Hunter 50 dusk to dawn anchor light

Terry Cox · Oct 1, 2024

Good morning, Keith. Different model boat and not one to bet my life on it, but odds are that being a Hunter brand boat, it will fit nicely. I converted to all Marine Beam brand LED emitters for all running and internal incandescent lamps. I went with the traditional anchor light emitter rather than dusk to dawn. It looks identical in description and appearance to your posting.

mermike · Oct 2, 2024

FYI, both my Marinebeam dusk/dawn anchor light and bicolor bow light failed after 5 years of minimal use. Both had condensation inside. Maybe their bulbs are better, but I wouldn't buy another fixture from them.

artboas · Oct 2, 2024

So, this might sound like a poor response.
Is there any reason you can’t simply turn on your anchor light when you need it?
I replaced my original anchor light with one that had masthead running lights integrated into it. If you are sailing at night time, it’s much safer option. This will require an additional wire fished down the rig, but it’s something to think about

Project_Mayhem · Oct 3, 2024

I'd recommend replacing the whole fixture. After 10 years aloft, they usually have a lot of corrosion

MFD · Oct 7, 2024

Depending how strict you are about regulations and how risk averse you might be.

I may be misinformed, but is my understanding that navigation lights that meet USCG requirements are tested as complete unit. Both the bulb and the elements of the lenses. To meet the appropriate federal legislative requirements for US flagged vessels.

Very unlikely it would ever be a problem, but if at anchor and an accident occurs, your proportion of the responsibility will be larger, and it is possible your insurance company could deny any claims.

EDIT: The above said, another way to do this would be to install a 12VDC photosensor unit somewhere along the line that powers the certified anchor light. Depending on how your boat wiring is done, this could be very simple as something led from the power distribution panel, over to somewhere outside, and then off to the anchor light. While also preserving all the existing wire so its easy to reconnect to a 'standard' configuration if you ever sell the boat.

Terry Cox · Oct 8, 2024

Good morning, Keith. Your choice whether to replace the bulb with an emitter, or the complete fixture. Our 1991 anchor light fixture remains in good condition, so I just replaced the bulb, which I did about ten years ago.

Zencra · Jul 4, 2025

mcconkd said:
I have a 2011 Hunter 50 and am wanting to change my anchor light with a dusk to dawn LED lamp. My question is this, in the information from Marine Beam, their LED light states this:
It is a drop in replacement for your existing Aqua Signal, Hella, Perko or other anchor light or tri-color housing with a BAY15D bayonet base (double-contact, offset pins) socket. No extra sensors, wires, or switches needed.
I have not gone up the mast yet, does anyone know if the OE fixture is one indicated by their statement? I am trying to limit up the mast to one trip and if anyone knows for sure that this LED light will work, I will order and have it with me for when I make the trip up the mast.
Thank you for any assistance,
Keith

View attachment 227831

the Luna sea anchor/tri/strobe has been working well for me as a
liveaboard for nearly 7 years. I never have to worry about whether I've turned the anchor light on or not. the wiring is simple, using the original anchor light wires. the light uses reverse polarity to switch from anchor to Tri. it uses a glass lens and machined body with an included bird spike that can be removed for a wind indicator mounting.

colemj · Jul 5, 2025

You are responding to an old post, but I'll chime in and say we also have a LunaSea anchor/tri/strobe that has been flawless for the past 7yrs in full-time use.

More importantly, it is the only one we've had that hasn't caused interference on our VHF. We went through 3 versions of OGM's, and another brand I forget right now because we sent it back quickly, and they all interfered with the VHF. Not in the sense of making noise on it, but in the sense that range would be severely limited when they were on. We share an AIS with the antenna, and you would see targets blink out of existence when the lights were on, and come right back when they were off. Similar with VHF conversations depending on distance.

If one wants to make their existing anchor light automatic, and they have a solar panel, then use a $3 Bosch type automotive relay (those cube things), and connect the solenoid control to the solar panel before the controller, and the anchor light on the Normally Closed terminals. Then when the sun comes up, it opens the contacts and the light goes off, and when the sun sets, it closes the contacts and turns the light on.

An automatic anchor light is great. One is often away from the boat at dusk and have forgotten to turn on the anchor light when they left during the day.

Mark