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Jabsco 7" Spot/Flood Combo Bulb....OBSOLETE???

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by Carver38, Jul 31, 2014.

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  1. Carver38

    Carver38 Member

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    I do not have the model number, but the Jabsco 7" Spot/Flood combo unit is original equipment on my 1991 Carver 3807. Please note....this issue is NOT "Carver specific" in any way.....there are identical Jabsco searchlights (and other brands that have the same bulb) mounted on many, many other builder's boats around the world.

    I called Jabsco and they told me they no longer sell the combo bulb (now finally identified to be a Philips 4710 bulb) for this unit (which would have the 3 screw connector on the back because it's a two filament bulb) and the customer must now decide whether to buy either the spot bulb or the flood bulb, both of which are 2 screw connector type. This is OUTRAGEOUS!!!! They have deliberately decided to no longer support one of their products still installed on thousands of boats, maybe tens of thousands, around the world!

    They could not tell me if any other bulb supplier can provide an alternate bulb, and didn't even care to research it! They also could not suggest any work-around to use the smaller 5" combo spot/flood bulb still available, like perhaps a step-down for the trim ring that holds the bulb in. Or a bulb that would fit but need a mod to the connectors....or any of the other many alternatives I think could be possible other than trashing the unit. It's disgraceful!

    I am hoping you can help me get this unit working again, by suggesting a bulb that may be made to work. The replacement cost is well over $1,000 to buy a new unit, and this one, except for the bulb, works as new! Why should I throw it in the trash??

    Please help....I am not in a position to just throw a thousand dollars in the ocean! (Please, I know what B.O.A.T. stands for......and have done it many times, but THIS time I truly shouldn't have to. I hope you guys agree.)


    Edited to add: Here's another brand that requires the same bulb....just so you can see what I'm talking about. Hope posting the link to the manual is ok.

    http://www.bootkeyharbor.com/ProductInfo/BoatManuals/Spot-FloodlightAmerForeignIndustriesManual.PDF


    Sorry for the rant....but after much internet searching I have found nothing..... I hope someone can help!
  2. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
  3. Carver38

    Carver38 Member

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    Location:
    Atlantic City, NJ
    I really appreciate your response!

    Unfortunately upon further investigation this one is not what it appears to be though. While it says "Spot/Flood" on some sites that advertise it, on other sites (Westmarine for example), this same unit, same model number and part number, is said to be "Spot Only". The research seems to bear this out.

    Take a look:

    Jabsco 67262-0000 Electric 12V Replacement Boat Spotlight Searchlight Light Bulb | Great Lakes Skipper

    In the above link, the vendor pictures both the front and back of the bulb, revealing it to be only a Two Screw connector type, which means of course it can only be a single filament. In fact on the first link you provided, there's a place to see Questions and Answers posed by potential buyers to previous buyers of that bulb, where one customer faced my same dilemma and asked if the bulb was a direct replacement for the Three Screw Phillips 4710, and the answer from the previous buyer confirmed it was only Two.

    So it appears the vendors themselves don't realize that the 5" model is in fact a combo Spot/Flood while the current 7" model is Spot ONLY, or I have this all wrong somehow and even the person at Jabsco didn't know what she was talking about when she told me the bulb is no longer available. But it seems to be true about the bulb being unavailable.....I can't find a Phillips 4710 or substitute, which is the Three Screw version, ANYWHERE!

    But I do see how at first glance it looks like you had found it! Wish you had!
  4. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    My Office
  5. Old Phart

    Old Phart Senior Member

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    I dunno
    Were you once seeking something like this?

    PERKO Inc.


    Back on track...


    Found an old stock 5" 3 prong spot/flood @ Atlantic Boats Marine Store Atlantic Boats


    Seems your only option is to locate a new "old stock" 7" spot/flood bulb.


    Update:


    Was able to speak to a Tech at Jabsco 7 inch Remote Control Searchlight

    and has an ITT-672620000 Par Sealed Spotlight 7" 12v bulb that shows two different candlepower for the one bulb. Price is $106.22 plus S&H.

    Their phone number is at the top of their website, request to speak to a tech.
  6. Carver38

    Carver38 Member

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    Location:
    Atlantic City, NJ
    As I mentioned in my first post, before detailing my issue here I did a lot of legwork, including speaking to a tech at Jabsco. The tech mentioned that same bulb and that bulb is a two screw type with a single filament, regardless of the two candle powers it seems to infer it offers. It doesn't. It's a spot light bulb, not a spot/flood combo bulb. The tech couldn't explain why two numbers are listed in its specs. It is NOT a three screw bulb that can switch between spot and flood, which is what I need.

    What you are absolutely right about is that I need to find some NOS somewhere, and if I do, I should probably buy them all, and offer them at a huge profit to guys like me that are ready to pay almost any price, (couple hundred dollars anyway), for one to save the fixture already installed that works perfectly except for its burnt out bulb!