Oh Man, This really stinks!

[HeaveToo]

This really stinks!!  I had to take off some more leave to keep from loosing some.  I took of a chunk during September (about 10 days).  It is around mid-September. 

I guess that I will have to take another cruise.  I really would like to make it up to Solomon's Island but planning things like that is usually a bad idea. 

Hopefully my wife will not get too upset about this.  LOL.  She usually is pretty cool with these things.

I am now debating on how to handle my anchor light issue.  I am considering dropping the mast and putting a new light on to fix the problem.  The problem is that I hate dropping the mast and I was going to wait until I pulled the boat out for the winter.  I really like having the LED anchor light working and I know the issue is on the mast. 

[Bob23]

Oh man, that does stink. I really feel bad for ya so tell you what I'm gonna do to help: I've talked to your boss and he's agreed for you to give me the time off that you need to take and you can keep working. Meanwhile, I'll sail with your time off!It's what friends do...
Bob23

[brackish]

Wow, what a tragedy, I'm sure we all feel for you.  Bob certainly does given his generous offer to take your place. 

It seems that masthead anchor lights are the big power drain on a cruise if they are incandescent.  I got an inexpensive, but powerful LED lantern.  I put it on an my topping lift (boom supported by the pigtail at night) and crank it up about 3/4 of the way up with a messenger line to bring it back down in the morning.  I'm out a few AA batteries each night bought on the cheap at harbor freight.  One of these days I'll replace the bulb on the masthead, but not going to make a special mast drop just for that.

[kahpho]

I feel ya man! Soldering on in such conditions builds character. Or, so I'm told. 

[HeaveToo]

My Davis anchor light is LED and extremely low draw.  That isn't the issue, I am just frustrated that it crapped out and now I need to figure out what I want to do about it!

Besides, I have over 215 amp hours of battery power and I have a 100 watt solar panel to back that up.  Generally, I am good on power.  I even ran my small inverter to charge my laptop for a while on the last cruise on a rainy day and I was in great shape.

[Mas]

Hey Heave,

Had much the same problem, new LED anchor light, confirmed it worked, rigged boat, didn't work. Jiggling the cabin to mast connection got it to flicker on so replaced the connections, also had to have the mast dropped and shielded wire installed for the light (best with antennae wire next to it for VHF) and there were only two leads for both anchor and steaming light. Usually there would beat least two positive and a common ground. Unfortunately it was when i could not derig and rerig the boat so had to have yard do it so bottom could get painted on time. Ouch. Overall the boat needed some good rearranging of electrical as she has had many changes done over her tenure with previous owners. Good to go now, much improved integration of systems and all tidied up. VHF has better reception as well. Again professionally done. Double ouch. Cant claim credit for any of the electrical improvements other than a well used Visa. This was when I thought she would be mine for a few years. Now at least she will give a new owner zero issues. Good luck with that and will be glad to take up some of your leave time as well if you wish to keep working! Between Bob and I we got ya covered.

No Mas is getting closer to going up for adoption, you could skip all the mast work and simply adopt her!

[Bob23]

This is why I moved all my electrical connections to inside the cabin. I've since had no problems with lights not working. I got tired of those deck mounted connectors. Sure, anyone who has seen my solution will agree it's not the prettiest but it certainly isn't the ugliest either. Solar panel, VHF radio antenna, steaming light and mast head light are all below now.

Bob23

[HeaveToo]

I did all the tests.  Thankfully, it isn't my wiring.  The issue is a contact issue and most likely the bulb.  My anchor light has a cracked housing that I taped together.

I am still debating two solutions:

1.  Say forget it, buy a cheap solar light at Lowes and tape it to the backstay at night.

2.  Buy a new light and unstep the mast while she is in the slip and replace the anchor light.

My biggest problem is that I hate half ass fixes.  I really want to do it right.  Option 2 sounds good but I hate, and I mean hate, taking the mast down and then putting it up.  This is probably why I will stick with option 1 but, in the end, we shall see what happens.

I wish I had a friend with a bucket truck.  That would be most useful because I would wait for a calm day and leave the mast up and replace the anchor light. 

[Bob23]

  Sounds like you hate taking the mast down more than half ass fixes. Buy the Lowe's elcheapo, keep sailing this summer and fix it in the fall. Or find a bridge that's about 23 feet off the water and tie up next to it!
  A few years ago I changed to a while LED anchor light from Duckworks. It keeps on working so I'll keep it. I usually put some Vaseline on the bulb of any light I replace. But this anchor light is a sealed unit so I'm hoping or no problems.
Bob23

[HeaveToo]

So I am sitting here and the solution just popped into my mind.

I am going to buy another Davis LED anchor light.  I have some spare 14/2 marine wire lying around and a 12V plug.  I am going to make a temporary thing to hang the new LED anchor light off of the backstay for the rest of the season and plug it into the 12V plug that I have in the cockpit for the autopilot.  It will work okay from there. 

If I get froggy and decide to take the mast down I can exchange the lights.  If not, it will work just find until I do.

Maybe this is a Win/Win situation.

[Bob23]

Sounds like a plan...a good plan at that!
Bob23

[tmw]

Can you climb up the mast with one of those harness things using a strong rope?

[HeaveToo]

Bosun's Chair. 

I am not a big fan of using a bosun's chair on a small boat like this.  It worked on my Catalina 30 but this one would concern me some. 

I drop the mast once a year so the solution I am thinking of will work.

[MKBLK]

Heave - I had a cool response to your top o mast dilemma, but Bob23 stole my thunder. Anyway, I'm considering leaving retirement so I could relieve you of some of your time-off burden. I wonder how that would work?

Marty K.