Masthead Light

Dec 28, 2015
1,837
Laser, Hunter H30 Cherubini Tacoma
Who would want to see a strobe light while at anchotage? That would be very annoying and power consuming
 

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
6,745
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
The advantage I see with an LED fixture is reliability as it will likely outlast your ownership of the boat. Replacing the bulb in an existing fixture with a hybrid LED bulb adds very little reliability as the majority of the problems are cause by rusted bulb sockets or poor electrical contacts. A quality fixture will sell for around $160+ while a bulb could be had for under $10. Not having to climb the mast when you are not prepared or just do not feel like it may be worth the $160.
Benny, I see your point about an LED-specific fixture, but for a high quality fixture like Hella and Aqua Signal Series 40 lamps, swapping out the incandescent bulb for an LED results in a system just as reliable as before, which is excellent for a properly installed fixture. Further, you shouldn't use anything other than a USCG approved light, which covers LED bulbs. These are typically not available for $10. My experience has been in the $35. to $50. range.
 
Jan 11, 2014
11,323
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
It specifies the word navigation “Light” not navigation “Bulb”. Is there something in the regs that specifies “bulb” certification?
The certification is based on the light fixture with an OEM bulb. It is listed somewhere in CFR 40 something. Don't have time to do the research.
 
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Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
I always get a kick out of concerns expressed on these forums if replacing bulbs is going to invalidate the certifications by USCG, or some other regulatory body. <<This is not an attack on @jssailem @jviss or any others, so please do not take offence>> --- I just do not think that any regulator or LEO has ever cited any private boater for having the wrong color lights if they were close, or checked that the fixture was stamped USCG-approved, because they have bigger fish to fry. Perhaps "inspected vessels" carrying passengers for hire where there are inspection teams every five years get such review, but not recreational boaters.

Even inspected vessels do not rigorously comply with some of these notices, for example: The safety alert that John referred to in the above post includes the following paragraph:
Boaters should be concerned about installing “decorative” lighting on their boats in various places, including underwater, on the rubrail, or just above the waterline. Care must be taken that these lights:  cannot be mistaken for navigation lights,  do not impair the visibility or distinctive character of approved and properly placed navigation lights, and  do not interfere with the operator’s ability to maintain a proper lookout. Such circumstances may represent a violation of Rule 20.
I've sailed in Florida waters with these massive cruise ships, and there is no way to distinguish navigation lights from the white deck lights that make these things glow like a Vegas casino -- see image:
 
May 20, 2016
3,014
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
Reading the 2015 safety alert issued by the CG, https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/Alerts/1015.pdf
It specifies the word navigation “Light” not navigation “Bulb”. Is there something in the regs that specifies “bulb” certification?
The light and bulb are certified together. The fixture should be marked with the bulb type required for certification and the words USCG Certified. I believe using any type of bulb other than what the lamp was certified with invalidates your USCG certification. This makes sense as the bulb influences both distance and light angles. Yes most LED’s from MarineBeam or SBO probably exceed the spec and are arguably brighter, but who is going to the USCG and pay for a new cert. unlike “normal” bulbs which are standardized as to filament height, orientation to the pins ..... Each LED vendor has only using the standard base, number of LED’s orientation, color are all different.

I paid the $$ to get a certified LED fixture, it’s sealed so no bulb replacement. I also have a non-certified Tri-color/strobe/Anchor light where I got static from people questioning if my insurance would be still valid... Good question is it valid if you have a non-certified bulb/fixture combo ?? BTW - I have it so tri-color and rail mounted lights can not be turned on concurrently.

Food for thought - your boat your choice.
 
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Jan 11, 2014
11,323
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
I always get a kick out of concerns expressed on these forums if replacing bulbs is going to invalidate the certifications by USCG, or some other regulatory body.
Unless the lights are grossly non-compliant the USCG or LEOs will probably not bother with lighting issues.

However, if there is an accident having non-compliant lighting can affect the outcome of any criminal or civil trial. There was a case a few years ago on the West coast, a sailboat was hit by an off-duty deputy in a powerboat. There was a question about the lights on the sailboat and the skipper of the sailboat was held accountable for the accident. Someone here will probably remember the name, it made national news in the boating press.
 
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jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
6,745
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Dave and John make excellent points. It is true that a bulb can't be certified on its own. As far as I am aware, the only company that has gone through the trouble of obtaining USCG Certification for its LED bulbs as aftermarket replacements for many common navigation lights is Dr. LED. If you know of others, please let me know!

They have very specific bulb recommendations for these lights. They are not cheap, but they are right!

