H23 Masthead Electric wiring question

[Cape Charles]

Rookie question - new 1993 Hunter 23.5 owner - I have a masthead light to mount on a fiberglass boat, it has two lightbulbs and two pairs of wires black & white coming out....mast has three wires, black, white, and a ground. So, what to do with the ground line coming out of the aluminum mast? Leave it unconnected, or join it to the black wires?
Appreciate any advice...examining the electric panel (missing caps and burned-out glass fuses, carbon deposits on wires behind the panel), suspect there may have been shorts in the past, have not yet connected a battery to the boat.
Thanks!
Charles from Cape Charles.

 

[MrUnix]

Not sure, but I suspect that the three wires going up are for two lights, an anchor light and a steaming light along with a common ground. You really need to grab a meter and check where the wires terminate to be sure.

Cheers,
Brad