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Steaming Light Height

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Joe Diver
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Response Posted - 06/24/2012 : 07:41:54

Not really....a natural progression....the OT was about using a ladder to gain access to the steamer light....going from doing it to the dangers of...to weight up the mast,....to pulling the boat over.

I've had several people suggest pulling the mast over to work on my lights.

Edited by - on

GaryB
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Response Posted - 06/24/2012 : 09:32:01

I agree with Joe, just a natural progression. I was going to suggest it would be a good way to clean at least most of a bottom myself but someone beat me to it. With a little patience one could do most of a bottom job too.

And just for the record, I DON'T care if someone hijacks the threads I start! I learn something from almost every thread I read and if the original subject morphs into another subject, I DON'T CARE! I'm still learning.

The more I think about pulling the boat over the more I'm thinking I might try it.

Edited by - GaryB on 06/24/2012 09:34:15

Joe Diver
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Response Posted - 06/24/2012 : 12:51:28

If you do...take a bunch of pics and detail out what you do....that would be a great thread to have....

Edited by - on

GaryB
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Response Posted - 06/24/2012 : 15:55:44

Come on down and you can help me since I will most likely not have any help. Then we can write a photo essay for the Mainsheet and the forum!

I don't mind sharing the weather with you. It was only 95 today with winds out of the East and Southeast at 0 gusting to 3 under completely clear skies. Sauna time!

Edited by - on

redviking
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Response Posted - 06/24/2012 : 16:02:12

I'm not sure what is more dangerous, ladders or trying to knock down your vessel manually. I just don't see it happening...

But I will gladly watch the video showing the near vertical launch of a helper!

sten

Edited by - on

GaryB
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Response Posted - 06/24/2012 : 16:27:12

It just dawned on me that the boat yard in my marina has a travel lift that rides pretty high above the water (the wheels). If I remember correctly, when the boat is in the "lifting well"? for the Travel Lift the spreaders are just slightly above my head.

I might be able to get them to let me use their well on a Saturday or Sunday when they are not working. If I can, I could slide the boat more to one side of the well and tie it off. Then it wouldn't take much of a lean to get the deck light over to where I could reach it. They have all kinds of stuff to tie the halyard off to while it's pulled over.

Or, I could just continue to use my deck light as a steaming light. I've seen quite a few boats coming in at night that don't even have a steaming light or if they did it wasn't working.

Can't say that I've ever seen the coasties stopping people for no steaming light. There's so many shore lights you can't really see lights up on the mast that much anyway.

Edited by - GaryB on 06/24/2012 16:27:40

redviking
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Response Posted - 06/24/2012 : 18:58:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 It just dawned on me that the boat yard in my marina has a travel lift that rides pretty high above the water (the wheels). If I remember correctly, when the boat is in the "lifting well"? for the Travel Lift the spreaders are just slightly above my head.

I might be able to get them to let me use their well on a Saturday or Sunday when they are not working. If I can, I could slide the boat more to one side of the well and tie it off. Then it wouldn't take much of a lean to get the deck light over to where I could reach it. They have all kinds of stuff to tie the halyard off to while it's pulled over.

Or, I could just continue to use my deck light as a steaming light. I've seen quite a few boats coming in at night that don't even have a steaming light or if they did it wasn't working.

Can't say that I've ever seen the coasties stopping people for no steaming light. There's so many shore lights you can't really see lights up on the mast that much anyway.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's the way to do it! Although now that I think about it, a fellow did ask me once if he could tie alongside, go up my mast and swing over to his 'cuz he didn't trust his running gear or something. Whatever works...

sten

Edited by - on

dolivaw
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Response Posted - 06/24/2012 : 21:59:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 It just dawned on me that the boat yard in my marina has a travel lift that rides pretty high above the water (the wheels). If I remember correctly, when the boat is in the "lifting well"? for the Travel Lift the spreaders are just slightly above my head.

