Anchor light and nav lights

[DsquareD]

I only have one breaker switch for nav lights. Also, there is only one white light on the mast facing forward.

I thought an anchor light was supposed to be just a plain white light visible in all directions. Is this correct? If so, is there one on top of the mast that I don't see?

The one that is there, about half way up, is not working, (burned out, perhaps). Any thoughts on the best way to climb the mast? Fortunately, I only weigh 165 pounds, so I doubt that I'll capsize the boat.

How much draw will leaving the lights on overnight have on the batteries?

I'd like to have all the lights working correctly before taking it out on our vacation to Traverse City.

[wes]

The light you see halfway up is the mast is the steaming light. You turn it on (along with the nav lights) when you're motoring (not sailing) after sunset. If moving under sail alone, you use only the nav lights. On your switch panel it's labeled "Bow."

You should also have a masthead light, operated by a switch labeled "Anchor." Use it only when you are anchored or moored after sunset. You use it alone, not with the nav lights. Yours may have a burned out lamp. The fixture is hard to see in daylight unless you climb the mast. It may require a bayonet style lamp, not the double ended festoon lamps that the nav lights use.

Others will have to comment on mast climbing. I replaced and rewired all my mast lights while the mast was off the boat in the yard.

Wes

[DsquareD]

The light you see halfway up is the mast is the steaming light. You turn it on (along with the nav lights) when you're motoring (not sailing) after sunset. If moving under sail alone, you use only the nav lights. On your switch panel it's labeled "Bow."

You should also have a masthead light, operated by a switch labeled "Anchor." Use it only when you are anchored or moored after sunset. You use it alone, not with the nav lights. Yours may have a burned out lamp. The fixture is hard to see in daylight unless you climb the mast. It may require a bayonet style lamp, not the double ended festoon lamps that the nav lights use.

Others will have to comment on mast climbing. I replaced and rewired all my mast lights while the mast was off the boat in the yard.

Wes

Thanks Wes. I don't have an anchor switch on my panel. I did find a wire, while changing the starter last weekend, that is tagged with a "?". Perhaps that might be it and the previous owner didn't know what it was for.

Maybe I'll store the boat inside this winter and redo all the wiring.

[deisher6]

Hey DsquareD:
Wes is right on in regards to the lights.

I am not sure which switch controls the light at the top of the mast.  I do not have an "anchor" switch on my panel either.  I used a battery powered anchor light, that I just replaced with one that plugs into the cigar lighter receptacle.

At 253 lbs I have been up the mast twice without any problem.  Now at 209 my assistants are somewhat relieved. I use a two part pulley run up on the best halyard, the mainsail winch, and a climbing seat.  Thinking about it it is yet another reason to have the main halyard winch at the foot of the mast rather than the cockpit.

I have not hesitated to sail at night as long as my bow and stern running lights are working.  When steaming I use them in conjunction with my anchor light.  I also have spreader lights which can be used in tense crossing problems at night to draw attention to yourbouat.

Just pulled the boat yesterday and dropped the mast.  Intend on getting the lights on the mast up and running again.

Thanks for the post.

regards charlie

[DsquareD]

Hey DsquareD:
Wes is right on in regards to the lights.

I am not sure which switch controls the light at the top of the mast.  I do not have an "anchor" switch on my panel either.  I used a battery powered anchor light, that I just replaced with one that plugs into the cigar lighter receptacle.

At 253 lbs I have been up the mast twice without any problem.  Now at 209 my assistants are somewhat relieved. I use a two part pulley run up on the best halyard, the mainsail winch, and a climbing seat.  Thinking about it it is yet another reason to have the main halyard winch at the foot of the mast rather than the cockpit.

I have not hesitated to sail at night as long as my bow and stern running lights are working.  When steaming I use them in conjunction with my anchor light.  I also have spreader lights which can be used in tense crossing problems at night to draw attention to yourbouat.

Just pulled the boat yesterday and dropped the mast.  Intend on getting the lights on the mast up and running again.

Thanks for the post.

regards charlie

I checked the mast with binoculars and there is no light up there. Two breaker switches are not labeled. I found that one of them powers a cigarette lighter outlet in the cockpit by the transom. I could plug a 360 light in there.

I searched everywhere from stem to stern on the boat for a light and didn't find one.  Looks like I'm going to have to buy one.

[deisher6]

Hey DsquaredD:  You are right. The two blank switches on Windrunner on the Port side of the panel are labeled with plastic label tape, one was used for a shower pump, the other the cigarette lighter on the panel. 

Both of our 1986 C-27's have had the mast head anchor light....if I could just recall which switch!

You probably know all ready:  But for sailing you need the stern (white) and bow (green and white).  For motoring you need the additional light that is on the mast just above the spreaders (white) that completes the 360° white  light requirement for steaming.  These steaming and sailing lights should be on two circuits.  On Windrunner, I suspect that they are intermixed with the red lights for instruments, which on older analog instruments and compass was a separate circuit, instrument power and autohelm. 

Wes probably has the only "80's 27 that is world correctly!

Windrunner was at one time a charter boat and I understand the the shower sump had to discharge overboard rather than in the bilge.  There still is a switch for a pump in the head.  I have disconnected the circuit, the pump was removed by a PO.  I use that circuit for instruments.  Have not changed the label yet.

When I get the mast back on the boat and in the water I will get back to you on what switch runs what.  That will be in about a month.

regards charlie

[redfishnc]

Anchor light requires 360 degree visability.
Steaming light requires 112 degree visability port and starboard.

I like Charlie's spreader lights but last time my mast was down I installed a foredeck light.
Advantages to both.  My deck light does not light up the back of the boat as well as spreader lights I had installed on my previous Catalina 30.  The foredeck light destroys all vision at night about as well as the spreader lights did.  Think LED when installing and with luck you will only do it once...  I like the idea of either spreader lights or deck light.  I 'think' my switch is labelled NAV on my '93 but now that you have me thinking I will have to check.

Wayne
Sea Witch

[DsquareD]

Thanks for the replies. I haven't had a chance to figure out what the other switch is for yet, been working. Anyway, I hope it's for the light on the mast, but I will probably have to get up there and change it to find out or try to trace the wire back to the panel. Perhaps the light is good and the wire is bad. Hopefully I'll find out this weekend.