New navigation and mast head lights for '74 Catalina 22

[polarbrer]

I would like to update the wiring and nav lights for my '74 22. I've been sailing my 2002MKII, so the old boat is just in the barn. Not even sure what lights even work. Never even sailed it close to dark. Anyway this seems like a good project. However, I am not finding the web sites I want to order LED lights, red/green nav, stern, mast and steamer lights, wiring , switches, etc, Any leads will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[SFS]

There is a store here on SBO that sells many things we use on our boats. It's one place to check, and helps keep the site up.

As to light fixtures, I have ordered and tested (but not yet installed) multiple LED fixtures of different sizes from marinebeam.com. Can't recall if they sell nav light fixtures, as I only needed interior cabin lights.

Regular marine supply houses have detailed websites. Defender and west marine are two of the most well known. The west marine site also has helpful articles.

Ask in your community about nautical flea markets, you can often find bargains there.

Finally, from a knowledge perspective on all things electrical, search for the postings of one of this forum's most frequent contributors, Mainesail. He even has his own section here:
http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?forums/musings-with-maine-sail.135/

Good luck.

 

[CaptDon01]

I purchased LED's and replaced all my lights on my C-22, and the 12V lights on my RV from eBay. In the automotive parts section, there is a section for lights. They had all kinds, even white and red festoon bulbs for the cabin lights. Prices were unbelievably low, and most had free shipping.

Don

 

[Daveinet]

I bought this light last year. I've not used it much, but it works well, and is very bright. I didn't buy it from this seller, but this is the same light.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MARINE-BOAT-RED-GREEN-COMBINATION-BOW-LED-NAVIGATION-LIGHT-/271835097256

 

[polarbrer]

I finally was able to get into the barn and put a battery in the 22. I was delighted to see that the cabin lights worked as did the navigation lights fore and aft. I'm going to have to rewire the mast. It has an anchor light , but no mast head light. I would like to have both. Cap't Don < did you say you rewired your mast? Any advice? Are there any videos out there I can watch. ?

 

[jssailem]

Polarbrer, Here are some ideas. Your boat is less than 12 meters.

First the regulations:

Boats under 12 meters(39.4')
A sailboat under motor only, or under sail and motor, is considered a powerboat, and must display appropriate lights.
Sailboats-Separate or combination red and green sidelights, 112.5°, visible 1 n.m. White stern light, 135°, visible 2 n.m. OR, tri-color masthead light.

Powerboats-Separate or combination red and green sidelights, 112.5°, visible 1 n.m., placed above hull at least 1 meter (3.3') below masthead light. Masthead: white, 225°, visible 2 n.m., at least 1 meter above side lights. White stern light, 135°, visible 2 n.m. OR, one all-round (360°) white light (should also have sidelights).

 

[Jacktar]

I suggest you invest in a 4 wire deck connector (see WM or sea dog or whatever) then run a 4 wire harness to the connector under the cabin top near the mast base. You can purchase 16/4 speaker wire (in wall) cable in Lowes etc.. This gives you black, red, white, and green to your panel. Use black as common ground , red to nav circuit, white to anchor switch, and green to accy. Then at mast you can run 3 to 4 wire cable up and use red to steaming light, white to anchor, black as common ground and save green for a spreader light or other on deck accy. If you get confused let me know can send you a wiring diagram of my 83 with all this installed. Pix of connector below

 

[jssailem]

You can purchase 16/4 speaker wire (in wall) cable in Lowes etc..

On freshwater your exposure to corrosion is less than that in salt water, so you might get by with speaker wire. (would look for "outdoor" rated wire - quick on line cost $20 for 50ft) Better for it's marine treatment is marine rated 16/3 or 16/4. Better insulation, and the wire is tinned, twisted (more expensive about $35 for 50ft). Additionally, ring terminals are long term better connectors than the 4 wire deck connector. Locate a 4wire block $7.00 at the WM (less on line) in the cabin away from the deck through hole. Unscrew the connectors when you remove the mast. Reattach when you head out to sail. Positive connections, and one less spot to check when you flick the switch and no lights.

 

[polarbrer]

jssailem: Not quite sure what you are describing. What are ring terminals? Are they the connectors at the ends of my wires that run up the mast? How is the hole through the deck sealed.? Also, how do I run the wire through the length of the mast? Thanks all.