For example, on my boat I have:

Bow:
Hella 2984 bicolor nav light

Stern:
Hella 2984 white nav light

Masthead:
Aqua Signal Series 40 Tri-Color/Anchor/Strobe Deck Mount Light w/quicfits- Black Housing:
Light Source 1 - 25W BAY 15d Bulb tri-color
Light Source 2 - 10W BAY 15d Bulb anchor
Light Source 3 - 8W strobe

The Dr. LED bulbs for these are:
white stern and anchor: 8001757 $50 ea.
masthead tricolor: 8001450 $60
bow bicolor: 8001634 $50

Those are list prices, slightly less in retail.

Note that Dr. LED explains that because LED lamps are much narrower spectrum than incandescent, one must use a red LED behind a red lens, green behind green, bicolor behind bicolor, and so on. This is what they have had to do to achieve the 2nm USCG certification.

If for no other reason than my liability, I will go with these.
 
Aug 13, 2012
533
Catalina 270 Ottawa
And is it possible to install a strobe light instead or is that illegal?
I don't think it is illegal, but it would be confusing, as it would mean something else. And you would need to have the anchor light, anyway (that is legally required).

Would it be recommended to replace this housing and LED at the same time?
The simple answer is yes. The new lights are designed to work with the LED "bulb", so that would work better.
 

jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
6,745
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
I don't think it is illegal, but it would be confusing, as it would mean something else. And you would need to have the anchor light, anyway (that is legally required).



The simple answer is yes. The new lights are designed to work with the LED "bulb", so that would work better.
It's a lot easier, and probably less expensive, to put an LED bulb into an existing fixture. USCG certified combinations are available (Dr. LED). Why buy entire fixtures, re-install/rewire, and throw away expensive fixtures when you can just replace bulbs? (My nav light fixtures add up to over $500.)
 
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Jan 11, 2014
11,323
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
It's a lot easier, and probably less expensive, to put an LED bulb into an existing fixture. USCG certified combinations are available (Dr. LED). Why buy entire fixtures, re-install/rewire, and throw away expensive fixtures when you can just replace bulbs? (My nav light fixtures add up to over $500.)
Depends. I replaced the whole fixture on my TriColor light, it was ~25 years old, the wiring was funky, and the mast was on saw horses. I don't have to worry about corrosion now and the wiring is much better.

Your mileage may vary.
 
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capta

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Jun 4, 2009
4,766
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
Who would want to see a strobe light while at anchotage? That would be very annoying and power consuming
Yes, indeed, it certainly is. I don't think I've spent a single night in any anchorage in the Caribbean where at least one boat wasn't showing his ignorance.
 

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
4,766
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
It's a lot easier, and probably less expensive, to put an LED bulb into an existing fixture. USCG certified combinations are available (Dr. LED). Why buy entire fixtures, re-install/rewire, and throw away expensive fixtures when you can just replace bulbs? (My nav light fixtures add up to over $500.)
I tried that with my nav lights and it was an expensive failure. The Aqua Signal housings weren't actually watertight enough nor were the contacts particularly good at conducting power. Since the new LED fixtures are 100% sealed AND come with heat sinks, there is no good reason to use old fixtures with the new tech LEDs, IMO.
 
Dec 28, 2015
1,837
Laser, Hunter H30 Cherubini Tacoma
Switching the whole fixture out allows for a single trip up. A couple self tappers, butt connectors and your done. Compared to heading up to figure out the bulb size then getting the right one and heading up again to switch it out.
 
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jviss

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Feb 5, 2004
6,745
Tartan 3800 20 Westport, MA
Compared to heading up to figure out the bulb size then getting the right one and heading up again to switch it out.
You can do a little research beforehand, assuming you know what's on your boat.
 

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,645
Catalina 30 Mk II Barnegat, NJ
I'm in the new USCG approved LED fixture camp. Marine Beam has their USCG approved LED anchor lights ranging in price from $90 to $110 for the tri-color, anchor, SOS Strobe combination light.
Cheap considering other stuff I've bought for my boat.
 
Jan 25, 2011
2,391
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
I put a new LED anchor light fixture on top when the mast was down in 2013. Quit working last yr. Forget the make. I don’t think its required in established anchorages or out of navigatable waters..
 
Apr 11, 2010
946
Hunter 38 Whitehall MI
If I'm going with LED does the housing need to be replaced? The 38 is 10 years old and I'm almost certain that the housing is just as old. Would it be recommended to replace this housing and LED at the same time? And is it possible to install a strobe light instead or is that illegal? I got the anchor light and steaming light confused.

Did that same change. No you don’t need to replace the fixture. SBO store can help you with the bulb for our model boat.
Went up the mast and replaced with LED and it’s much brighter and uses much less power

Oh and I didn’t go up the mast to check which bulb I needed. Just got binoculars and to make sure I knew which fixture I had, compared it to the pictures in 38 section of SBO store and ordered the bulb.

By the way, I did all the running lights at the same time. SBO carries those bulbs too
 
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