I plan on removing a combination deck/steaming light mounted about half way up my aluminum mast. The screw holes can be drilled out a little and filled with aluminum pop-rivets but the hole for the electrical wires is much larger and I don't think they make rivets big enough to fill the hole. Any suggestions?
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Use Marine Tex ...
Find a way to tape the inside for backing and fill with Marine Tex. Sand the surface as needed.
Find a way to tape the inside for backing and fill with Marine Tex. Sand the surface as needed.
Plug
If you have an electonics supply house nearby you may find a plastic panel plug that will fill the hole. These are used to fill unutilized holes in control panels and you may have removed them yourself at one time or another when you installed a switch or control device. It may be that the hole in the mast will have to be made a little larger so that the plug has a tight fit. A little heat will help the plug conform to the curve on the front of the mast. What are you going to use for a steaming light?
If you have an electonics supply house nearby you may find a plastic panel plug that will fill the hole. These are used to fill unutilized holes in control panels and you may have removed them yourself at one time or another when you installed a switch or control device. It may be that the hole in the mast will have to be made a little larger so that the plug has a tight fit. A little heat will help the plug conform to the curve on the front of the mast. What are you going to use for a steaming light?
Go with the panel plugs
Tom's suggestion is the best one. If you can measure the hole you should be able to buy the right size plug. It will be neater and easier.
Tom's suggestion is the best one. If you can measure the hole you should be able to buy the right size plug. It will be neater and easier.
epoxy stick
Try Star brites aluminum epoxy putty stick. Its thick like play dough you should be able to fill the holes with it.
Try Star brites aluminum epoxy putty stick. Its thick like play dough you should be able to fill the holes with it.
Fred and Tom
Yes, I realize that lights are needed. My masthead fixture has 2 bulbs wired independabtly. The front bulb is apparently for motoring. When at anchor, both bulbs light up for a 360 degree anchor light. The way things are wired now, the midmast deck/motoring light as well as the masthead lights turn on when motoring and when anchored. The midmast light also has 2 bulbs, one for motoring and one for the deck light. The one for the deck light glows dimly even with the selector on the pannel is in the Anchored position. For a better description of the lights, they are in West's cateloge as "Series 25 combo deck/masthead light and Fixed mount combination masthead/ all-around lights. I don't use the deck light that much so in accordance the KISS principle, I thought it easiest to just get rid of the mid-nast fixture. I welcome your thoughts
Yes, I realize that lights are needed. My masthead fixture has 2 bulbs wired independabtly. The front bulb is apparently for motoring. When at anchor, both bulbs light up for a 360 degree anchor light. The way things are wired now, the midmast deck/motoring light as well as the masthead lights turn on when motoring and when anchored. The midmast light also has 2 bulbs, one for motoring and one for the deck light. The one for the deck light glows dimly even with the selector on the pannel is in the Anchored position. For a better description of the lights, they are in West's cateloge as "Series 25 combo deck/masthead light and Fixed mount combination masthead/ all-around lights. I don't use the deck light that much so in accordance the KISS principle, I thought it easiest to just get rid of the mid-nast fixture. I welcome your thoughts
Steaming light
I think the masthead light that you intend to use as your steaming light might serve you better as an anchor light. The only light other than an anchor light that should be used at the top of the mast would be a tri-color and if you are motoring the steaming light should be on as well. If your an inland sailor and only use your light if you get caught returning to the slip you can get by but if you sail at night near commercial channels or shipping lanes the traffic may be confused by the masthead light and think your are anchored or dragging.
I think the masthead light that you intend to use as your steaming light might serve you better as an anchor light. The only light other than an anchor light that should be used at the top of the mast would be a tri-color and if you are motoring the steaming light should be on as well. If your an inland sailor and only use your light if you get caught returning to the slip you can get by but if you sail at night near commercial channels or shipping lanes the traffic may be confused by the masthead light and think your are anchored or dragging.
Bill, like Tom said,
the masthead white light is not for motoring/steaming. It's for anchoring. And a proper anchor light will have 360 degree visibility with ONLY one bulb. You're using twice as much juice as you have to. The mid-mast light is required to be at that location for a proper steaming light. The decklight is just a 'goodie', not required.
the masthead white light is not for motoring/steaming. It's for anchoring. And a proper anchor light will have 360 degree visibility with ONLY one bulb. You're using twice as much juice as you have to. The mid-mast light is required to be at that location for a proper steaming light. The decklight is just a 'goodie', not required.
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