I might be able to get them to let me use their well on a Saturday or Sunday when they are not working. If I can, I could slide the boat more to one side of the well and tie it off. Then it wouldn't take much of a lean to get the deck light over to where I could reach it. They have all kinds of stuff to tie the halyard off to while it's pulled over.

Or, I could just continue to use my deck light as a steaming light. I've seen quite a few boats coming in at night that don't even have a steaming light or if they did it wasn't working.

Can't say that I've ever seen the coasties stopping people for no steaming light. There's so many shore lights you can't really see lights up on the mast that much anyway.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Let me know when you need help. I'm not far.

The Coasties may not stop people, but TPWD does... In fact, they stopped the owner of Capella II on his Dingy Saturday night for not having running lights (which I didn't think were required on a dingy). They ticketed him for that and no life vests, although they did have throwables. Ironic that they pick out the millionaire on his dingy amidst the chaos of Clear Lake/Galveston Bay on a Saturday night.

Edited by - on

redeye
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 04:57:16

I hafta work on the steaming light so few times that we just keep an inventory of about three different "small women" that are willing to go up for us. One is a skilled climber, another has lots of experience going up on the chair. With two halyards on them they are a breeze to go up and love the get the opportunity to go sailing also.

I have seen several patients over the years that have come in saying they have just lost a husband after falling off the ladder.

Killjoy..

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 07:24:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Come on down and you can help me since I will most likely not have any help. Then we can write a photo essay for the Mainsheet and the forum!

I don't mind sharing the weather with you. It was only 95 today with winds out of the East and Southeast at 0 gusting to 3 under completely clear skies. Sauna time!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Oh, such a tempting offer...

Edited by - on

redeye
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 08:18:33

<< keeping her in a coastal marina >>

Sweet!!!

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GaryB
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 09:31:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dolivaw
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 It just dawned on me that the boat yard in my marina has a travel lift that rides pretty high above the water (the wheels). If I remember correctly, when the boat is in the "lifting well"? for the Travel Lift the spreaders are just slightly above my head.

I might be able to get them to let me use their well on a Saturday or Sunday when they are not working. If I can, I could slide the boat more to one side of the well and tie it off. Then it wouldn't take much of a lean to get the deck light over to where I could reach it. They have all kinds of stuff to tie the halyard off to while it's pulled over.

Or, I could just continue to use my deck light as a steaming light. I've seen quite a few boats coming in at night that don't even have a steaming light or if they did it wasn't working.

Can't say that I've ever seen the coasties stopping people for no steaming light. There's so many shore lights you can't really see lights up on the mast that much anyway.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Let me know when you need help. I'm not far.

The Coasties may not stop people, but TPWD does... In fact, they stopped the owner of Capella II on his Dingy Saturday night for not having running lights (which I didn't think were required on a dingy). They ticketed him for that and no life vests, although they did have throwables. Ironic that they pick out the millionaire on his dingy amidst the chaos of Clear Lake/Galveston Bay on a Saturday night.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yeah, I forgot about TPWD and the Sheriffs Dept.

Is Capella II that big cruiser over at an angle from us? I noticed a couple of weeks ago he had a dingy with a white light on the top of the motor.

Friday night a week ago I went just across the main channel in Clear Lake to watch the fireworks at the Boardwalk. When I was coming back in there was couple in a kayak paddling down the channel leading into Watergate. They had what appeared to be a couple of very dim garden lights to light up the boat. I could barely see them when I was 25 yards behind them!!!

I turned off the channel and took the shortcut to our slips just as I came up on them. Just before I turned off there was a 35'+ sailboat coming up on me fast from behind with a bunch of people on-board. It sounded like they were having a good time because I could hear them over the sound of my motor.

I never heard any ambulances so I guess everyone cleared each other but how stupid can you be to be out paddling in a channel at 10:30 at night in a kayak with garden lights as nav lights!!!

Edited by - on

GaryB
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 09:37:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 Come on down and you can help me since I will most likely not have any help. Then we can write a photo essay for the Mainsheet and the forum!

