An adventure with my mast light

[Brian D]

Last month I get notification that our marina (US Military Base) will not start boat inspections. Well I know I am good except for one item that has plagued me for years now. The Mast Light. Sound live a mystery novel. LOL

For weeks/months/year it has not worked. No biggie because I don't motor around at night. But it is still a required item none the less. The last time I was up on the mast was to replace the festoon light and lens, which fell out and went overboard. I did so and the light worked. But eventually it stopped working and I figured the festoon failed. So I just forgot about it until recently.

Last week I went up the mast to check on the light. Before ascending I turned on the mast light to take a voltage reading up there. Sure enough it was working (again). So lets leave well enough alone and let's do the inspection. Last Wednesday I went down to do the inspection (due by 6/31) and turned on the mast light. FAIL. No light, so no inspection.

Today I head down (again) to work on the light and a though ocured to me. What if the battery voltage is too low. I mean, the light was on last week but very dim. So I get to the boat and turn on the mast light and no light. I take the DC panel off to measure the voltage and it is 13.3. OK... I press the MAST LIGHT breaker and test for voltage there. If there is none, the light is bad. If the voltage is low, there is too much corrosion (possibly). The voltage is also 13.3. I step outside and look up, the light is ON. WTF

Now I determine the problem is at the breaker. I decide to loosen the connector and reseat. That sometimes fix issues. Even before I can loosen the set screw, the connect comes out. BINGO! Found the problem.

I cut the connector off, strip the wire, put on a new connector and turn the light back on. Extremely bright now. Just like it should be.

Why did it take me this long to find this problem? Probably due to a lack of motivation to fix it. It happens.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Brian. I’m assuming you meant steaming light? Just wondering. Of course it is safe to say that I always get right on things that go south and need my utmost attention .It only took me three years to fix an air leak in my Avon inflatable. What’s the hurry, eh?

 

[Hello Below]

I’m assuming you meant steaming light?

. . . or masthead light.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

. . . or masthead light.

different things

 

[Brian D]

Steaming light. Don't have a mast head light. My steaming light is located just above the spreaders.

 

[doublebuffle]

different things

—INLAND— Lights and Shapes
RULE 21 Definitions(a) “Masthead light” means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel, except that on a vessel of less than 12 meters in length the masthead light shall be placed as nearly as practicable to the fore and aft centerline of the vessel.

[..]

—INLAND— Lights and Shapes
RULE 23 Power-driven Vessels Underway(a) A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit: (i) a masthead light forward; (ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the forward one; except that a vessel of less than 50 meters in length shall not be obliged to exhibit such light but may do so; (iii) sidelights; and (iv) a sternlight.

[..]

(c) A power-driven vessel of less than 12 meters in length may, in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights.

 

[Hello Below]

different things

I stand to be corrected but this is the best reference I could find that a masthead light and steaming light are one of the same. I admit it is pretty weak.

“Although ‘steaming light’ is used extensively, this does not have a definition within the IRPCS [International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea], the correct definition being a masthead light.“

Masthead Light Confusion

Indeed COLREGS do not refer to a steaming light anywhere. At least that I could find. @charlie Jones can you point me to where the 2 are defined as different?

 

[dlochner]

I stand to be corrected but this is the best reference I could find that a masthead light and steaming light are one of the same. I admit it is pretty weak.

“Although ‘steaming light’ is used extensively, this does not have a definition within the IRPCS [International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea], the correct definition being a masthead light.“

Masthead Light Confusion

Indeed COLREGS do not refer to a steaming light anywhere. At least that I could find. @charlie Jones can you point me to where the 2 are defined as different?

The term masthead light is correct according to COLREGS. And it is appropriate for the mast on a power boat. In the world of recreational boating steaming light has become the common name of the light required by COLREGS that must be displayed by a sailboat when under power at night. It is confusing, because sailboats can have tricolors and anchor lights at the masthead.

 

[DougM]

I have a similar problem with the anchor light. It was completely new two years ago, went the entire season with no problems. Recommissioning the following Spring, no anchor light. Climbed the mast, changed the bulb, worked fine all season. The next year... same thing! Changed bulb, worked fine. It wouldn’t be all that big a deal if the boat wasn’t stored with the mast up.

