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What are marine grade lights?

A marine grade light (also called a coastal light) is a light that is resistant against humidity and corrosion from on-shore winds coming from large bodies of water. In the majority of cases, the protection is from saltwater corrosion.


Marine grade lights should be installed in areas up to 15km from the coast.

Life expectancy

In a coastal environment a properly maintained marine grade light should last 10-25 years. A non-marine grade light on the other hand is lucky to last 5 years, and can often corrode within a year.


A marine grade light is built from corrosion resistant materials including special alloys such as 316 stainless steel, carbon steel, grade 5052 and 6061-T6 aluminum as well as polycarbonate and metals coated with special finishes.

Are waterproof lights marine grade?

No. Waterproof lights (such as IP68 rated lights) are not always marine grade (though they can be manufactured as such).


Marine grade lights need to be maintained regularly by wiping the fitting down every 3-6 months with a soft rag. This will increase the life of your lights by at least 10 years. Make sure you do not leave any residues such as soap. It is critical not to wipe the surface of the light with an abrasive material as that may destroy its corrosion resistance.