Association Forum - changing the bulb at the top of the mast

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

changing the bulb at the top of the mast

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

cmckitrick
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
116 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/08/2006 : 11:02:45

Hi everyone. I think I need to do this and I have a question. It looks to me as if the plastic piece covering the light is simply taped on around the bottom. I was expecting to find screws. am I missing something? I am not ready to do this since rain is in the forcast but does anyone know what the arrangement is up there? It looks like I just undo the tape and remove the cover. I'll check the parts catalog to see if that helps while I await responses. Thanks.

Charlie McKitrick
Norwell, MA
Valiant Lady... for now
'81 C 25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1764 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 11:49:30

Hi Charlie,

I added the anchor light to my mast, so it isn't likely the same type you have. I thought I'd give you a "heads up" though ... it might save you some grief.

You didn't say whether you plan to go up in a boson's chair, or take the mast down. Regardless of which method you want to use to change the bulb, if you haven't done so already, be sure to check the continuity of the wire with a voltage meter ... it might be just a bad ground due to corrosion.

I know someone who went through all the work and hassle of lowering his mast to change the bulb, only to find out the bulb was fine ... there was corrosion in the connection at the base of the mast that was the problem. Don't ask how I happen to know this guy

'Hope that helps ... good luck getting it to work!

Edit: BTW, as I recall, my anchor light didn't have any tape on it ... the lens cover is held in place with a couple of phillips head screws.

Edited by - Buzz Maring on 05/08/2006 11:51:31

JB
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
112 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 11:55:20

If it's the same as mine it just twists off. There are faint marks on the top and bottom to line up when putting it back together because all the tabs are not the same.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 21:21:12

If memory serves me, both my steaming and anchor light were Perko plastic domed lights with a chrome ring and three screws holding it down to a teak base.

Edited by - on

Steve Siefken
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
81 Posts

Response Posted - 05/08/2006 : 22:37:48

Buzz,

Was the corrosion on the male or female end of the connector? How did you get it off?

Thanks,

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1764 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2006 : 07:29:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Siefken
 Buzz,

Was the corrosion on the male or female end of the connector? How did you get it off?

Thanks,
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Hi Steve,

I don't yet have a connector plug at the base of the mast. When I bought my boat, there were a couple of wires (the original from the factory) just sticking up out of the deck. They were old and brittle, and I was worried that I would ruin what little wire I had left to work with. I used some crimp-on connectors that temporarily got everything working ... but, after a few months, corrosion built up on the old original copper wire and my anchor light quit working.

It was a long time ago, but I think I used some acetone and a toothbrush to clean the old wires coming out of the deck, then I cleaned it with some flux and soldered the connections (like I should have done in the first place). I then wrapped it with copious amounts of electrical tape, and that did the trick.

I know I need to figure out a way to put a plug where the wires exit the deck, but I've been putting it off. I'm afraid that those old wires are so brittle that the more I mess with them, the closer I am to replacing them altogether. I don't like the Mickey Mouse way I've got it rigged, but I seldom need to use the anchor light or steaming light anyway.

Someday I'd like to add a light to illuminate the foredeck ... when I do that, I'll bite the bullet and add a plug, replace the internal wires (

) etc.

I don't know if that helps you or not, but I guess I aired my dirty laundry ...

Edited by - on

cmckitrick
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
116 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2006 : 10:13:12

As an fyi, the mast is already down for winter storage in my yard. I've never been up the mast and I'm not sure I'd do it to change a bulb. It looks like its screwed in with phillips head screws from what I can see on the parts list. Thanks for the help.

Edited by - on

Ericson33
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
892 Posts

Response Posted - 05/09/2006 : 10:32:59

When I started working with our lights (none of them worked) I did a voltage test on all of the wires and it showed good voltage on the meter, I then went to the sockets and pulled the bulbs to find that they also were still good. What I did notice is that over time the socket itself along with the light had built up corosion and was not making good contact. Every single bulb on the boat was this way. I got a small piece of sand paper and cleaned the conections and everything is working fine.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2006 : 16:41:18

I use CRC electrical contact cleaner. It dissolves that green grime and leaves a clean connection. Then I'll coat the connector, light bulb, etc. with dielectric grease before re connecting, or putting in the bulb.
I don't think tape was original equipment on the anchor lights.
I replaced my anchor light with a sealed LED light, so of course now the windex light is blown. I'll replace that with an LED too.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.