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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Bow lights

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John Pittman
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/02/2008 : 16:24:30

Hi everyone, I have a couple of questions to throw out there:

Does anyone know what years C-25 were produced with bow lights (headlights port and starboard)?
I am refring to the lights on the hull?
Are they navigation lights?

I am still searching for my c-25 swing or wing keel mid to late 80's

My web search sites include: soundings online, boat us, yactworld,boat and yact search results @marine source,latitude 38, trailerable classified ads, sailing texas.
Are there any other good sites I am overlooking.

johnnyp

Edited by - John Pittman on 03/02/2008 21:06:50

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2008 : 19:14:53

Hi John,
Funny you should ask about "Bow Lights" since when rewiring my anchor light and steaming light just this afternoon I found a switch on my factory installed electrical panel called "Bow Light" that had been subsequently relabeled and used for a long-ago removed autopilot.

I would be interested in learning about bow lights on Catalina sailboats, too.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2008 : 19:54:07

I think iBoats.com has the 'old style' nav lights.

Seachoice Flush Mount Sidelights Polished Stainless Steel

long link.

http://www.iboats.com/Seachoice_Flush_Mount_Sidelights_Polished_Stainless_Steel/dm/cart_id.703722597--category_id.362676--list_time.1204508848--session_id.377758163--view_id.2844

On the same site seee...
Shark Eye Navigation Lights
Seasense Stainless Steel Bow Lights

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2008 : 20:41:30

My boat's "running lights" switch turns on the running lights at the bow (port and starboard) and stern, and I have no idea why there was another switch called "bow light". I guess this is different from your question.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2008 : 21:57:07

I believe that the switch labeled bow light is for a mast- or spreader-mounted light also referred to as a deck light that would light up the bow at night whenever someone needed to go forward for sail or anchor handling.

Edited by - on

John Pittman
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 03/02/2008 : 22:29:13

duh stupid me,, it sounds like the lights I am looking at in pictures are navigation lights, not headlights like you see on some power boats.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2008 : 08:20:11

John, you're not stupid. I can't remember every switch label on my boat's electrical panel, but last night on Ebay I saw a 1985 C-25 with a pic of the electrical panel and it had switches for Running, Deck, and Bow lights. So, my idea above is probably wrong because deck light is already covered. It could well be a switch for an optional bow mounted spot or driving light. I'm going to have to check my boat now that you've raised the question.
BTW, that C-25 is a beautiful-looking fixed keel model with a new 9.9 Merc with a remote start/throttle/shift control in the cockpit. Boat is in Cleveland, OH.

Edited by - dmpilc on 03/03/2008 08:27:29

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2008 : 08:32:54

John,
Back to your questions. I found my boat on Craig's List and another site. As often stated on this forum, there is a wide range of Catalinas available on the water, and if one's trailerable, even more. Good luck.

DavidP,
OK, what you said makes sense, except that my original Catalina factory installed switch panel has these circuits:
- Running
- Cabin
- Bow Lt.
- Anchor
- Spreader
- Master
but the through-deck connector I have just replaced had only 2 wires, so apparently sub-standard lights were installed at the factory in that production run in 1978.

And I suppose each of the previous owners haven't missed an anchor light or a deck light or a windex light.

So I guess that's what you call day sailing.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2008 : 11:33:31

JohnP,
I assume you are referring to the thru-deck connector for the mast wiring. Spreader = Deck Light. Is your mast wiring also 2 wires? Does your mast have an light at the top as well as mid-mast pointing forward?

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2008 : 13:40:35

Yes, the mast wiring had only 2 wires total, and they were used for the steaming light that was controlled by a switch labeled "anchor".

So I am adding an anchor light with an LED and replacing the steaming light bulb with an LED bulb too. Deck (spreader) light will be for later, maybe.

Edited by - on

Joel37027
Deckhand

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USA
21 Posts

Response Posted - 03/03/2008 : 15:05:20

What LED bulb/light are you buying to replace your steaming light? Mine is out and I am thinking about the same thing.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2008 : 07:29:10

Joel,
There are several topics on LED replacements on the forum, like this one: [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14955"]LED Anchor Light discussion[/url].

On several Ebay sites there are dozens of LED bulbs for sale, like this site: [url="http://stores.ebay.com/US-Home-Direct"]LED bulbs[/url].

Since our boats have so many light fixtures with different bases/connections, you need to get a specific kind of bulb. My new anchor light fixture uses 1156-base bulbs, as does my old steaming light fixture, and the cabin lights, too. So check your own lights.

Edited by - on

skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2008 : 11:02:19

I think the "bow light" refered to in the Cat 25 literature is actually what would be commonly known as a "Steaming" light. As you know from the regs, if a sailboat is under power, even from an outboard motor, you are supposed to have a white light midway up the mast turned on. This is supposed to be a 225 degree light facing forward. I looked at my original Catalina lighting wiring schematic and it shows a white wire going to the mast to service this masthead light. This is in addition to the orange wire for the anchor light and the green 10 gauge wire for ground. Strangely enough, the lamp and circuit schedule shows a "spreader light" serviced by a yellow wire but does not represent this wire on the wiring schematic.

Edited by - on

quilombo
Captain

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USA
301 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2008 : 20:45:24

mine is a 78 swing keel and has the bow lights which are navigation lamps as well

Edited by - on

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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.