I don't mind sharing the weather with you. It was only 95 today with winds out of the East and Southeast at 0 gusting to 3 under completely clear skies. Sauna time!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Oh, such a tempting offer...

I may take you up on that though at some point in the next 3 years. It's that time frame I'm looking at purchasing my next boat. I'm looking at buying a large coastal cruiser, and keeping her in a coastal marina....Kemah, Matagorda, Corpus....something within 6 hours driving....so I could go 2 weekends a month and all of my vacation (I get 4 weeks a year)....so I'd have a "beach house" kinda sorta....with the open ocean (Gulf of Mexico) and the rest of the world open to me.

I've been looking (dreaming really) at a bigger boat, capable of being a weekend home (standing headroom, AC, hot/cold shower, good space) with a nice slip that has a covered patio....certainly doable on my local lakes and larger more distant lakes...but why restrict myself to a lake?

Okay...THAT was a hijack....sorry 'bout that.....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Somewhere this weekend I saw an ad on the Internet for a '86 or '87 Cat 30 that was for sale somewhere along the coast. I don't remember where. It looked pretty nice in the pictures.

There's a super nice Cat 30 over in the inner harbor where I'm at. It's either an '87 or '88. I've told the owner more than once to let me know if he ever decided to sell it. It appears to be in awesome condition (at least when motoring by on the way to my old slip). It looks much newer.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 09:43:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
 I never heard any ambulances so I guess everyone cleared each other but how stupid can you be to be out paddling in a channel at 10:30 at night in a kayak with garden lights as nav lights!!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It happened last year on my lake....I wasn't involved with the search but I worked with the Lead Diver at my local dive shop.

[url="http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Missing-kayaker-found-in-Eagle-Mountain-Lake-125042154.html"]Kayaker on Eagle Mountain[/url]

Edited by - on

Prospector
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 10:58:00

Actually, leaning the boat over in teh slip has other more practical applications. Knowing how to get teh boat over, and how far you can get her over will help you if you ever get grounded and need to heel the boat to get free.

I think you'll find teh first 5-10° are easy. After that I would guess that teh law of diminishing returns kicks in and for every ounce of effort you will see less and less result. The higher the keel rises in the water, the more gravity wants to pull it down. But I do think it could be done.

I wonder if you filled one of those recovery floats with air and floated the keel out sideways how it would work. Hmmmm.

Edited by - on

dolivaw
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 12:28:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by GaryB
Is Capella II that big cruiser over at an angle from us? I noticed a couple of weeks ago he had a dingy with a white light on the top of the motor.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yep. Same guy. Still has the white light, but no red/green running lights.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 16:33:42

While we're on several topics at once, I'm beginning to notice several boats with garden solar lights (or the overpriced West Marine version of same) on their mast tops. Too dim to serve as an anchor light, IMHO.
Again, getting back to the original thread, I have no problem taking precautions and climbing a ladder to the steaming light/spreader level. I would rather not get a ticket for having no steaming light.

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dmpilc
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Response Posted - 06/25/2012 : 17:22:21

If you have a swing keel, be sure to raise it completely before trying to lean the boat over manually.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 06/26/2012 : 04:38:01

<>

Or damn near run over like we were one night...

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PZell
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Response Posted - 06/26/2012 : 13:46:50

Thunderbirds are hard chine boats so heeling them would be easier.

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Voyager
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Response Posted - 06/27/2012 : 08:46:39

So who's gonna be the first to go "boat tipping"? I'd be interested to learn whether the rigging can handle an 80 degree tilt and how much force is required to do it. Would you use your halyard and subject your sheaves to a such a high lateral load? Would you use the topping lift instead? Or would it be best to shimmy up the mast and tie a rolling hitch to the mast top? ;-)

Edited by - on

GaryB
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Response Posted - 06/27/2012 : 19:36:01

I was thinking about throwing a line up over the spreaders and around the mast then tying a very loose slip knot? and raising it to the top of the mast with the main halyard. Then pulling the knot tight and pulling the boat over. Be sure to use a down-haul line so yo can get it all back down.

