The Ceiling Lights—An Easy Fix to an Old Problem

Pretty but not always functional

The ceiling lights are finicky—to put it nicely. Invariably either the red, white, or both lights don't turn on. It's not that the bulbs are burned out either; it's simply a bad connection between the bulb and socket. As the close-up picture of the bulb shows, there's a circular deformation in each of the bulb's contacts. Heating, due to a poor electrical connection, allowed the socket's steel pins to sink into the bulb. To fix the problem the contact between bulb and socket needs to be kept clean and oxidation free. Something easier said than done in a salt water environment. Fortunately the fix is easy; before installing the bulb simply apply marine electronics grease to its contacts. This will keep the environment at bay and help dissipate heat too.

Replace the old bulbs or grind-out the indents

Liberally grease the bulb's contacts before reinstallation

By removing only two screws and loosening the third, the lens easily slides out

Note the heat-caused indents in the bulb's contacts