Deck light on C-310 Mast

[John T. Hoffman]

The mast mounted deck light assembly (part of the deck light/ steaming light assembly on the mast) keeps coming apart under sail. This has happened several times now. Recently, as the genoa pasted across the front of the mast, the stitching on the sail hooked the bottom plastic trim/collar part and pulled it off, as it has often done. When it came off this time, the entire light assembly came out and fell overboard.I noticed that another C-310 and on a Catalina 32 in the harbor this past weekend at Ocracoke had this same plastic trim piece hanging down from their deck light assemblies. This leads me to believe that this is a design glitch. Has anyone else noticed this problem? I am thinking about putting a stainless steel ring on the mast that will keep the sail off of this assembly. Does anyone have a better idea?Thanks,John

 

[Jon W.]

Not much help...

Sorry (not really), but I don't have this problem on my C310 yet. But I know how you feel because one of the plastic light covers in my head compartment keeps popping off. Also a design deficiency. I think that putting some sort of guard around your light is treating the symptom and not the cause. It's a natural tendency. But I think you would be better off to figure some means of attaching the trim piece, or other parts more effectively (glue, screw, tape, what ever) would be a better solution. I don't have a good suggestion on how to do that since I haven't had the need to examine mine. Even replacing it altogether would be better in my opinion.Now if I could just get around to fixing the nagging, but minor problems I do have on my boat. I just finished replacing a broken alternator output wire (long story). Let us know what you may come up with

 

[Jon W.]

Another thought

If your boat is still under warranty, maybe you could get the dealer to replace the light fixture, and hope that it stays together. Hopefully you have more confidence in your dealer to resolve problems than I do in mine.BTW, do you have the 135% genoa, or the optional 150%?