deck light

[splax]

the deck light on my H-34 is not working. i suspect the bulb and will eliminate other possible causes. i plan to take down the mast for maintenance this summer. does anyone have the bulb size?

 

[Don Crowther]

This would be a good time to replace that unit with a LED light as well as your steaming light if you haven't already.

 

[Justin_NSA]

This would be a good time to replace that unit with a LED light as well as your steaming light if you haven't already.

The lenses will probably be cloudy anyway.
I took advantage of my mast being down to replace all the wiring with new, heavier gauge for strength.

 

[Parsons]

I don't know about your particular boat, but I know that (unlike cars) there are no "standard" parts on production sailboats as they installed whatever they got a deal on that year. The most common brands, Hella and Forespar, used MR16-based bulbs for deck lights, which are quite a bit larger than the G4-base used for your internal reading lights, although the same two-pin push in design. I suggest that you could figure it out from the deck with binoculars, if there is no lens covering it. Some additional suggestions:

1. Buy really good quality LED's (MarineBeam, Dr. LED, etc.), not only for reliability, but also to eliminate RF interference that far up the mast. Unless you like going up the mast, this is not the place to save $5.
2. Make sure the installed bulb works by testing with a battery before you step the mast. LED's only work if the polarity is correct. Some high-end ones automatically compensate for reversed polarity. You don't want to have a 50/50 chance that it doesn't work.
3. Make sure that the socket is clean, and add some di-electric grease to the contact prior to installation. Principle cause of "failed" masthead bulbs is really corroded contacts.
4. Since the only thing holding the bulb in is the friction on two small pins, facing downwards, you may want to wire it in place with stainless wire across the face. Is there a plastic lens over the bulb?

Here's a good source of quality bulbs: 12V / 24V - MR11 and MR16 LED Replacement Bulbs The MR16 fit my Hella combination deck/steaming. Consider replacing every bulb on the mast with LED at the same time.

 

[kloudie1]

My boat came with this one:
Aqua Signal, Series 25 Combined Masthead / Foredeck, Steaming Light (go2marine.com)
West marine sells them, so if you have a store nearby, and they have one in stock, you can get the bulb size/type from them.. My deck light usually works for about a month after replacing the halogen bulb.. The deck light part does not have a lens on it so if you replace with an LED bulb, make sure it is sealed.. The steaming light part works fine..

 

[jssailem]

but I know that (unlike cars) there are no "standard" parts on production sailboats as they installed whatever they got a deal on that year.

So true. Hard for many to believe until they face the issue when refitting a mature boat, What was used in 1995 is not in production in 2015.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I didn't want to make more holes in the mast for a new assembly so I had to modify my combo light housing to accept the new LED deck light. The new LED steaming lamp fit fine.

 

[jssailem]

With the mast at ground level solving the issue of replacement or refit is simplified.

 

[Justin_NSA]

With the mast at ground level solving the issue of replacement or refit is simplified.

Exactly. Also you can "jump start" the lights on the end of the wires at the base to make sure they work before you step the mast and

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

I have the same type of mid-mast fixture as Kloudie. The lightbulbs are not incandescent however. In case of the steaming light I never bothered to go LED because it's only used while motoring hence no waste of amperage. The deck lightbulb has been replaced with a 12V 50W halogen floodlight as per pix. It really lights up the whole front deck ! If I ever need to use it for a long time I will resort to starting the engine. Has never happened.

 

[jssailem]

Claude, you never go to the foredeck while sailing in the dark?
Never had to manage the sails in a night time squall?
While I try to guard against having to do such activities I want to be able to do them without negatively impacting my battery supply. That powering up the engine may not be needed.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

John, of course I have to go to the foredeck sometimes when sailing in the dark. I sail singlehanded most of the time so I do try to minimize the frequency of those trips forward. To achieve that, I will generally reduce sails at night particularly if weather is expected to change. And if I have to leave the light on longer for any reason, it is not an issue for me to run the engine a little bit. And I'll add that while it is not the purpose of that foredeck light, there have been times when I used it to make absolutely sure I was being seen by an oncoming ship. Not part of the rules & regs, but amazing how a bright illumination being repeated a few times attracts attention.

 

[jssailem]

That is understandable. I selected a LED and it provides strong light on the boat bow without glare.

 

[TimFromLI]

Good point about the steaming light being used only while motoring but the other advantage of LED is life and not having to haul my fat butt up the mast to change the bulb again.

 

[Terry Cox]

Unsure whether the LED deck light bulb I switched to will fit your fixture, but it works great. Our boat has a combo fixture; steaming and deck light, Perko I think. This little :LED bulb really shines bright with very low power draw. In fact I've replace all our incandescent bulbs with LED. That bulb is here: High Powered BA9S Deck / Steaming Light LED (BA-9S-5W)

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Some deck lights use a 50w PAR36 bulb. I replaced mine with a drop-in replacement LED bulb that uses about 1/10th the power. Search the web for “LED par36”
This is one Weatherproof PAR36 LED Landscape Light Bulb - 50W Equivalent - Screw-Pin LED Flood Bulb - 730 Lumens | Super Bright LEDs

 

[Terry Cox]

Our steaming/deck combo light fixture looks like this: https://seamarknunn.com/acatalog/Aq...-Light-Combi-Black--12v-50w-MT3108105000.html

The original deck light bulb was halogen. Very bright and hot. The replacement LED bulb from marine beam is as bright, but a fraction of the power consumption . Very pleased with its performance. That bulb is here: 9mm BA9S Mini Bayonet LED bulbs for Hella, Forespar, Aqua Signal, and Davis It is the high powered BA9S LED deck light that is the third from the left.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Our steaming/deck combo light fixture looks like this: https://seamarknunn.com/acatalog/Aq...-Light-Combi-Black--12v-50w-MT3108105000.html

The original deck light bulb was halogen. Very bright and hot. The replacement LED bulb from marine beam is as bright, but a fraction of the power consumption . Very pleased with its performance. That bulb is here: 9mm BA9S Mini Bayonet LED bulbs for Hella, Forespar, Aqua Signal, and Davis It is the high powered BA9S LED deck light that is the third from the left.

That downward deck light is a Par36 format. See my post above.