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Nav Lights

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/04/2003 : 17:12:01

Hi, I believe that the 1978 Cat 25 is not really legal for running at night. There are bow lights and a steaming light (the steaming light is required when under power at night).

I didn't see any kind of stern light. What are you using for this? Also, there is no anchor light. What works for this? I would be content with portable AA battery powered lights. I don't want the stern light to interfer with my night vision.

I am thinking of making my own battery powered LED lights for these applications.

Also the bow lights seem quite marginal and I am wondering if anyone has replaced these with something better?

Saftey modifications first, before all comfort and lifestyle upgrades on our new boat!

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2003 : 19:36:00

I don't know about the legality. I would think you couldn't get nailed for that confiquration since that's the way it came from the factory, but they aren't very effective. We are talking about the "eyes" in the bow of the boat. Right?

In '83 or '84 the bow light (a combo unit)is mounted on the bow pulpit with the wire run inside the pulpit tubing into the anchor locker and back to the panel. (on my project list)

The anchor light you only need to display if you are anchored at night in a seaway or other area where boats would not be expected to be anchored. So, technically, you might not need to have one.

My '82 has a stern light at the aft end of the port coaming, again not very effective. I think newer boats also had that mounted up on the pulpit(stern this time). Being a 120 degree light, it shouldn't interfer with your night vision unless you are hanging over the transom for some reason.

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2003 : 21:14:59

JimB517,

There are legal specifications for navigation lights having to do with visible angles and distances. Maybe you could check with your local Coast Guard for the specifics.

I don't think the early Catalina 25 whale eye bow lights are legal on new boats, but they may (or may not) be grandfathered in, if original equipment. My 1979 Catalina 25 has the whale eye bow lights. The lenses were so faded that it was hard to tell they were red and green. The lights were dim from low voltage at the tired old bulbs. I cleaned up and greased the sockets, installed new replacement lenses (which are available for dirt cheap), new bulbs, and ran new marine grade wiring back to the switch. The lights are now bright, and the colors sharply distinct.

My original stern light was a small dome on top of the stbd. coaming -- very annoying. I made a small block of teak that encloses the stern rail T-joint nearest the motor. On the back side of that, I mounded a new stern light with the wiring run down inside the vertical stanchion. On top of the teak block, I added a flag pole base, and about a 30" teak pole for the national flag or yacht ensign. In this location, the stern light helps illuminate the motor for those late night trouble shooting and repair adventures.

I discarded the original anchor and steaming lights with their rotted wooden mounting blocks. I installed a modern anchor light with efficient fresnel lense. In place of the steaming light, I installed a combination steaming/foredeck light. The foredeck light is great for docking, and for messing with foresails and anchors at night.

All these mast lighting improvements also involved rewiring the mast. I used a 5-pin deck quick connector specifically designed for a mast wiring harness, and ran new wires back to the electrical distribution panel.

I suspect that this may all sound like a lot of work. I love to sail at night, and I like having confidence that my lights are easy to see and reliable.<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

-- Leon Sisson

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 03/04/2003 : 22:44:29

"I didn't see any kind of stern light."

Sure there isn't a little dinky stern light over on the starboard side of the rudder cut out? I had to look twice to find mine the first time I looked at the boat.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 00:59:19

Leon, you have completed much of what I would like to do. I will be sailing at night and anchoring out.

Thanks for the tips and I'll be working on an electrical upgrade of my deck and navigation lighting.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 01:02:45

Here is the stern. If there is a stern light in there I can't see it. There must have been one on the transom at some time in the past. I will check it out next time I am down there.

<img src="http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/pictures/stern.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 01:14:59

That HUGE prop on the Gamefisher may be blocking your view of the stern light on the starboard side of the transom.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 08:19:09

The cat eye lights are no longer legal, however I do believe they are grandfathered.

We replaced all of our nav lights over the past three years.

We fished wire through the bow pulpit to add one of these -

<img src="http://www.sailnet.com/store/prodimage/160x160/as25100.gif" border=0>

We ran wire up the mast to include a new mast head anchor light, a steaming light and a deck light.

<img src="http://www.sailnet.com/store/prodimage/160x160/as25404.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://www.sailnet.com/store/prodimage/160x160/as20040.gif" border=0>

and also ran wire up the stern pulpit for the stern light.

<img src="http://www.sailnet.com/store/prodimage/160x160/as25400.gif" border=0>

Lastly, not having anything to do with navigation, we mounted new cabin lights <img src="http://www.westmarine.com/images/full/11364_f.jpg" border=0>

including a personal modification to the galley/nav area light which now give you the option for regular white light, or, when you want it, red to go easy on the eyes for night sailing.

dw

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 19:55:54

LED's aren't aproved as of yet for nav lights. Several catalinas I have seen have a small chrome blister type light on the stern. Mine had a light on the aft pulpit facing aft and was not a problem at night. Anchor light was never an issue here as its isnt required for a 25' vessel not anchored in a navagable waterway. Nice to have for safty but not required. Steaming light= half way up the leading edge of the mast.

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

jheard
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 20:55:45

I notice your picture is at dry dock. Have you climbed aboard into the cockpit? There I believe you will find the stern light in the cockpit on the port or starboard coaming. Mine is on the port, but my engine mount is on the starboard side.

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/05/2003 : 21:13:23

(1) On my 1981, the stern lite is on the port aft coaming (motor to port). The cat eyes are grandfathered, which is no excuse for failing to move them to the bow pulpit. I have it on the LIST. I used to teach my Seamanship classes in the usps that a nice quiet sailor was anchored when a nasty stinkpotter came along drunk at high speed and drove into the middle of the anchored sailboat, doing property damage and personal injury. The SAILOR was found to be at fault because he had a Guest photovoltaic anchor light that did NOT have the required two mile visibility. It made such a profound impression on me because I had just been using one of those for the past five or six years at least. Also must confess to often having been a stinkpotter, know lots of them who are fine seamen, god bless, ron srsk #2343 1981 Orion SW FL

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/06/2003 : 01:24:29

Item number 6 on the left is the stern light which is just in front of the clamshell vent.

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dd24b3127cce9545d0f1b8e30000001610" border=0>

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc32b3127cce92e981259d130000001010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

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