 

[jssailem]

My 1974 mast is down on the hard being refit for rigging and electrical. I have running halyard rigging inside my mast so isolation of the electrical from the halyards is required. The mast is large enough for us to run conduit (plastic tubing attached to inside of mast by aluminum rivets). I drilled (expanded) holes through the mast step - through the decking into the cabin. When the mast is raised onto the step, the wires are threaded through a 4 inch tube sticking up from the mast step. and into the cabin. The mast step is caulk/sealed to the deck. The tubes are caulk/sealed into the mast step. The electrical wires for the masthead lights are run through the conduit to the bottom of the mast. The wires are given a loop so that moisture running down the wires drips off onto the mast step not down wire into tube and cabin. There is a notch on the mast bottom that serves as a drain hole so moisture inside the mast drains out from the mast step onto the deck and back into the water. The wires, once fed into the boat are attached to a BlueSea wire terminal block. Since I have several lights on the mast I needed an 8 connector block. Your rig is simpler so the four connector block is perfect. The screws are #6's They will work great with the #8 heat shrink adhesive ring connectors sold here on the SBO web-site. The heat shrink adhesive gives you a water resistant seal over the end of the wire. The ring connectors give you a positive connection that if crimped properly will give you many years of service. If there is any corrosion you will be able to see it, clean it and deal with it.

I'll be headed to the boat in about 10 days. I will take pictures and post them on this sight of the refit.

Hope that helps.

 

[CaptDon01]

I didn't rewire my mast, I just eliminated the masthead, i.e. anchor light, not required on a 22' boat. I fabricated a mount for the masthead VHF antenna, which is now in the center of the masthead, and my Davis Windex mounts on the antenna.

Don

 

[jssailem]

Nice work.

I didn't rewire my mast, I just eliminated the masthead, i.e. anchor light, not required on a 22' boat.

Don,
You are correct about the masthead light.
Catalina C-22 is LOA: 21.50' / 6.55m
Snatched from the WM site: (Consistent with CG rules)

1. Sailboats under power are considered powerboats.
2. Sidelights may be combined into a single "bicolor" light.
3. Power vessels less than 12m may show a single all-round light in lieu of the separate masthead and stern lights.
4. Sailing vessels under 7m must have an electric torch or lantern available for collision avoidance.
5. Oar-driven vessels can show either the sailboat lights, or use the electric torch/lantern option.
6. When anchored outside a special anchorage, power and sail vessels under 20m must display an all-round light. Vessels under 7m are exempt, unless anchored in a narrow channel or anchorage, or where other vessels usually navigate.

U.S. Coast Guard / Transport Canada Requirements
Boat Length: >16' (4.88m)

1. Under Power Sidelights, Stern Light, & Masthead (Boats under power under 40' can substitute a single all-round light for separate stern and masthead lights. Boats under 65'7" can substitute a single bi-color light for sidelights )
2. Under Sail(Boats under power under 40' can substitute a single all-round light for separate stern and masthead lights. Sail boats under sail under 65'7" can substitute a tri-color light for separate sidelights and stern light.)
3. Rowing. Sidelights & Stern Light Same as “Under Sail”
4. At Anchor All-Round Light (night) or Black Anchor Ball (day) when outside a designated anchorage.

Visibility Range: 1nm Sidelights, 2nm All Other Lights
​

So you can get by with a flashlight some of the time. But isn't the rule there so others can see you and it would be your hope that they do in the dark. Nothing like a tugboat and barge to spoil a good sail.

​

 

[jssailem]

Check out the power of the barge in this video.

Happened on the Skookumchuck Narrows in BC Canada.

 

[polarbrer]

Thanks jssailem. Getting the idea but will look forward to your pictures. Is the conduit solid pvc? Or more like stiff but semi flexible tubing? Where can I buy it? Don . Thanks for the picture.

 

[jssailem]

We used thin wall pvc. It only has to contain the wires. We kept the size small and ran all electric and the VHF cable from the mast head through one tube. On my boat I needed a steaming/fore peak light about 2/3rds up the mast. So I ran a separate conduit to that level which houses the steaming light and the radar cable.

We pulled out foam insulation tubes that were used by a previous owner. The foam was dissolving after an unknown number of years inside the mast. We had about a foot of foam debris in the base of the mast. All a part of reclaiming an old boat from years of neglect. I like the cleanness of the conduit. The wires and lines are protected from potential chafe or sharp edges. Hopeful it will give me a few more years of service than letting them run free inside the mast... They are not like Free Range chickens...

Think my rigger picked it up from Lowes.