two steaming lights

moctrams · Post by **moctrams** » Sep 7th, '12, 06:23

I’m rewiring a Westsail 32 and there are two (2) steaming lights on the mast. Does anyone know why?

gates_cliff · Post by **gates_cliff** » Sep 7th, '12, 06:56

I have no idea, unless he tows barges!!!!!

sharkbait · Post by **sharkbait** » Sep 7th, '12, 08:56

Are you sure you don't have a deck light and a steaming light?

moctrams · Post by **moctrams** » Sep 7th, '12, 10:38

Nope, there are two (2) steaming lights;one above the other on the front of the mast. He has spreader lights, rather than a deck light. I have talked to several "old hands" and they have never seen this before.

NateHanson · Post by **NateHanson** » Sep 8th, '12, 13:15

Is there an amber light above his stern light? Could be that your previous owner was extremely conscientious about proper nav lights when towing his dinghy.

http://www.bosunsmate.org/seamanship/lights.php

moctrams · Post by **moctrams** » Sep 8th, '12, 17:01

Nope, both are white lights;one above the other.

crosswickscreek · Post by **crosswickscreek** » Sep 17th, '12, 16:12

moctrams wrote:I’m rewiring a Westsail 32 and there are two (2) steaming lights on the mast. Does anyone know why?

I'm not sure this merits much worry on your part (aside from curiosity). Don't fret too much. The installation is clearly not in compliance and should be abandoned in favor of a standard layout. As I'm sure you already know, this yacht is definitely not the first example of "creative" improvements in navigation lighting.

Bob Brown · Post by **Bob Brown** » Sep 17th, '12, 23:14

Are they switched separately? If so he worried the main light would go out underway and he wouldn't be able to replace it so he installed back-up?

moctrams · Post by **moctrams** » Sep 18th, '12, 06:58

They are tied together. I don't know why the original owner did this. The current owner has a lot of expensive "gizmos" e.g. radar, TackTick instruments, high bilge water and so forth. His sails are shot and his old Volvo engine is suspect. He has zero sailing skills. I guess he thinks these "gizmos" will save him.

Steve Bryant · Post by **Steve Bryant** » Sep 18th, '12, 10:06

Maybe they are only rated for one mile visibility, so he used two of them.

I know, that was bad.

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Sep 18th, '12, 11:43

Are they close enough together that they'd appear as a single light? That could just be redundancy. Still strange.

moctrams · Post by **moctrams** » Sep 18th, '12, 15:31

The lights are three (3) feet apart.

The Cape Dory Board

two steaming lights

two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights

Re: two steaming lights