Faster Refits, Lower Costs: Why Hybrid Upgrade Kits are Changing the Economics of Underwater Lighting Refits
Refit projects are all about balancing nice to have improvements and essential works, with downtime, cost and complexity. When it comes to underwater lighting, traditional upgrades often involve removing existing cofferdams (cutting them out of the hull), installing replacements, running new cabling and carrying out extensive installation work. Lots of cutting, lots of welding and lots of man hours crawling through the guts of a superyacht replacing cables. All of this adds time and cost to the refit schedule.
OceanLED’s Hybrid Upgrade Kits provide a smarter alternative…
Designed specifically for vessels equipped with legacy OceanLED F-Series or L-Series underwater lights, the upgrade kits allow owners and shipyards to modernise their underwater lighting systems without replacing existing cofferdams. The new Hybrid Explore E8 and Hybrid Explore E9 light cartridges fit directly into the existing cofferdams, dramatically simplifying the upgrade process.
Significantly Faster Installation
One of the biggest advantages of the hybrid upgrade kits is the reduction in installation time.
By utilising the yacht’s existing cofferdams, wiring and cabinets, there is no need for major structural work. Shipyards avoid the time-consuming process of cutting out old cofferdams, welding in replacements and running new cables throughout the vessel.
The result is a considerably faster upgrade process that can reduce project timelines and help keep refit schedules on track.
A Highly Cost-Effective Upgrade Path
Refit budgets are invariably scrutinised, meaning value for money is always a winner.
The hybrid upgrade kits deliver substantial savings by preserving much of the existing installation. Rather than investing in new cofferdams, replacement cabling, cabinets and associated labour costs, owners can leverage the infrastructure already installed on the yacht.
This approach reduces material costs, minimises labour requirements and helps to avoid unexpected expenses associated with cutting old cofferdams out of the hull and removing large sections of wiring.
At the same time, owners benefit from a significant improvement in lighting performance and efficiency. The Hybrid systems deliver up to 13,000 fixture lumens while offering substantial efficiency gains compared with older generation systems.
Future-Proofing Your Underwater Lighting
A further benefit of upgrading through the Hybrid platform is future compatibility.
Rather than simply replacing ageing equipment, owners are creating a pathway to OceanLED’s latest Explore Series technology. The upgrade framework has been developed to support future lighting advancements, helping protect the vessel’s investment over the long term.
For shipyards, captains and owners seeking a practical way to modernise underwater lighting during a refit, hybrid upgrade kits provide an ideal balance of speed, cost efficiency and future-ready performance.
Find our more about the F-Series to Hybrid E8 Upgrade Kit and the L-Series to Hybrid E9 Upgrade kit.
Questions? Speak to our superyacht specialists in the custom projects team! Click here