If one used a 12' or 14' step ladder on the dock you wouldn't have to pull the mast over that far to access the steaming light.

I guess if it tightens up and you can't get it down just pull the boat back over and cut the line. Prove to yourself the righting moment of your C25!

My topping lift is 1/16" or 1/8" steel cable and I wouldn't want to take a chance.

I may go down to the boat tomorrow evening with a 10' step ladder and see if I can figure out what's up with my steaming light. I think if you use a couple of ratchet straps tight around the mast and the top of the ladder it should be pretty secure.

I'll try to take pictures if I do.

Edited by - GaryB on 06/27/2012 19:40:29

GaryB
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Response Posted - 07/05/2012 : 19:02:37

I bought a Werner MT22 adjustable ladder (http://www.lowes.com/pd_78463-287-MT-22_0__?productId=1101083) last weekend and went down to the boat Tuesday night to see if I could get up to the steaming light.

I turned the switch on before I started setting up and the light would not come on. Banged the mast with my hands, shook the mast, nothing, nada.

After wrestling the ladder around for close to 2 hours trying to figure out which way to set it up (step ladder vs straight ladder) and getting the ladder secured to the mast securely one of my dock buddies walks by and makes a comment "Hey, you got your steaming light working, awesome". I turn around and the dern light is shining brighter than it ever has since I replaced it.

I banged the mast, shook it, light will not go out! I was too tired to climb the mast at this point and went to get something to eat.

I got up yesterday morning and climbed all the way to the spreaders (and yes, I had a harness on). It was pretty stable but the angle was too steep to be comfortable to stand for more than a minute or two and I didn't feel comfortable enough to try and work on the light.

I think the biggest problem was the angle of the ladder. If I'd had more time I would have moved the ladder so the feet sat right at the deck and cabin top junction just below the forward hatch. Securing the feet in all directions would not be too hard and the angle would be much better.

I also made a half-hearted attempt to set the ladder up as a step ladder and it might work that way but I had to get home to meet the AC man about a new system for the house. When I left the marina at 9 am it was 87 degrees, probably 80% humidity, and literally not a breath of air moving. It was like being in a sauna!

While I was up there I banged on the fixture and could only get the light to flicker a couple of times. Never went completely out.

BTW... the dock mate that made the comment does all types of electrical work on boats and said he used to climb shorter masts using a ladder all the time. He said he uses an ATN now and said it's pretty comfortable.

He sells OGM lights like Larry has on the top of his mast. I saw him come in a couple of weeks ago and his steaming light was brilliant, way brighter than any I've seen before. He said the light he has on top is a tri-color with steaming and anchor light built in. He also has OGM individual nav lights on the bow. He uses these normally and use the tri-color as a back up.

OH, and he mentioned he charges $75/hr to climb a mast and only charges for the time he's aloft. If he had told me that before I started I would have written him a check on the spot!

Moral of the story? Spend $150 for a new ladder (we're repainting inside the house and needed it anyway) and a couple of hours of sweat and your mast lights will work like a charm! Anyone want to bet how long they keep working?

Edited by - GaryB on 07/05/2012 19:11:59

TCurran
Admiral

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Response Posted - 07/06/2012 : 03:16:15

"Anyone want to bet how long they keep working?"

Till the next time you need it

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GaryB
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Response Posted - 07/07/2012 : 18:16:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TCurran
 "Anyone want to bet how long they keep working?"

Till the next time you need it

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You are correct! Got ready to go out last night and the $%^# thing would not come on even though it was working fine when I shut it off the other day.

Shook the mast, banged on it, nothing. Finally decided to move the wiring around going into the deck plug and shazam! Came on and never went off all night.

There must be a broken wire above the connector because the first thing I did several weeks ago when I started trying to trouble shoot the light was open up, inspect, and clean all of the connections on the deck plug. I'll look into it more when it gets cooler.

By the way... my steaming light is 15' from the top of the coach roof.

Edited by - GaryB on 07/07/2012 18:20:01

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