Masthead/ foredeck light

[simpsoned]

Looking to replace my rather inadequate masthead light with a combo light...any recommendations or experience with various brands...need to stick with incandescent/halogen because of cost...
Ed simpson
S/V "Das Dawg Haus"
Newport 30

 

[RAD]

After having two different combo lights in the last 8 yrs here's my story.....first one that came when I bought the boat the fore deck light didn't work and when I removed the mast for a rewire and inspection I felt it needed replacement so I sent my friend to West Marine to buy another and he came back with an Aqua Signal series 25 and all went well till early in that season no light and for the next remaining 6 yrs I've been fighting with the bulb pins or the socket (takes a bi pin bulb) so this season I replaced it with an Aqua Signal series 41 that now matches my masthead tri/anchor fixture and all the bulbs are the same except the fore deck portion which is a sealed beam type bulb.....this fixture is a lot more robust and I feel I'll get a lot of service out of it

http://www.aquasignal.info/ecat/htd...=1&subcategory_id=1&product_id=49&item_id=370

 

[jfmid]

Combo Deck/Steaming light

Hello,
I just finished what you are starting. I had the Aqua signal series 25 and was ready to put it in place when I noticed that the connections were not well protected and the deck bulb was open to the elements. I looked at the Aqua signal 41 but decided it was too big for my mast. O'day 27' .

I returned it and got the Forespare model.
http://www.forespar.com/products/sail-combination-deck-bow-light.shtml
Much more robust connection wires and rubber grommet. The deck light is enclosed and both bulbs are very easy to swap out. I got the aluminum chafe guard and pop riveted it and the light into place (my new favorite tool). It was really easy to connect and install. Finished the wiring last weekend and it works like a charm. Very bright deck light and the steaming light is clear as day. I'm very pleased.
Couple of tips. You need 3 wires for the install. 1 neg and 2 pos. I used 14/3 ancor Bilge wire as it was the only 14/3 I could find. Ancor makes a 14/3 round white but I couldn't find any and didn't want to buy 100'. Wanted 14 guage because of the length of the run to and from the panel. It is ugly grey but easy to work with to get into the cabin. Once in the cabin I connected to other wires.
I used a cable clam to run the wires through the top of the deck. The cable clam was easy to install too.
Good luck.

 

[r.oril]

I am just like jfmid but I had to rewire the deck light when I replaced the antenna cable on my MacGregor 26D. I have the Forespar and it really lights up the area! My deck plug was trashed and getting all the lights to work was a pain. Good luck.