[LookingForCruiser]

Hello all,

My boat is lacking masthead & steaming lights. So I'm searching the internet and seeing a gigantic variety of them. So, my question is, does anybody have recommendations on any particular brand/model of masthead & steaming lights?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Noelex]

Lopolight are expensive, but look the best built. They have done well magazine tests and they generally get + reviews. I intend to fit one when my mast needs new rigging.

 

[LookingForCruiser]

Yikes, yes, expensive. Also not USCG certified, which makes me nervous. Is that an issue? Most of the LED lights don't seem to be USCG certified...

 

[sailingdog]

I like the Aquasignal 25 steaming/foredeck light.

 

[LookingForCruiser]

So that would install on the mast somewhere midway, and the anchor light would be at the very top, yes ?

 

[sailingdog]

Yes, usually about the spreader level, or between the first and second spreaders on a multi-spreader rig. While the steaming light is often called a masthead light, but usually isn't anywhere near the masthead.

So that would install on the mast somewhere midway, and the anchor light would be at the very top, yes ?

 

[dgr]

I thought I liked that AquaSignal 25; then I took it out of the package. The deck light is totally open to the elements. There is no lense cover. What bothered me the most about this is that reflector is going to be useless pretty quickly.

Aqua Signal wasn't the only brand that did this. I think I looked at Forespar or Perko and it was the same design with the bulb unprotected.

I returned it and made the guys at Svendsens go upstairs and find a Hella 8505 combo light. It uses a sealed beam so the reflector gets replaced with the bulb change and is protected from the elements. You can get the small one (8505) with a 20W deck light for around $70 or the big one with a 55W deck light for about twice that.

forgot to mention: I like bilgewater's combo light. It looks durable and streamlined.

 

[LookingForCruiser]

Is my assumption that the steaming & foredeck light components are on separate circuits correct?

Since we're on the topic, I also need an all-around anchor light for the top of the mast - does anybody have opinions on what a good brand/model is for that ?

 

[sailingdog]

I thought I liked that AquaSignal 25; then I took it out of the package. The deck light is totally open to the elements. There is no lense cover. What bothered me the most about this is that reflector is going to be useless pretty quickly.

The reason the AquaSignal isn't sealed is there really isn't a need for it. It is too high up for spray to be an issue and rain generally doesn't fall up. The fixture works quite well.

Is my assumption that the steaming & foredeck light components are on separate circuits correct?

Since we're on the topic, I also need an all-around anchor light for the top of the mast - does anybody have opinions on what a good brand/model is for that ?

Yes, the fixture uses three wires, +12 VDC for each light and a common ground return.

For the mast top fixture, I'd go with an Orca Green Marine LED anchor light. While a bit more pricey than some other fixtures, it uses far less electricity. Also, it is USCG certified.

 

[jimq26]

SD is absolutely correct. - gravity sucks the rain down.

quote - The reason the AquaSignal isn't sealed is there really isn't a need for it. It is too high up for spray to be an issue and rain generally doesn't fall up. The fixture works quite well.

I had one on my Shark 24. There was no way it needed a cover over the deck light as it was totally protected from any water by its design.
Come back into the dock late at night, flip on the deck light, and Bob's your uncle. Lit up the front deck for unloading the sails to be folded etc.

You seem to be fairly new to sailing and perhaps not totally aware of the lighting requirements. Here is a link that may assist - reviewlights

 

[sassafrass]

my boat has the aquasignal light mentioned above for 10 years. there is no pitting or deterioration of the reflector as of yet (pacific NW).

seems an ok product.

tom

 

[jarcher]

Of course if he uses that fixture he will also need a stern light. If he uses a 360 degree at the mast head, then he won't need a separate stern light.

 

[jimq26]

Huh?

Of course if he uses that fixture he will also need a stern light. If he uses a 360 degree at the mast head, then he won't need a separate stern light.

Yes, he will need the regulation navigation lights (stern plus port and starboard) when under sail only. When under power, he would turn on the steaming light in addition to the nav lights. At anchor, he will display the 360 degree light from the past head, turning off the steaming and regulation navigation lighting.

 

[jarcher]

Yes, he will need the regulation navigation lights (stern plus port and starboard) when under sail only. When under power, he would turn on the steaming light in addition to the nav lights. At anchor, he will display the 360 degree light from the past head, turning off the steaming and regulation navigation lighting.

