Perhaps this is the breakthrough year for LEDs. Not that they are totally replacing incandescents and fluorescents, but they have they hit the mainstream as nav lights and interior lighting is coming of age as well. IMTRA in particular, now features LED illumination interspersed through much of it’s lighting catalog. At the Miami International Boatshow I was particularly struck by the F4 series task lights. An array of white LEDs surrounds a red one, which also serves as an on/off button. The red LED either glows gently as an aid to locating the lamp, or more brightly as a night vision preserving night light. A photo sensor even lights the night light mode when it’s dark. Mounted on a flexible stock, they are widely positionable, and were used to great effect as reading lights on the African Cats FastCat 435 I went aboard. I’d love a couple of these for Sweet Destiny, but at $230—well let’s just say, that buys of lot of headlamps.
A recent glance at the IMTRA website shows some of the F4 series lights are now available for $105, a much more attractive price. Also, Gideon from African Cats contacted me to say that he can supply them for about $100 as well (gideon@africancats.com)
Link: www.imtra.com
