Chartlights/Cigarette Lighters

Marine Chartlights and Cigarette Lighters: Dual-Function 12V Essentials for Every Boat

When you're out on the water after dark or navigating by paper charts in low light, a marine chartlight and cigarette lighter combination is one of those unassuming fixtures that earns its keep every single trip. These compact, dual-function units mount directly to a boat's console or panel, offering a 12-volt power socket for accessories alongside a dedicated low-intensity light specifically designed for illuminating nautical charts without ruining your night vision.

What Is a Marine Chartlight/Cigarette Lighter?

Unlike a standard automotive cigarette lighter, marine versions are purpose-built for the rigors of life on the water. Most are constructed from corrosion-resistant materials — such as 304 stainless steel — to handle saltwater spray, humidity, and constant UV exposure. Marine chartlight/cigarette lighter combos typically integrate two functions into a single housing: a 12V socket that accepts standard lighter-style plugs for powering portable spotlights, phone chargers, air pumps, and other accessories, and a built-in low-output chart light that casts just enough illumination to read a nav chart without blinding the helmsman or affecting visibility of surrounding vessel lights.

Many units feature a sliding or push-in switch that activates the chart light independently before engaging the full lighter element — letting you use the lighting function alone when you simply need to check a waypoint or read a course line. This thoughtful design makes chartlight/lighter combos a practical addition to any helm station, whether you're running a center console, a cabin cruiser, or a small day boat.

What to Look for When Shopping

• Material: Stainless steel housings offer the best corrosion resistance for saltwater environments.
• Mounting style: Check whether the unit requires a round cutout or a panel-mount plate, and confirm the hardware is included.
• Chart light coverage: Some units offer a focused arc lens for directed illumination, reducing glare for other crew members.
• Socket compatibility: Ensure the 12V socket is sized to accept standard automotive/marine-style plugs for broad accessory compatibility.
• Wiring: Look for units that include pre-attached leads for easier installation into your boat's 12V system.

Top Brands in Marine Chartlights & Cigarette Lighters

Seachoice is a well-established name in the marine accessories world, with a catalog that spans more than 4,000 parts and accessories across 18 marine categories. Their chartlight and cigarette lighter products reflect the same value-driven engineering found throughout their electrical line, making them a go-to choice for boaters who want reliable, marine-rated hardware at an accessible price point.

Sea-Dog Line brings more than a century of marine hardware expertise to this category. Founded in the early 1920s and now operating out of Everett, Washington, Sea-Dog has built its reputation on quality marine-grade components. Their combination chartlight/cigarette lighter units — like the dual-function model that lets you activate the chart light independently or in tandem with the lighter element — showcase the thoughtful engineering the brand is known for across its broad catalog of deck, electrical, and rigging hardware.