Perko Side Lights

Perko Side Lights: Over a Century of Navigation Expertise

Perko has been synonymous with marine navigation lighting for more than a century. Side lights — the red (port) and green (starboard) lights that broadcast your vessel's position and heading to other mariners — sit at the very heart of what Perko has always done best. Navigation lights were among the very first products Perko manufactured when the company was founded in 1907, and side lights remain a flagship category in their lineup today.

Why Perko Side Lights Stand Apart

What sets Perko apart in the side-light category is the breadth of their offering and the rigor of their compliance engineering. All Perko side lights are designed to meet current U.S. Coast Guard requirements, and their modern LED side-light families go even further, meeting a comprehensive suite of global certifications. Perko's flagship LED side-light models — such as the 0618 series — carry certifications including ABYC C-5, NMMA Type Accepted, EN/ISO 19009:2015, ABYC A-16, the 1972 COLREGS, RCD 2013/53/EU, and U.S. Inland Rules, making them suitable for both domestic and international waters.

Perko side lights are available in horizontal and vertical mount configurations to suit virtually any hull or deck layout. Their horizontal-mount LED side lights feature an ultra-low-profile design and are available in polished stainless steel or black/white powder-coated finishes to complement the aesthetics of modern vessels. Many models in the LED lineup use just 10% of the energy draw of traditional incandescent bulbs, delivering long life with low heat output — a meaningful advantage for boats where electrical load management matters.

Product Configurations & Material Options

Perko offers side lights in an impressive range of housing materials and styles, ensuring a fit for everything from a small runabout to a larger offshore powerboat. Finish options include chrome-plated bronze, chrome-plated zinc alloy, polished stainless steel, and black or white polymer, with Perko's proprietary PERKO•KOTE corrosion-resistant finish available on select models. The 170 series side lights — a popular traditional choice — are certified for use on sail or power vessels under 20 meters in length, feature gold-plated contacts for reliable electrical connections, and deliver a 112.5° visibility arc at a USCG-certified 2-nautical-mile range. For boaters looking for a drop-in upgrade or replacement, Perko's Stealth-series side lights are engineered as universal replacements designed to fit most other manufacturers' bases, featuring two collars (one threaded, one locking) and an adjustable head for precise horizontal alignment.

LED Upgrades & Modern Technology

Perko's LED side-light range represents the current state of the art in the category. Self-contained LED modules require no user-serviceable bulb changes, and multiple models are sold in pairs so port and starboard lights are always matched. The 0618 LED side lights are designed specifically for vertical-surface mounting on power-driven vessels under 20 meters and are sold as a pair — a convenient, spec-compliant solution for new installations and direct replacements alike. For boaters on 24-volt systems, Perko offers compatible models and voltage options across the side-light lineup, reflecting the brand's attention to the full range of real-world electrical configurations found on today's vessels.

Whether you're replacing aging incandescent side lights or specifying a full LED navigation-light system for a new build, Perko's depth of selection — spanning traditional incandescent through modern LED, horizontal through vertical mount, and polymer through stainless steel — makes them a go-to source for boaters and builders alike. Explore the full Perko brand catalog or browse all marine side lights to find the right fit for your vessel.