Mast Light

Afrakes · Apr 6, 2015

I demystified my mast wiring by starting at the boat. Use a test light and identify which wire coming out of the deck does what by turning the light switches on one by one. How many lights do you have on the mast? Anchor, steaming, spreader? On the mast side I rigged up power from a 12 volt battery charger and identified each wire's function and made sure they mated up with corresponding wire on the deck. Al Frakes

Capt jgw · Apr 6, 2015

Also the led light is polarity sensitive. Once you have power to the light, if out doesn't work reverse the wires or turn the bulb around.

entmejia · Apr 6, 2015

Page 55 of the owner's manual seems to have the wiring diagram, it shows black going to the large center pin, and I think black is ground in D.C. circuits. May be worth checking out.

twalker H260 · Apr 6, 2015

White - aft portion of mast head light - 1/2 of anchor light - positive
Grey - steaming light and forward portion of anchor light. - positive
Black - negative ground.

If switch was wired correctly at factory there will be a diode(s) wired on the switch in the panel to allow the on-off-on switch to illuminate the steaming light and aft portion together when set to the anchor light position.

Mine was not wired correctly and I had to add the diode for proper operation.

Factory wiring diagram for mast is available here:

http://www.marlow-hunter.com/export/Model-Information/260_1997_2005/260 mast light wires.pdf

Are you adding a steaming light at a different position on the mast? The two wire configuration of the new fixture would seem to imply it is either an all around light (anchor) or steaming light but not usable for both functions as the original fixture was.

If wiring for anchor light it would be white - red, black - black also remove diode if present from switch in panel. For steaming light it would be grey - red, black - black.

Diode should be remove to allow independent control of anchor and steaming lights if you are putting on separate fixtures.

All the above also assumes no one has re wired the deck fitting since it left the factory!

Good luck!

justsomeguy · Apr 8, 2015

A steaming light is a forward shining white light that covers 225 degrees of arc, and indicates that the vessel is under auxilliary power, i.e. motoring.

justsomeguy · Apr 8, 2015

In the US, I doubt it.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/navRules/navrules.pdf

Stu Jackson · Apr 8, 2015

tgrass462 said:
Then one more question ... can you 'motor' with your mast (anchor) light on? Is this legal?

In addition to jsg's post, have you considered buying a book?

twalker H260 · Apr 8, 2015

With the way the 260 was wired you would then have a white over white light when viewed from the stern. This lighting configuration is used to indicate a vessel over 50' at anchor.

If you were able to turn off the stern light when under power you can use a single all around white light. - location would not be the best when viewed from the stern however. You would have to be able to turn the stern light back on when under sail and turn off the mast head light.

Factory wiring has the port, starboard and stern light all wired to come on together when you turn on the navigation lights.

Crazy Dave Condon · Apr 9, 2015

The original wiring was a three way toggle on the trailerable boats with off in the middle. The mast light was a two light separated by a divider with a 180 degree forward for steaming light at night and both on at night for anchoring. On inland lakes, most do not know the rules and many sailed at night with an anchoring light so bass boats, and others out at night could see it.

Mast Light

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