In another thread there's a discussion going about wire sizes in the mast. I have a question about lighting on the mast. My Cal 28 currently uses a combination anchor/steaming light at the mast truck. I would like to really get some light on the deck for those occasions when you just plain need to see on deck at night. Having seen genny leeches ripped up by things on the mast, I'm sort of concerned about the steaming/deck light combo. However, I wonder about windage and other problems with spreader lights (and I guess the genny going past on a tack could get hung up on these as well). Don't spreader lights add problems to unstepping/storing the mast. The spreaders are usually removed for storage at my yard and it seems like having lights/wiring on them would complicate that. If I use spreader lights, do I need connectors at the mast? So, what works best all around, steaming/deck light on leading edge of mast, spreader lights on the lower spreader, both, or none of the above? If one or both of these is appropriate, does anyone have a suggestion as to what light(s) work best and are still reasoably efficient? -Smitty
Sreader lights vs steaming/deck light
- Thread starter Smitty
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Mine have connectors
My spreader lights have connectors at the point just outside the mast where they exit the mast just below the spreaders. Then two wires exit the spreaders from the underside of the spreader and nearer the mast. There is a total of about 5+" of wire that are joined by the connectors at either bitter end of the wires on both the lower spreaders. I also have a deck light that is a rounded dome light that is mounted on the front side of the mast and points down to the deck (just below the RADAR). I also have a separate steaming light further up the mast about half way between the upper and lower spreaders.
My spreader lights have connectors at the point just outside the mast where they exit the mast just below the spreaders. Then two wires exit the spreaders from the underside of the spreader and nearer the mast. There is a total of about 5+" of wire that are joined by the connectors at either bitter end of the wires on both the lower spreaders. I also have a deck light that is a rounded dome light that is mounted on the front side of the mast and points down to the deck (just below the RADAR). I also have a separate steaming light further up the mast about half way between the upper and lower spreaders.
night vision
We find that using decklights, mounted on the spreaders or elsewhere, absolutely ruin any night vision the crew has. This makes finding buoys, other boats or picking out landmarks difficult, and could endanger the boat. We don't use them under way. After we're docked, the lights on the dock are usually enough to see by. If we do need to see something on deck, a 9v flashlight generally provides enough light in a small enough beam that not all crew lose their night vision at once.
We find that using decklights, mounted on the spreaders or elsewhere, absolutely ruin any night vision the crew has. This makes finding buoys, other boats or picking out landmarks difficult, and could endanger the boat. We don't use them under way. After we're docked, the lights on the dock are usually enough to see by. If we do need to see something on deck, a 9v flashlight generally provides enough light in a small enough beam that not all crew lose their night vision at once.
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