I could use some help. I have a Hunter 42 Passage and had to send one of my buddies up the mast recently to retrieve a halyard that "got away". While up there, he noticed that my anchor light was "exposed" with no housing. He also snapped what picture he could, which is attached to this post. Does anyone have any experience on what light/parts will be needed for replacement or that are missing here? I'll likely need to hire the local crane at the boatyard for repairs, but with the clock ticking ($$) I'd like to be prepared as possible beforehand. Any assistance is appreciated!! Happy sailing!
Any idea how to address anchor light problem? Perhaps LED?
- Thread starter Sailingbum
- Start date
As you probably know, most sailboat parts like navigation lights are not standard like they are on a car, but whatever was in the parts bin that week. The number of sailboats produced and the minimal liabilities / recalls are so different from the automotive industry. Consequently, it's unlikely you'll get an answer like, "All 2009 larger Bene's had an Aqua Signal model ..." In the end, you'll want to replace the entire fixture as it is just a matter of time before the exposed bulb and fixture will short out due to corrosion, if it even works now.
Swapping out an anchor light is not that big of a job. Two wires and two screws into the top plate. If you don't want to go up twice to measure the existing fixture and buy the identical replacement, you'll need to have (or give your worker) the screws and screw taps to install threads into the top plate. For an experienced worker, probably less than half-an-hour at the masthead. This is actually a pain to do without a crane as tapping screws over your head, blind, is not easy. While he's up there, you probably want to re-glue the tab on your Windex.
Swapping out an anchor light is not that big of a job. Two wires and two screws into the top plate. If you don't want to go up twice to measure the existing fixture and buy the identical replacement, you'll need to have (or give your worker) the screws and screw taps to install threads into the top plate. For an experienced worker, probably less than half-an-hour at the masthead. This is actually a pain to do without a crane as tapping screws over your head, blind, is not easy. While he's up there, you probably want to re-glue the tab on your Windex.
WHat's with all that duct tape? Also, the toggle on the forstay... I would put a washer on each side of the pin to take some wear off of the upper toggle piece..
Replaced the incandescent anchor bulb with an LED from Marinebeam on our P42 a few years ago. The fixture cover on our boat is still in place. Do not recall the brand, but likely either Perko or Hella. Bulb from Marinebeam here: https://store.marinebeam.com/double-contact-indexed-bay15d-18-led-surface-mount-cluster/
Fixture similar to ours here: https://store.marinebeam.com/led-anchor-light-fixture-with-bulb/
Just a thought. We never use the masthead anchor light. Instead, I have an LED lamp on a long tether to a socket in the fore deck. I hoist it on the spinnaker halyard around 15 ft off the deck. It is very bright, uses little 12 volt power, and has a sensor that turns it on around dusk and turns it off at dawn.
If you know someone with a drone you could have them take some pic's from above and either side that may give you a clue as to what brand was up there. I know on our 41DS was an Aqua Signal Series 50, the attached link will get you what you need for the best possible price I could find, took about 2 weeks to arrive, these guys contacted me to confirm my address it is an up and up site. They supply the fixture with an incandescent bulb, simply purchase a LED white all around.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AQUASIGNAL...h=item21282255ce:g:1JIAAOSws5pZN6xH:rk:1:pf:0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AQUASIGNAL...h=item21282255ce:g:1JIAAOSws5pZN6xH:rk:1:pf:0
@Rick486 is absolutely right - you do not need to have an anchor light placed at your masthead. The ColRegs (#30) only say, "(b) A vessel of less than 50 meters in length may exhibit an all-round white light where it can best be seen ..."
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=NavRulesAmalgamated#rule30
I've been on charters where stuff didn't work and we just hoisted up a battery-powered lantern for the few nights at anchor. For crowded anchorages, particularly around power boats, I'll also hang a battery lantern from the end of the boom to light the cockpit. Power boats tend to not look up 50 feet when 'driving'. How much do you really anchor out?
True am anchor light at the masthead can be seen a lot Fullerf away than one ten feet above the water. But the guy a mile away is not the one who's going to hit you. The one twenty feet away will. A light hanging low in the rigging is more effective. If you want the added range, you can do both.
Usually about 100 nights per year. Have been using rechargeable garden lights on the top of solar panel arch for the last couple of years.