LED All-round mast light

[Porkchunker]

I moved my GPS antenna to where the OEM all-round white mast light was located. Then installed a second 6' Galaxy VHF antenna where the old GPS antenna was located.

Now I've got the OEM mast light laying on the hardtop. It is too short to stand above the GPS antenna on a 24" stick.

So...I need some ideas for a new mast light. I'll probably mount it in parallel to the GPS antenna, so when I lower the GPS antenna, the mast light gets lowered also.

Any ideas for a new light? As long as I'm going to rip out the old mast light, I'd prefer to go with LED.

Dave

aka

 

[Megabyte]

Dave, See if this project item helps.
http://www.classicparker.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=67

 

[jeffnick]

I used a low tech approach about 4 years ago and it's still holding up. Bought a 1156 white from here for about $7 back then while I was ordering up some other stuff from them.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/led_prods.htm
Figured if it didn't work I'd just put the original bulb back in.

'Encouraged' the individual outer ring of LED's outward a little:

This is the result:

The LED's 'focus' on the diffuser giving off a pretty good amount of light. Is it visable for 3 miles? Probably not :wink: but my crusising buddies love it 'cause they can tell it's me right away because of the bluish color.

 

[DaleH]

Colregs for a mast light is 2 nautical miles

 

[Megabyte]

my crusising buddies love it 'cause they can tell it's me right away because of the bluish color.

My friends can ID me on the water for the same reason.

 

[FishPimp]

I stole that idea and it looks and works t*ts!
The mistake I made was it was a bit too high and got knocked of while trailering. I am cutting the mast down so that it will be just above the radome rather than 4 inches above. I also went with the multi line LED.
It is also my running light. I know I might get cut in half. But.. I want two additional rod holders on my transom.

 

[Porkchunker]

Kevin,

What make/model did you install? That looks like what I want, only on about a 26" mast. I may buy a cheap 36" light, cut 10" off the top, throw away the light and keep the mast and mount a LED head onto it.

Any way to purchase the aluminum or SS pipe only?

Dave

aka

 

[Megabyte]

What make/model did you install?

The head that I installed was a "SeaSense" brand...

http://www.classicparker.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=67

Not sure about sourcing the tubing...
These lights get better every year.
Look for the Hella brand lights..
They had the nicest bases and tubing when I was modifying my gear. :wink:

 

[96TL]

I went with Megabyte’s idea as well, but I used a Perko LED head. It’s plenty bright at night. Perko makes good stuff. I mounted it right to the factory Perko tube.

 

[Porkchunker]

Thanks.

But my Perko tube is only 12" and the GPS mast is 24." I need about a 26" light mast...so it looks like I'm going to have to Gerry-rig something.

I'll take a picture of the mess I have now, and let the distinguished group of boat-hackers here make recommendations.

That gets me to thinking...I believe I've coined a new CP term:

"boat-hacker:" Anyone who takes a sawsall to the back of a pilot house.

 

[96TL]

Thanks.

But my Perko tube is only 12" and the GPS mast is 24." I need about a 26" light mast...so it looks like I'm going to have to Gerry-rig something.

I'll take a picture of the mess I have now, and let the distinguished group of boat-hackers here make recommendations.

That gets me to thinking...I believe I've coined a new CP term:

"boat-hacker:" Anyone who takes a sawsall to the back of a pilot house.

Hello. My name is Dom, and I am a boat-hacker. 8)

 

[96TL]

BTW, you can buy the pole only from Perko.

Go here and look at page 36.

http://www.perko.com/PERKOCat305/Sectio ... nder20.pdf

8) 8) 8)

 

[J.A. Veil]

I don't normally take my boat out in the dark. Last night was an exception. I had a group of friends who were in town for a conference. I took 9 of us on my boat to a crab house for dinner. By the time we came back, it was dusk and the lights were needed.

In previous years and again last night, before I stick the white light mast into the receptable near the starboard rear cleat, I first spray both parts with electronic component cleaner. Then I insert the mast into the socket. The light does not come on unless I pull the mast gently toward the front of the boat. As soon as I let go, the light goes out. If I try to tighten down on the plastic screw bracket, the light stays off.

Have any of the rest of you had this problem? Do you have any ideas -- in particular, is the problem in the mast plug or the receptacle?

Thanks.

 

[grouperjim]

I may have the balls to sawzall my boat (final pics to come), but you guys that run around at night are the real crazy ones. I'll spend the night a 100 miles out, but once it is dark, this Capt. not going anywhere. I've seen too many floating 55 gal drums, sea turtles, 2x6s etc. to be running around in the dark. no, no , no.:shock:

jim

 

[J.A. Veil]

In previous years and again last night, before I stick the white light mast into the receptable near the starboard rear cleat, I first spray both parts with electronic component cleaner. Then I insert the mast into the socket. The light does not come on unless I pull the mast gently toward the front of the boat. As soon as I let go, the light goes out. If I try to tighten down on the plastic screw bracket, the light stays off.

Have any of the rest of you had this problem? Do you have any ideas -- in particular, is the problem in the mast plug or the receptacle?

Thanks.

Today I had a friend fishing with me. I asked him to bring the white light mast from his boat. As soon as I plugged it in my boat, it lit up without needing any wiggling. This seems to indicate that the problem with my system is a bad connection on the mast plug not on the receptacle. I plan to purchase a replacement mast light to solve the problem.

 

[Jersey Jim]

J.A. Veil, I had this same intermittent connection problem with a brand new Perko nav light that came in the package already inserted into the flush-mount base. I soon determined that by sitting for months in the base, compressing the gold-plated contacts, caused the spring tension to be weaker. I solved this by stretching the springs slightly longer in the pole. This immediately solved the problem.

Also, the nice benfit of L.E.D. all around lights is that they draw very little power. Because of this minimal power drain, I installed a switch with a 2nd power source that fed the 12 volts through a resistor. This resistor gives me a "dim" setting that draws rediculously low power from the battery and is still amply visible for shorter ranges (1/2 mile or so). Sometimes it is too irritating to use the full brilliance output when other boaters are with you and there is absolutely no need for miles of visibility.

Jim

 

[Porkchunker]

I may have the balls to sawzall my boat (final pics to come), but you guys that run around at night are the real crazy ones. I'll spend the night a 100 miles out, but once it is dark, this Capt. not going anywhere. I've seen too many floating 55 gal drums, sea turtles, 2x6s etc. to be running around in the dark. no, no , no.:shock:

jim

Well...a mans gotta to what a mans gotta do. I often fish at night, which means I need to move around a bit. I have radar, but it won't find a floating 55 gal barrel or log.

I jumped out of airplanes and ran through the wood with my hair on fire as an Airborne Ranger. If that didn't kill me, then I'm going to fish until I drop or my number is up...even if it is at night.

 

[grouperjim]

I hear you, but just look at efishdoc's off road Parker on lake Conroe. Night driving ----yikes. That would be my luck. But I do agree with you---if you've got a radar, use it.

Waitin for sunrise----

jim

 

[Porkchunker]

Yes, I saw the cross-country boat also. I'm left wondering if the radar was turned off or not working. If you have radar, it should be running all the time, so you get used to what objects (points, spits, bouys, fyke nets, other boats, small islands, etc.) look like on the radar screen when you can still see the actual object with your eyes. That makes the radar images much more "real" in the mind of the captain.