OceanLED has launched the Sport Mini, a compact surface-mounted underwater light aimed at boats and yachts up to about 15 metres. The 75 mm unit produces up to 1,500 fixture lumens from six LEDs while weighing only 150 grams.
The product sits below OceanLED's larger Sport Series and is intended to make underwater lighting easier to package on smaller transoms and hull sides. Its compact dimensions also reduce the amount of structure that has to be disturbed during installation.
Small footprint reduces installation work
OceanLED specifies a single 12.5 mm cable-entry hole, with the main body fixed to the outside of the hull. That avoids the larger through-hull apertures required by some underwater lighting systems and can make retrofit work less invasive.
The housing uses hard-anodised PTFE aluminium rather than the bronze construction used on OceanLED's larger Sport Series. A Tritonium anti-fouling coating is applied to help reduce marine growth on the lens surface.
1,500 lumens from six LEDs
The Sport Mini is rated at up to 1,500 fixture lumens and is available in Ultra White or Midnight Blue. OceanLED recommends between two and six lights for boats up to 50 feet, depending on transom width, hull form and the visual effect the owner wants.
Output figures are useful for comparison, but installation spacing and water clarity can affect the final appearance significantly. Owners should therefore treat the published lumen figure as one part of the specification rather than a guarantee of how a particular yacht will look at night.
Marine protection is built around exposed installation
The unit carries an IP69K rating and operates from 10 to 30 volts DC. OceanLED quotes current draw of about 0.9 amps at 12 volts or 0.5 amps at 24 volts, keeping the electrical load modest for a decorative lighting system.
Because underwater lights live in a particularly aggressive environment, sealing and corrosion resistance are as important as brightness. The five-year warranty gives owners a clearer measure of the manufacturer's confidence in the installation and housing design.
Lighting options continue moving down in size
Underwater lighting was once concentrated on larger yachts with extensive electrical systems and refit budgets. Smaller, lighter units such as the Sport Mini make the same type of installation more realistic on owner-operated yachts near the lower end of the Luxury Yacht Guide range.
That does not remove the need for careful installation, correct bonding practice and proper cable protection. The main advantage is that owners now have a purpose-designed compact option rather than adapting a larger light to a smaller hull.
