Masthead light
- sunshinecoasting
- First Officer
- Posts: 402
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Sunshine Coast Queensland Australia - "Entropy" Nissan 50 CDI Furling Jib
Masthead light
Ok, does anyone know how to get the masthead light open on a 26x ? I need a new globe and have an LED one but dont know how to get the housing open.
- tlgibson97
- First Officer
- Posts: 218
- Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:33 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Marietta, GA
Re: Masthead light
Mine has two screws on the cover. Remove them and it pops right off. Sometimes it can be stuck a little bit because there is a seal/gasket under it.
If it doesn't have screws I think it would just pop off.
If it doesn't have screws I think it would just pop off.
- Russ
- Admiral
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- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: Masthead light
I don't know what kind of fixture you have there, my M has one that "pinches" in. The top and bottom pinch in and the lens pops out.
- sunshinecoasting
- First Officer
- Posts: 402
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:00 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Sunshine Coast Queensland Australia - "Entropy" Nissan 50 CDI Furling Jib
Re: Masthead light
Mine has a black top that pops off but doesn't expose anything, just the clear plastic top of the lens, it has three clip like slots in the bottom (see top pic) which look like that's how you get the lens off but I tried prying them with no luck. Here are some pics, see if you guys can work it out?
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[/URL]- seahouse
- Admiral
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Re: Masthead light
Good morning sunshine,coasting!
If you can determine whether the transparent plastic barbs on the three tabs face inward or outward, you might be able to push three “unlatchers”
into them.
Try a small flat blade screwdriver on one first, and determine (a flashlight will help) which way the tabs move more easily – they'll be more solid one way, and springy in the other; that's the way you need to move them to release them.
By “unlatchers” I mean whatever is handy that you have three of that will be the needed thickness and do the job. I'm thinking along the lines of three paper clips, guessing from the picture. Or three short sections (~2") of wire (maybe coat hanger) bent into a “U” shape, if you need more thickness. Push them in one at a time, and tape them in place if needed. You can file (or grind) coat hanger wire (after it's bent into a "U" shape) to the needed thickness (wedge shaped) easily if you need to. Cardboard bent over on itself, or wooden popsicle sticks used as shims etc, etc, etc, will also do.
Depending on the construction, there might be tension against the barbs from an “O” ring or rubber gasket around the base of the freznel lens, where it meets the black base. And if the barbs have a positive rake (think fish hook) on them, it will then be necessary to push down on the lens housing, and compress the seal, before the barbs, with the “unlatchers” pushed in place, will release. Do this during your initial inspection with the flat blade screwdriver too. Your description of these being tough to remove leads me to believe that this might be the case.
If you have a choice, do this when it's warm, as the plastic and gasket will be more pliable (apud NASA, Morton-Thiokol, and Challenger). Work carefully and don't busticate anything.
Note I'm going completely from your picture and description, sunshinecoasting, and I haven't seen a light like that before, so consider that my disclaimer! And good luck
.
-Brian.
All this assuming that the stalk isn't threaded or bayonet-mounted, and so doesn't unscrew from the main black housing to access the bulb? I see a seam there in the picture (?)
If you can determine whether the transparent plastic barbs on the three tabs face inward or outward, you might be able to push three “unlatchers”
Try a small flat blade screwdriver on one first, and determine (a flashlight will help) which way the tabs move more easily – they'll be more solid one way, and springy in the other; that's the way you need to move them to release them.
By “unlatchers” I mean whatever is handy that you have three of that will be the needed thickness and do the job. I'm thinking along the lines of three paper clips, guessing from the picture. Or three short sections (~2") of wire (maybe coat hanger) bent into a “U” shape, if you need more thickness. Push them in one at a time, and tape them in place if needed. You can file (or grind) coat hanger wire (after it's bent into a "U" shape) to the needed thickness (wedge shaped) easily if you need to. Cardboard bent over on itself, or wooden popsicle sticks used as shims etc, etc, etc, will also do.
Depending on the construction, there might be tension against the barbs from an “O” ring or rubber gasket around the base of the freznel lens, where it meets the black base. And if the barbs have a positive rake (think fish hook) on them, it will then be necessary to push down on the lens housing, and compress the seal, before the barbs, with the “unlatchers” pushed in place, will release. Do this during your initial inspection with the flat blade screwdriver too. Your description of these being tough to remove leads me to believe that this might be the case.
If you have a choice, do this when it's warm, as the plastic and gasket will be more pliable (apud NASA, Morton-Thiokol, and Challenger). Work carefully and don't busticate anything.
Note I'm going completely from your picture and description, sunshinecoasting, and I haven't seen a light like that before, so consider that my disclaimer! And good luck
-Brian.
All this assuming that the stalk isn't threaded or bayonet-mounted, and so doesn't unscrew from the main black housing to access the bulb? I see a seam there in the picture (?)
- Russ
- Admiral
- Posts: 8341
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: Masthead light
Oh wait, did you say mast HEAD light. As in top of mast? That's not a stock. The only stock mast light is the steaming light which is what I was describing.
THIS is an add on feature. I have one like it and it screws off.

THIS is an add on feature. I have one like it and it screws off.

Re: Masthead light
On my X there is a plastic push in button on the bottom that releases the cover...
