23.5 Masthead Light

[davidb]

My 1995 Hunter 23.5 has a masthead light that I'm considering replacing. It is a combination steaming light and anchor light. I believe it is an Aqua Signal (the bow combo and stern lights are Aqua Signal Series 25s), and as far as I know was original equipment.

The masthead light has 2 bulbs (arranged fore and aft) and is pedestal-mounted on top of the mast. Since it has two bulbs, it is oval-shaped rather than being round. It is fed by 3 wires, and is controlled by a switch that has three positions (on, steaming, anchor). Presumably (I'm not sure, since it's not currently working), when the switch is in the "Steaming" position, only the forward light is lit, and when it's in the "Anchor" position, both lights are on.

I have been unable to find a light on a commercial site that resembles mine. Do any of you have any ideas on what brand/model this light might be, and where I might be able to find a replacement?

 

[sesmith]

I have a '93 23.5 and my light is a Hella, if I remember correctly. It takes 39mm festoon bulbs, which you can pick up at a marine store in a 2 pack . You are correct as far as the operation goes. I doubt the fixture is bad. Other than bad bulbs or corroded contacts at the bulb, the most likely cause is corroded contacts at the plug at the base of the mast. Just clean the pins up with some emery cloth and some spray electrical contact cleaner. If you have an ohm meter, check for continuity between each of the small pins and the large pin on the mast end of the plug. This will tell you if you have anything wrong from the plug up to the fixture including the bulbs (why drop the mast if you don't have to). You might also have to take the plug apart if one of the wires has broken off of it (I've had this happen too), an easy fix also.

If I were going to replace the fixture on mine, I'd replace it with an LED fixture...uses much less power to run one all night long when you're anchored. I usually use a Davis Mega light as an anchor light (when anchoring over night) as it meets the requirements, is lower and more likely to be seen, and uses a lot less juice to run than my mast light.

Scott

 

[Rick Webb]

It Is a Perko

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10109&subdeptNum=10577&classNum=10578

 

[davidb]

That's it! Thanks!