captronr wrote:Has anyone tried to use a jib halyard or topping lift to pull the boat over next to a dock/slip to reach the steaming light? Dumping the ballast should let it lay over, or at least enough to reach the lamp from a ladder on the dock.
That seems to be an easy way to reach it, or am I missing something?????
Ron (and Andy too),
You're not gonna like this advice, but it needs to be said. Don't try so hard to avoid dropping the mast. It's not really that bad, and you may be building an unnecessary phobia.
This is a good excuse to practice with your mast raising gear, and learn the boat.
It's also a good time to check all the upper-mast ringdings, bolts, blocks, etc.
Check the spreaders for wear at the mast sockets.
Replace a frayed halyard or topping lift.
That much said, by all means unplug from the deck receptacle and attach a power supply to see if the light bulb is working. You can just run a jumper wire from a cig-lighter, or attach the leads from a jump-start battery. If the bulb works then you'll know the deck plug is bad (avoiding all that nasty mast raising gear!).
Just remember, it takes lemons to make lemonade.
Your right of course I've put the maist up only once and I've already gotten spoiled to drive to the lake and go. My phobia is just everything work.
Saturday I was so ashamed at the how the black on the boat looked I let my wife sail and used that time to polish the black parts of the boat.
Unfortunately most of what you said I should check for I do not have a clue what is. So basically I'll lower the mast to change the light bulb and then drive to WM and buy the wrong size bulb and one thing will lead to another and two days will be gone.
Which is why us guys who are clueless appreciate so much you and the other moderators efforts and this website, and the knowledge you have.
There's about a 90% chance it's the crappy Perko plug and you'll need to clean the prongs and spread them slightly wider. Be careful though not to break one doing that.
For what it's worth, I'd much rather raise and lower the mast over the water than pavement or a concrete driveway. It seems the height of the lifelines were calculated to make sure you'd hit the concrete (or water) head-first if you go over.
Just replaced our plug with a 2 prong chromed brass type that I have been using for many years in all sorts of situations, these have a screw on top and are totally sealed with plug in or out, they also come in four pin for additions.
Sorry no picture but the Bias no is 2648 for aussies, almost every time we turned the mast light on it failed irrespective of what we did the night before and it had also gone off during the night several times which could be an insurance issue if someone hits you while anchored.
Andy hipetrol wrote:. . . So basically I'll lower the mast to change the light bulb and then drive to WM and buy the wrong size bulb and one thing will lead to another and two days will be gone....
Hmmm. Good thing you mentioned that memory jogger.
Sourcing the bulbs is a bit tricky. Try reading this older thread first.
Then test the wiring, for sure, before chasing a bulb. If the bulb is bad, you might as well order it on-line (at exorbitant prices), well in advance of your maintenance weekend.
I've gotten good service on LED replacement bulbs for cabin lights, reading lights, Davis Megalight, and mast running light from Mastlight.com. It is an internet company, and they provided good service. They have a complete selection of replacement bulbs.
Lower the mast...on the MAC its the best option. With the mini side shrouds, it can be done easily single handed...even when its blowing...
I did mine today, had to, the 'help' pulled on the wrong end of the spinnaker halyard and had to not only lower the mast but to dis connect it and run it forrard to get the pulley close to the transom...and all in an 18 knot breeze.
Puggsy 06
As an update went to the boat this weekend to work on the Masthead Lights primarily the connections at the Mast. I had not been able to replace the fuse in the night without my reading glasses and in the darkness of the cabin after I had checked it to see if it was blown.
In the light of day I realized when I had checked the fuse in the main cabin some how or another I broke the side of the fuse panel cover off. Now I am going to have to order another fuse panel cover.
So the saga of fixing the lights starts. Any idea on where to order fuse panel cover? Is this a hard repair?
Andy hipetrol wrote:So the saga of fixing the lights starts. Any idea on where to order fuse panel cover? Is this a hard repair?
Forget the fuse panel and get circuit breakers, no more squinting to check fuse and then trying to find a suitable replacement. I got mine on e-bay from boaterbits and he has a store front there also. I really wish I had bought this model since the top switch can be used to switch between mast head and anchor lights.
If the problem is in fact the plug or receptacle, Take some fine grit sandpaper and roll it up. About a 1/2 in x 1 in rectangle and slip it into the plug, spin it until clean.
Reverse the wind on a fresh piece and do the plug.
When shiny coat liberally with di-electric grease. Di-electric is your friend!!
