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Nav lights/condensation

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crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/06/2007 : 19:34:52

I am having a heck of a time with the bow lights on my 1979 SR FK. I re-wired them and they worked for awhile, but they are not reliable. I am beginning to think that the condensation in the anchor locker is the culprit. Does anyone else have this condensation problem in the anchor locker? I was at the boat today, it has not rained in two or three weeks, and the locker is soaked, the rode is soaked and water was dripping from the underside of the hatch cover. I'm beginning to think that I am partly responsible for this, as I put fresh weather stripping arouind the anchor locker last year to keep the rain out. I'm beginning to think I would prefer to let the rain enter and run out through the drain. Any thoughts?

Further thought: the nav lights themselves are now 28 years old. I find a set in the Defender catalog, item number S918 which look like ours. They are the Whitecap brand. Does anyone know if they are the same? Don't really want to order and have to return. To forestall questions, yes, I'd like to get around to installing modern ones on the pulpits and may some day do it, but we rarely sail at night and on our little lake, these seem to work well. When they work, that is. I really believe that I have met and been bested by the condensation/corrosion monster.

Thanks for any input.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2007 : 19:57:58

Charles,

I also have a 1979 C-25 which came with dead nav. lights. I kept my original light fixtures, installed new lenses and socket assemblies, added a wiring junction block in the forepeak, and ran new marine grade wire from the circuit breaker with crimped and soldered terminals. To protect the backsides of the refurbished lights from further abuse, I built waterproof protective shells around them using plywood and epoxy. I included small Beckson-style access covers for changing bulbs.

At the same time, I sealed the anchor locker off from the rest of the interior, enlarged the drain tube, and notched the fwd. edge of the cover so I can usually pay out rode with the locker closed. I mention the drain and notch because I think trying to keep water out of the anchor locker is futile. Better to improve drainage and ventilation to get rid of the water once it's in there. I did some other work in that same general area of the bow while I had the tools out, but the above might give you an idea or two you can use.

-- Leon Sisson

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2007 : 22:17:47

Just reinforces my belief: If anyone has a choice between buying a 1990 "Mark IV" C-25 and Leon's "Mark I", buy Leon's.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/07/2007 : 09:07:54

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/07/2007 : 09:38:41

I abandoned my old bow and stern lights. I bought a new bow light and a stainless steel pulpit mount from West Marine. I installed a deck plug and ran marine grade wire through the anchor locker, into the V Berth, and all the way back to the switch panel. Now I have 1 halogen bulb, putting out more light for less power and it is up higher and more visible. Later, I moved the light down on the pulpit because right up front high and center it caught on the spinnaker.

Later I did the same for the stern light, my old stern light worked fine but it is a terrible place, shining right into the helmsmans face at night. The new one is up high out of the way on the stern tubing.

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crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 03/07/2007 : 21:05:05

I have been thinking seriously about that, long term. I must confess to being a little intimidated by the idea of trying to fish the wire through the pulpits. I read the idea about the vacuum and the "mouse" and that sounds workable.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/07/2007 : 21:20:06

How about those masthead triples?

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/07/2007 : 23:13:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 How about those masthead triples?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Frank, I had one of the tri-color w/anchor masthead lights on my previous sailboat. I think they're a great idea for big water. In crowded, sheltered waters where Bubba Sixpack trying to find the ramp at full throttle after sunset

is the most important reason to show lights, I think lights down around deck level are probably more practical. Bubba's not gonna be seeing real far ahead, or looking 30' up in the air for obstacles.

-- Leon S

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crcalhoon
Captain

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USA
303 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2007 : 20:23:17

I have to go along with Leon on that one. Recently had a guy--good, responsible boater, I might add,-- tell me that with him, his grown son and a full tank of gas, his boat would do 72.9 MPH (not knots). Mind you, our lake is less than ten miles long. I figure that if he and his bass fishing associates are looking anywhere, it's right out in front of the boat where the logs or alligators might be. Very much unlike the probably non-existant lookout on an ocean going freighter. whose eyeballs are a lot higher than our masts.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/08/2007 : 21:19:10

I had intentions of replacing my bow lights with something high up on the bow pulpit. Not only do the factory lights get sweaty and steamed up, they can be knock out of their holder easily. Also, they are too low, so if you are in rough seas, they might not be visible to other boats. Cheers.

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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.