Before anybody asks, it wasn’t low voltage. Anchor light and steaming light are separately switched but fed off the same breaker. I never needed to replace a steaming light bulb, just had to replace a fixture once long ago.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Doug, our anchor light at the masthead has a dedicated switch and breaker as does our steaming light just above the first spreaders. The steaming light fixture is a combo unit that includes a deck light also with a dedicated switch and breaker.

 

[Hayden Watson]

I have an LED Windex light to illuminate my Windex which uses a new two years ago 4-conductor cable that is continuous from panel to masthead 1 ground plus +12v to Windex, anchor and tricolor. This spring the Windex light is not working but the other two are. (good ground, check) I have checked the voltage at the electrical panel connectors and all is well but I get open circuit on the ohm meter. I will need to go up to check and it is probably just a loose bulb given that it is LED but will take a spare up just in case.

 

[Brian D]

An update. It failed again...

Although playing with the wiring in the panel "seemed" to have fixed the issue, it failed again. Just a little more research and I learn there is a deck plug at the mast. Funny, I have never seen it as long as I have owned the boat. Well, I can only get my finger (singular) on the plug and I pressed it a few time. Now the steaming light is working again. In order to get to the deck plug I will have to lower the mast. It ain't gonna happen unless I take it to a boat yard and have them do it. That's gonna cost. But I guess I will have to eventually.

By the way, I passed my inspection today. So back to what I do best... LOL

 

[Hayden Watson]

Just do not start your motor when you are out at night. No worries, you are a sailor after all!

 

[Brian D]

Night sailing? What on earth is that?

 

[Hayden Watson]

Sorry Brian, you do not know what you are missing. I love being out at night.

 

[Brian D]

It was in jest.

 

[JamesG161]

Night sailing? What on earth is that?

Haul this up over your spreaders "in a pinch"...
DAVIS INSTRUMENTS Mega-Light™ LED Masthead Light | West Marine

Or think outside the box with something similar.
Jim...

 

[Hayden Watson]

the Mega-light would work in a pinch but there is no reason to haul it up to the spreaders.
(a) “Masthead light” means a white light placed over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side of the vessel. "
It just needs to be taped to the front of the mast above the dodger. That way, the mast will block the light for the 135º stern sector.

 

[j_schoenfeld]

I just fought this fight! Harbormaster threatened everyone to not be out after dark if you don't have ALL working navigation lights. So I checked mine out on the way in in the dark and everything works EXCEPT the masthead light. I got away with it as my steaming light was working fine. I assumed (for reasons I can't explain) that the bulb had given out and I was going to have to go up the mast. I tried to use the mast crane, but it wouldn't reach. I bought a mast climbing rig and got it all setup and ready to go. But I needed someone to run the halyard for the bosun chair and couldn't find anyone for a week. While I was at the boat I cursed the light and then thought, "I haven't checked the connections down here, and that mast light is sealed." So I dug in and found this:

The bus looked like this:

Rewired all the connections with proper connectors that are waterproof and now I have this!

Mast head light, Steaming Light and deck light all working. I did find that dielectric grease helps keep the open socket on the deck light from corroding. And I didn't even have to climb the mast!

 

[thinwater]

I just fought this fight! Harbormaster threatened everyone to not be out after dark if you don't have ALL working navigation lights. So I checked mine out on the way in in the dark and everything works EXCEPT the masthead light. I got away with it as my steaming light was working fine. I assumed (for reasons I can't explain) that the bulb had given out and I was going to have to go up the mast. I tried to use the mast crane, but it wouldn't reach. I bought a mast climbing rig and got it all setup and ready to go. But I needed someone to run the halyard for the bosun chair and couldn't find anyone for a week. While I was at the boat I cursed the light and then thought, "I haven't checked the connections down here, and that mast light is sealed." So I dug in and found this:
View attachment 181144

The bus looked like this:
View attachment 181145


Rewired all the connections with proper connectors that are waterproof and now I have this!


Mast head light, Steaming Light and deck light all working. I did find that dielectric grease helps keep the open socket on the deck light from corroding. And I didn't even have to climb the mast!

Not to be picky... but I think that is a barrier strip with one pair jumpered. A bus bar is one where all of the circuits ride together, like a bus. A ground bus, for example. Important when you go to order parts, although they are often in the same catalog catagory and are often cross listed.

There is also a CRYING need to elevate the strip off the floor about 3/4-inch with a spacer, to help keep it dry. And coat everything with waterproof grease when you are done. Pretty corroded!