Before you decide if it’s time to replace your boat’s lights, it’s worth understanding why LEDs have become the most popular choice on modern watercraft. Here are 8 signs it’s time for an upgrade.

When the sun sets or the weather takes a turn for the worst, captains rely on a suite of navigational tools to ensure they stay on course. Radar and sonar have become indispensable for providing crucial data on obstacles, depth, and surrounding vessels. While these tools are helpful, they aren’t flawless. One essential element of nighttime navigation that boaters should never underestimate is boat lighting. Even with advanced radar, sonar, infrared, and night vision equipment, boat lighting remains an essential safeguard to help avoid accidents, assist in emergencies, and supplement other navigational tools.

Whether you’re scoping out your new favorite spot before sunrise or getting back to the dock after dark, relying on outdated boat lights — or worse, not having lights at all — can ruin your fishing trip.Why risk it when you can prevent it? If you hit a log or run aground, damage to your fiberglass boat can easily cost anywhere from a few grand to the total value of your boat! And a lot of people think running lights at night and keeping their night vision are mutually exclusive.