I have a 1995 37.5 and every time I get caught in heavy breaking seas the forward running lights get wet and short out. I have tried every thing to water proof them and still they get wet and short out. Is anyone else having similar problems and if so have they found a solution..
37.5 running lights
- Thread starter shaman
- Start date
Maybe
I am still chasing a similar problem with my 40.5. While the running lights are, I think, different, the issue may be the same. The bottom line is that, after a whole lot of testing, I found the wires to be internally corroded, even though it didn't look too bad. Whomever the jobber was that did the pulpit evidently did the wiring, since, on mine, I have good quality wire up to the pulpit, but the pulpit wire itself appears to be untinned hardware-quality stuff. I trimmed enough back and pulled a spiced piece on a temporary basis, but have to pull the pulpit and re-wire it as a proper fix. Good luck!
Re: Maybe
You may have an answer to part of the problem. But I an experiencing total flooding of the bulb area to the point that by the time I get in the bulb connections are totally corroded away. Telling me that that I am experiencing flooding in the unit. Again I have tried caulking the entire unit and have been unable to stop the flooding. I am thinking of getting one of the units for the top of the mast with aft and forward running lights. Maybe the water can't get into them up there....
You may have an answer to part of the problem. But I an experiencing total flooding of the bulb area to the point that by the time I get in the bulb connections are totally corroded away. Telling me that that I am experiencing flooding in the unit. Again I have tried caulking the entire unit and have been unable to stop the flooding. I am thinking of getting one of the units for the top of the mast with aft and forward running lights. Maybe the water can't get into them up there....
I had the same issues with the Hella nav lights as furnished on my 43 Legend. The case is prone to water intrusion and therefore (ongoing) corrosion issues. I solved the issue by replacing my nav lights with Hella NaviLED lights. Super bright, completely "hermetically sealed" and furnished with 1M leads so you can make your electrical connections inside the boat. Not cheap at about $140 each, but you will never have to fool with them again, as they have an estimated life of 10,00 hours.
Of note, they are made in New Zealand and are labeled with the correct USCG/COLREGS approval numbers. If you "cheap out" and buy the inexpensive Chinese nav lights as found on eBay be aware that they are NOT tested/inspected or USCG approved. If you were subsequently involved in a collision at sea, the accident investigation would reveal that your nav lights were out of compliance and you would likely be found liable by statute. Good luck.
Of note, they are made in New Zealand and are labeled with the correct USCG/COLREGS approval numbers. If you "cheap out" and buy the inexpensive Chinese nav lights as found on eBay be aware that they are NOT tested/inspected or USCG approved. If you were subsequently involved in a collision at sea, the accident investigation would reveal that your nav lights were out of compliance and you would likely be found liable by statute. Good luck.