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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

anchor light and other mast stories

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blanik
Navigator

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Canada
210 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/06/2011 : 21:03:24

hi, i've started to work on my mast before the snow, mainly preparing for the spring overhaul, (i usually don't take the mast down but since the boat is getting repaired for the Irene damage, i'll take this opportunity to "overhaul" the mast), the light where not working so i have an electrical wire job, a new steam light/deck light (i just have the round wooden base steam light) a new windex vane (the original has been standing in the sunlight for 25 years, it literally exploded when it touched the ground...haha), change the wire sheaves to rope...

i was removing stuff like the sheaves, wires, windex, shroud/spreader booths, etc...

i came to a problem trying to remove the anchor light, there are 3 screws holding it on it's mount but they're screwed from within the anchor light and i couldn't figure how to open it?! there where no screws anywhere on it and trying to unscrew the top didn't feel ok, i didn't want to force it... how do you open the anchor light??

1984 C25 FK/SR #4593
Lake Champlain

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2011 : 06:33:20

The clear cap unscrews from the base IIRC.

They're $20 and sold at several stores. I would highly suggest buying another and adding an LED bulb to it.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 12/07/2011 06:34:24

blanik
Navigator

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Canada
210 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2011 : 18:17:30

that was my intent, the LED and new casing (it's crazed and lost it's transparency), i tried to unscrew it but it was loose a bit and then it blocked if i tried to force it, i didn't want to break it so i didn't push it more, on my bow light there was a black screw and since it's the same maker i was looking for the screw on the anchor light but couldn't find one :-/

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2011 : 19:38:09

Here's one on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110771691586?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
About $15.
The metal ring should secure with 3 screws as shown in the ebay pic.
I have in the past gotten by with just changing out the lens and metal ring as the wiring and fixture were okay.

Edited by - dmpilc on 12/07/2011 19:40:50

blanik
Navigator

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Canada
210 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2011 : 19:54:49

tha's what my steaming light looks like (no deck light) but my masthead light is like the one they still sell at CD

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=286&ParentCat=161

Edited by - on

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
468 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2011 : 21:14:41

I've got the AquaSignal, which I, too, use as a masthead light; the lens (with the top cap attached to it) unscrews a partial turn (only maybe 10 degrees of rotation) and then lifts off. It's a little stiff, though, and mine is recent. If yours turns and stops firmly (not just feeling that threads are jamming), try pulling it off from there.

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NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2011 : 06:57:29

If you're buying a new fixture, then why are you being careful not to break it?

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2011 : 16:26:13

Got it. I have the same Aqua Signal series 25 masthead light. Holding onto the lens, it should rotate counterclockwise about 1/4" and pull straight off.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2011 : 17:04:20

Kind of like those pesky lightbulbs. After a couple of years the bulb twists out and leaves the base in the socket.

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blanik
Navigator

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Canada
210 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2011 : 18:44:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 If you're buying a new fixture, then why are you being careful not to break it?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

to keep it as a spare ;-)

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2011 : 20:47:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by blanik
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 If you're buying a new fixture, then why are you being careful not to break it?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

to keep it as a spare ;-)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
We're talking $25.00 to replace. Through it away. WIth it being so brittle you'll end up dropping something on it in the drawer and breaking it anyway then spend 30 minutes picking up all the shards that are in the drawer.

Edited by - GaryB on 12/08/2011 20:48:54

jonfew346
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2011 : 11:06:35

Here is a neat LED masthead light that I am thinking about trying when I drop my rig next year. I can't believe how expensive they are from the big retailers.
http://www.bebi-electronics.com/owl.html

Edited by - on

blanik
Navigator

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Canada
210 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2011 : 11:45:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jonfew346
 Here is a neat LED masthead light that I am thinking about trying when I drop my rig next year. I can't believe how expensive they are from the big retailers.
http://www.bebi-electronics.com/owl.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

yes i've seen those, i've been doing electronics stuff most of my life and i'm familiar with those hi-intensity LEDs, i could make one myself but i'm a bit skeptical of just LEDs without a diffraction lantern around them, those LEDs are quite directional in their light emission (hence the multiple LEDs around the cap) and i'm sure they would be legally visible at 2 NM but the lighted surface you'd see at 2 NM would be quite small, a LED array in a diffraction bulb would be safer on a longer distance IMHO, when i anchor at night my main concern is not dragging anchor, it's getting rammed by some drunk/speeding douchebag... anchor lights have a weak point, it's as you get closer to the boat you have to look up to see it and it can get in a dead spot with the mast, that's why i installed one of those garden light on my stern pulpit:
http://dailyhomerenotips.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/solar-led-patio-lights-from-canadian-tire.jpg

i pulled out the plastic spike and cut a round tab on each side of the hollow aluminum tube and put it on the pulpit, it stays there all the time except when i'm underway at night, i put a switch on it to turn it off so i won't give a weird light image at night, but at anchor i turn it on, it lights the cockpit and stern quite well, most boats have one at the marina, so when you come in at night you see all the sterns it's a lot safer and the best thing, it's on every night and doesn't use up the batteries! :-)

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2011 : 13:05:14

In addition to running lights, I have 2 solar powered garden lights with amber lenses attached to my stern rail at each corner by the decorative loop at the top, the kind that could hang from a small shepard's hook. Provides nice ambient light in the cockpit at a raft-up and makes the boat easy to spot at the marina at night. I do very little night sailing/motoring, so I haven't had a problem with the authorities as to incorrect lighting while under way. You can see the lights in the pic below:

I also have a small LED lantern that uses 3 AAA batteries that I can attach to the forestay/jib halyard at about head height when we anchor. Walmart sells them for about $5 each.

Edited by - dmpilc on 12/10/2011 13:12:43

jonfew346
1st Mate

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USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 12/10/2011 : 13:24:54

Those do the trick. I have seen Christmas lights used and some friends also put a solar walkway/landscaping light on the end of their finger pier so they can find it. Our marina is really dark(but cheap!)

Edited by - on

waterbaby
Navigator

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USA
168 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2011 : 05:28:21

Dmplic, I really like the garden solar light idea - the ones in your pic look really nice, but what's with the lumber?

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JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2011 : 11:22:15

Waterbaby, David uses that as a clothes dryer. It also serves as a platform for towing water skiiers.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2011 : 09:39:35

The wood set-up is a support I made for taking down the mast. Haven't actually used it yet. The idea came from another sailor who went on a river trip and had to go under a few bridges. He needed to also be able to maintain tiller control, as opposed to using a "mast-up" device which requires removing the rudder.
It also makes a pretty good place to dry wet life jackets after a swim! The 4 connection points have wingnuts so it comes apart easily for storage, one cross piece staying with each vertical piece, and it can be assembled in the cockpit before setting it into position so you don't risk losing any hardware overboard.

P.S. Since building it, however, I have also made a mast support, a la Davy J's YouTube video, out of aluminum conduit and stainless elbows, which clamps to the stern railing support posts with hose clamps and is about the same height. It looks a lot cleaner, too, see pic below. I'll be trying them out next time I drop the mast. Hopefully, the aluminum pipe will be strong enough. If not, I'll replace it with stainless tubing.
The wood device has a roller while the metal one has a spare pvc turnbuckle boot for a roller.

Edited by - dmpilc on 12/16/2011 09:58:16

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