mast coming down for repairs - possible enhancement

[Justin_NSA]

I've decided that at the end of the season, my mast needs to come down for electrical repair work. Details and pics when the job begins. Meantime I'm thinking of adding spreader lights while I can.
Are there any suitable marine grade lights that I can mount that can switch from white to red light? LEDS of course. Has anyone done this that can shed some light (pun intended) on the project?

 

[jssailem]

Justin. I changed out my mast lights this year. Removed the spreader lights (extra wiring and who needs to see the sides of the boat or cockpit.) my concern was the foredeck so there would be light when changing a sail or tying something down in a hurry. I went with an Aqua Signal 25. It has three wires. Positive for Steaming light, Positive for bow light, and common ground. Bought an LED bulb. Fitted to mast at spreader height (using an existing hole) works great.

As was suggested to me - you don't need big lights in the dark you are not a fishing boat working on deck all night.

Use a two color head light for close work, and the bow light for general orientation.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I hear you John. My thought on spreader lights is strictly for dockside use. Either as a social thing,, to get out and quickly secure something, or just not wanting to fall off the dock on a dark, moonless night. It's a luxury, not a necessity really.

 

[Gunni]

I did a complete R&R on my stick 2 years ago, including all new sealed LED lamps (anchor, steaming, and deck light). I am a big proponent of keeping it simple, so the steaming/deck light is a single fixture, fore the mast. The deck light angles to sweep the foredeck with 35w equivalent of crisp white LED light. My thoughts are, sometimes you need to light the place up like noon. For all other times a red headlamp works fine.

Here is the steaming/deck light I used:
https://store.marinebeam.com/led-masthead-foredeck-combination-light/

Here is the anchor lamp:
https://store.marinebeam.com/led-all-around-anchor-light/

Had to sell my riggers on these lamps, but after inspecting and installing they have begun spec'ing and selling them. Very robust construction, and excellent electrical design.
Good luck

 

[Justin_NSA]

I like the idea of a deck lamp for coming into the dock at night but I wish they could go red too.
I'm seriously considering turning my ceiling cover panel under the mast into an auxiliary switch panel and moving my switches from the main panel to here. I think that the anchor and steaming light should be on one SPDT switch. You either use one or the other. Not both.
This would also give me a spot for a circuit breaker for the feed to my inverter/charger that was never installed per the manual. Also needs to be changed from 12ga wire to 10ga, also per the manual. But that's another story and another off season project.

 

[agprice22]

Try SuperbrightLEDs.com. You can get waterproof led bars and other lights that can change colors.

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE="...I'm seriously considering turning my ceiling cover panel under the mast into an auxiliary switch panel and moving my switches from the main panel to here. I think that the anchor and steaming light should be on one SPDT switch. You either use one or the other. Not both. This would also give me a spot for a circuit breaker for the feed to my inverter/charger that was never installed per the manual. Also needs to be changed from 12ga wire to 10ga, also per the manual. But that's another story and another off season project.[/QUOTE]

Justin, that is exactly what I did when I needed more breakers than my B323 panel had. I got the toggles with the light in the end of the toggle so I can see that power is getting there. While I was at it, I put a switch there for the deck light so I reach it through the deck hatch. There were 2 hot feeds from the breaker panel, but I used only one for all three lights. With LEDs, you shouldn't need 10 gauge.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Thanks Ron. I think the lighting mods will be great. The 10ga to the Freedom 20 is spec'd for the charger as well as inverter. Not sure why they only used 12ga....and didn't use a fuse or circuit breaker.

 

[Pat]

Justin, you can buy small lights that are solar powered to light the walkway around your boat....they are very effective at
walkway lighting and providing lighting when leaving and coming into your slip...but they do not seem to attract our friends the
Mayflies...that are so attracted to lights...like the dock light pedestals up and down the slips at NSA.. I think nearly a million Mayflies perished in their little slip frenzy a couple weeks ago.... Patrick

 

[Justin_NSA]

Hi Patrick. Yes, Dave has them around his and they work pretty well. I'll have to get a decision from the admiral. So you think the Sheldon Cooper fluorescent paint would be too much