A Handy Guide for Anyone Upgrading or Replacing Your Exchangeable Flush Mount Underwater Lights

If your boat already has exchangeable flush mount (XFM) underwater lights installed, upgrading them can feel intimidating. These lights are designed to sit flush with the hull, which means large holes have been cut into the transom or hull during installation.

When it comes time to replace them, you might be worrying that upgrading to a newer model will mean re-glassing the hull, resizing cutouts, and facing significant time / labour costs.

The good news is that in many cases this isn’t necessary.

This guide explains how owners of older XFM underwater lights particularly the Pro-Series 2010 and 3010 models from OceanLED, can upgrade to the latest Explore Series lights with minimal hassle.

Let’s Start if Why XFM Underwater Lights Can Be Difficult to Replace

They were designed so the light cartridge can be serviced or replaced without removing the entire housing. While this is convenient for maintenance, the original installation typically involves cutting a large hole in the hull.

If a replacement light requires a different hole size, the process can involve:

•    Filling (re-glassing) the existing hole 

•    Re-drilling the hull 

•    Re-finishing the hull surface 

This adds time, cost, and complexity to what should be a straightforward upgrade.

The Challenge… Different Hole Sizes

Older underwater lights typically required larger hull cutouts than modern underwater lights. Technology moves on. 

Normally this would mean a gap between the hull and the new fitting, requiring the hull to be filled and re-drilled.

Fortunately, there’s a much easier solution.

The Pro-Series to Explore Upgrade Kit

The Pro Series to Explore Upgrade Kit was specifically designed to solve this problem for Pro-Series owners, allowing them to upgrade to the Explore Series, which accidently gave us a solution to a wider problem boat owners face. 

The clever adapter system allows boat owners to install modern Explore Series underwater lights into existing hull cutouts between 3.54 – 4.7 inches (90 mm – 120 mm), avoiding expensive yard time.

Instead of modifying the hull, the upgrade kit bridges the gap between the existing cutout and diameter of the new light, creating a clean and secure installation.

Benefits of the Upgrade Kit

•    No hull re-glassing required 
•    No need to cut a new hole 
•    Faster installation 
•    Lower upgrade cost 
•    Clean, professional finish 

For many boat owners, this turns what could be a major project into a simple retrofit.

Use with third party systems

The supported cutout range is 3.54 – 4.7 inches (90 mm – 120 mm)

That means if your boat currently has another brand of flush mount underwater light with a cutout in that range, you will be able to upgrade to an Explore Series.

A compatibility list of third-party lights can be found in the handy table below.