Cheap waterproof Luxeon for red/green color mod?

I have some red and green 4 x 5 mm LED Lite brand 3AA lights that I use as bow aspect lights on my sea kayak. They're OK, but the original O-ring seals were laughably loose (I replaced 'em with thicker rings, sanded down a bit to fit), and the copper strip from the - terminal is grooving the heads' contact areas enough that I don't expect them to last forever.

I've found few red and green LED lights on offer. (I've seen the TekTites.) I hate filtering white LEDs. It seems crazy since red and green LEDs have been around longest. I'm looking for a suggestion for a decently water-resitant Luxeon I light that either comes in red and green versions, or can be re-lamped with red and green Luxeons by someone with limited soldering skills and a cheap pencil iron. Needs to be pretty reliably dunkable, since a little sea water should go a long way in killing electronics. :devil:

A look in the archives turned up a comment that the Element AAA is easy to hack, but the 2-pack I found on Amazon does not show any claims of water resistance. Any other suggestions or tips? Also, a good source for the new Luxeons?

TIA,
Buck in Seattle

Help! Don't let me be run down by that barge!

I suggest the Pelican 2020. They advertised the Rev A models as waterproof to 500ft, but they've stopped. In any case, there are 3 o-rings for 2 seals, and the light is UL Class 1, Div 1. The light runs 6 hours fully regulated on 3 C cells with diminishing output thereafter. It should be fine for kayaking. Just take the LED/reflector module out, remove 2 small phillips screws, and voila, there's the emitter. However, if you're looking for a light with sidespill, don't get a Recoil LED light.

LukeA said:

I suggest the Pelican 2020....Just take the LED/reflector module out, remove 2 small phillips screws, and voila, there's the emitter. However, if you're looking for a light with sidespill, don't get a Recoil LED light.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. That light is a bit big, 2AA or 3AA size (or CR123A) is what I'd like to stick with. Somewhat cheaper would be good, too, since I'll probably destroy it trying to remove the LED

Spill is desireable, since you want the light to be more-or-less equally visible over a wide arc off the bow. I strap the lights to a lightboard, a long inverted T-beam of 1/4" plywood painted white, so the spill (and prbably some of the hotspot) toward teh center of the boat reflects out to the appropriate side. (I need to add a top, making it into an I'beam, so less light reflects up into my eyes)

What about using red and green Glo-Toobs as markers for your kayak? Lighthound has them on sale:

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1219
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1214

Glo-Toob also has a new product that I know nothing about, the "Flash
Cap". Looks like it can either replace the tailcap of a Maglite, or be mounted independently, might be another solution:

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1639
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1638

For either of these, you could black out the part of the beacon that is facing you (black tape? paint?) so that you aren't blinded/distracted. Just a thought.

Here are some reviews of the Glo-Toob, should have added this above:

http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/glo-toob.htm
http://flashlightreviews.com/reviews/glo-toob_fx.htm
http://www.dansdata.com/glotoob.htm

They are also coming out with a version of the Glo-Toob that takes a (more standard) CR123 battery:

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2935
http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2934

Happy kayaking!