Nav light flaky

[Sea Gypsy]

On a '83 30 ft Catalina, the bow nav light does not work. The stern nav light is working fine. I recently bought the boat and the bow nav light was not work. We changed the light bulb on the bow light and it worked for a while. When it quit again, we replaced the entire nav light unit. It still does not work. We have used a tester on the wires at the bow and we do not show having a live circuit. We pulled the breaker panel and it appears that there are 2 wires on the running light switch, both are connected and red wire. There is also a gray & black wire running off the panel that is hot (I got shocked). We don't know where to go from here. Any ideas?

 

[Tom Soko]

Disconnet the Shore Power

Sea Gypsy,If you got shocked, it means you touched one of the 110V AC wires. If you are going to be messing around behind the electrical panel, it would be a very good idea to disconnect the shore power before you do. On a 20 year old boat, the PO could have done anything with the wiring, but logic says that one of the two red wires is for the bow nav light and one is for the white stern nav light. Most likely you have a broken or corroded connection somewhere between the panel and the bow light. Turn on that switch/breaker and try tracing the wires back from the bow. I believe the wires go thru the bow pulpit and into the anchor locker. Best chance of finding a corroded connection in there. Then back under the deck, along the gunwhale (sp?). At every connection test for 12V. Once you find 12V, you'll know the problem is either there or forward of that spot. Good Luck.