I was just curious..is there any way to access the top of your mast without unstepping it and bringing it down to you? My mast light is not working and I wanted to check/change the bulb or check the connections. Are there any tricks to get up there.
how to access the top of your mast
- Thread starter digitek718
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Instead of hauling yourself up to the top, buy an electrical test unit and you can check the wires from the base of the mast to see if the circuit is complete.
Here's what you need: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90899
It could be as easy as a busted bulb, or it could be a break in the wire - only way to know is to test the circuit. If it were me, I would drop the mast and check/replace all neccessary wiring and lights for piece of mind to not have to deal with it when the boat is floating. You could also purchase a solar light and haul it up on a line at night. Otherwise, you'll need to rig up something like this
Good Luck!
Here's what you need: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90899
It could be as easy as a busted bulb, or it could be a break in the wire - only way to know is to test the circuit. If it were me, I would drop the mast and check/replace all neccessary wiring and lights for piece of mind to not have to deal with it when the boat is floating. You could also purchase a solar light and haul it up on a line at night. Otherwise, you'll need to rig up something like this
Good Luck!
I've tried those "Sky Hooks" and they don't seem to work too well.
If you've checked the receptacle and plug at the bottom of the mast and you're getting voltage, I would take the mast down. Sometimes it's just a poor connection in the light socket. A useful tool is the Dremel Tool with a small wire brush attachment for cleaning the metal contacts, and even the metal on the bulb. Of course, a Volt/Ohms meter comes in handy for checking continuity or voltage. I layed my mast on a portable work bench and part of the grand kid's play house and was able to connect a small 12 Volt battery charger to the wires at the bottom of the mast for a power source. I could have used a battery, but the charger is lighter and has Alligator clips. It's a heck of a lot easier to work on your mast wiring with the mast laying down. If you can put the mast on some saw horses, it's a lot easier to work it. I took a 2' piece of plank and cut a round notch in the end and put it in the vice of my bench, and layed the end of the mast in the notch. I work better when I don't have to bend down too much. You find these things out when you become a "Geezer." :dance:
Joe
Well, there are a few options;
1) obviously, unstep the mast. Your going to do it anyway this Fall when you haul out, I'd be sure to check everything then.
2) Raft up with someone that has a much bigger boat and a Bosun's Chair that could be hoisted up their mast. Have them raise you up high enough to check your mast. Likewise, many marinas have a crane to step/unstep masts and they will often hoist a worker up in a bosuns chair to inspect rigging ($$)
3) Hire/rent/borrow a cherry-picker truck and bring it to a dock where you can tie up to do the work.
My advice? Unstep the mast to do the work. Joe missed one advantage of working on an unstepped mast, if you drop anything..... it hits the ground right below the mast (works best if mast is on saw horses) rather than going "bounce, bounce, splash!" or "look out!... OUCH!!, splash!" same applies to dropped tools.
Finally, the idea of using a solar-light won't work.... first most are not bright enough to meet USCG lighting standards for a 360deg white light. Second most will not stay on all night unless they really get a good charge fro mthe sun all day.
1) obviously, unstep the mast. Your going to do it anyway this Fall when you haul out, I'd be sure to check everything then.
2) Raft up with someone that has a much bigger boat and a Bosun's Chair that could be hoisted up their mast. Have them raise you up high enough to check your mast. Likewise, many marinas have a crane to step/unstep masts and they will often hoist a worker up in a bosuns chair to inspect rigging ($$)
3) Hire/rent/borrow a cherry-picker truck and bring it to a dock where you can tie up to do the work.
My advice? Unstep the mast to do the work. Joe missed one advantage of working on an unstepped mast, if you drop anything..... it hits the ground right below the mast (works best if mast is on saw horses) rather than going "bounce, bounce, splash!" or "look out!... OUCH!!, splash!" same applies to dropped tools.
Finally, the idea of using a solar-light won't work.... first most are not bright enough to meet USCG lighting standards for a 360deg white light. Second most will not stay on all night unless they really get a good charge fro mthe sun all day.
Years ago when I was a lineman, if another lineman dropped a pair of pliers or other tool from the top of a pole by accident he'd yell out, "HEADACHE !!!" and you best be out from under that pole, or at least have your hard hat on. Today, I don't care how high I climb,---as long as I can have one foot on the ground.
Boy Joe as a old lineman you would think being on top of the mast is second nature, I'm an electrician and I don't mind climbing to the top if it needs to get done, last winter while on the hard I borrowed a bucket truck that had a reach taller than mine (60 ft) to go to top of my buddy's Catalina and my Oday and the bucket would not articulate as it ascended upward, by the time I got done horsing around I should have just went up in a bosuns chair
Since I've been retired RAD, I try to refrain from doing anything too laborious, and being a "Geezer", I'm lucky if I can still walk let alone climb a pole. I have to admit that buckets were easier to work out of, but I liked climbing when I was able to do it. I did quite a bit of it when I first started, and today I have those "Veryclose" veins in my legs to prove it.
I was playing with the two wires on the base of the mast and if I wiggle one of them the steamer light turns on..so I guess its just a loose or frayed connection..so I dont have to change the bulb which is good..thanks for the replies
I removed my steaming light along with the feed wire, last spring. It was something that I had added when I replaced my mast back in the 1990s and I'm sorry that I ever had it installed. The wiring for that light never faired well with the internal halyards and for the few times that I ever used that light, it really wasn't worth having. Outside of that, the wire that fed the mast head light was in good condition, but the outlet and plug needed to be replaced. The contacts in the mast head light needed cleaning, and the bulb was still good. I don't think that I've ever had to replace a bulb in either the mast head, bow, or Stern lights that I can remember. The problems are usually a broken wire, or a corroded and bad connection. I'm glad that you found the problem. I've found that the Dremel Tool is still a good investment for cleaning electric contacts as well as a host of other small tasks on boats and at home.
Joe
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