Oh that's true, my mistake sorry. I was thinking he would have a tri-color at the mast head for sail. He never said that, so I don't know why I thought it.

 

[sailingdog]

I would point out that relying on a masttop tricolor alone when under sail is usually a mistake. Offshore, using a tricolor makes sense... but in more crowded, close-quarter harbor situations, having deck level bicolor and stern lights instead of a tricolor makes much more sense, since many powerboaters won't look up to see a masttop tricolor.

Oh that's true, my mistake sorry. I was thinking he would have a tri-color at the mast head for sail. He never said that, so I don't know why I thought it.

 

[LookingForCruiser]

I've got deck level sidelights and a stern light (although the lens has paint on it and the wires to it are snipped for unknown reasons). The mast has no lights on it whatsoever though. So I need to get the steaming & anchor lights installed...

The electrical is very fun, lots of lamp cord, corroded non-marine wire, bare wires just hand-twisted together, dangling ends going to nowhere, the usual worst practices. I know a bit about wiring from my previous hobby of restoring arcade games, as I hand made all the wire looms for those when I was restoring them from stripped-down cabinets. I learned to love ratcheting crimpers after doing several hundred crimps per game cabinet... It's just the fiberglass work that I find scary and confusing.

 

[jarcher]

I would point out that relying on a masttop tricolor alone when under sail is usually a mistake. Offshore, using a tricolor makes sense... but in more crowded, close-quarter harbor situations, having deck level bicolor and stern lights instead of a tricolor makes much more sense, since many powerboaters won't look up to see a masttop tricolor.

Fair enough, but when I am in a but in a "more crowded, close-quarter harbor situation" usually my inboard is turned on... Of course that may not be true for everyone.

 

[LookingForCruiser]

OK... more questions about anchor & steaming lights

a. How is the thru-deck connection made to the mast? How do you keep water out of the cabin ?

b. When running wires up thru the mast, is it typically individual wires, or coax, or duplex/triplex wiring (by which I mean multiple wires with an outer jacket) ? Some of the pictures I saw of anchor lights had coax connectors running up to them...

c. Just add grommets where the wires come out for the mast head? butt splice the mast head wires to the mast wires?

d. For the anchor light, that's coming out the top, just stick a grommet there and let what rainwater comes in, come in ?

e. For the ingress to the mast at the bottom, where the wires enter, just a grommet there? Is there any point in the mast where the holes for the wiring need to be sealed?

Thanks! You guys are all great!

 

[motovationcycles]

steaming /deck light

When I had my mast down over the winter I installed the same light as shown. I replaced the deck bulb with this :http://www.ledonline.co.uk/downloads/mr16-datasheet.pdfast . I also replaced the steaming bulb with a LED "festoon" bulb from Dr. LED. All I can say is "WOW" you can play football on my foredeck at the cost of only 6 watts of power (for 500 lumen)instead of the standard 20 watt halogen(for 500 lumen) . It puts out much more even light than the stock halogen and the lumen output is very consistant over the life of the bulb. Where as the halogen lumen output begins to drop steadily from time of first use. I also replaced the bulb in the "perko' anchor light with a bulb from "Dr. LED".

 

[LookingForCruiser]

I think I have two possible solution to running wires thru the cabin to the mast:

Solution #1: Use a deck-mounted plug: Waterproof Plug Connector

This method has the advantage of being easy to disconnect. It has the disadvantage that the wires coming out of the mast look like they need to be in a single jacket. Since wire runs are going to two different locations (steaming & anchor), it will be a pain getting them into a single plug.

I'm also not sure how to deal with those little screws - I can screw them right thru to the underlying wood, but then there's the potential for rot near the mast step - or I can drill out and fill with epoxy, and screw right into that, but that's not much holding power. Of course there shouldn't be much stress on the screws.

I also don't know what doing the connections inside the plug entails. I prefer crimping to soldering but that may not be an option.

Solution #2: mount a watertight junction box on the mast, and run wires in a conduit (white hose) from a thru-hull in cabin top into junction box, and connect wires to mast wires at a buss bar.

Not sure what the advantage here is over the deck-mounted plug above. It'd be easy to run more wires I suppose without needing an additional plug.

So I'm leaning towards #1...