477 Lakeshore Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32210 - Telephone: (904) 389-4536.