Repair Oil Lamp

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John Martin
Posts: 185
Joined: Jan 10th, '06, 18:10
Location: CD31, 1985, #85, CARINA

Repair Oil Lamp

Post by John Martin »

One of my trusty W&P #700 Oil Yacht Lamp has sprung a leak in the oil reservoir. Not sure what is going on, I meant to bring it home for a close inspection. I will get it home this week-end for a good look. I seems like it is soldered on the bottom of the lamp, and I suspect that is where it is leaking.

In the mean time, has anyone else experienced a leaking lamp? What did you do to fix it? They want about $50 to replace the reservoir, you can see why I want to repair it myself.
John & Nancy Martin
Sailing on Lake Lanier just NE of Atlanta
CD31 #85 "Carina" 1985
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Marc Theriault
Posts: 85
Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 18:05
Location: Contessa 26 s/v Sun Wave Lake Champlain NY/VT

Re: Repair Oil Lamp

Post by Marc Theriault »

John and Nancy,

Don't play with your life, discard the reservoir. Do you value your life to 50$?

When i bought my boat i found an old lamp that the owner repaired, i used it and the lamp exploded, spilling the alcohool in flame every where in my house, i had my lesson. The problem was the reservoir, he tried to fix it.

Marc
Neil Gordon
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Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
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Re: Repair Oil Lamp

Post by Neil Gordon »

It's your basic oil lamp with a wick, right? I don't see any problem in trying to re-solder the leaky part. If you want to be super safe, test is post-repair in your driveway, just to make sure.
Fair winds, Neil

s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA

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Paul D.
Posts: 1273
Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 20:52
Location: CD 33 Femme du Nord, Lake Superior

Re: Repair Oil Lamp

Post by Paul D. »

I got a damaged large W&P Yacht lamp, had a dent in it. It leaked from the reservoir when I tried it out. After thinking about options I simply soldered the seams of the reservoir on the bottom and it has worked perfectly for ten years with no leaks. I used regular heavy solder with an iron and had a propane torch handy to heat up the brass. It has worked exceptionally well despite, or perhaps because, it has clanked my head pretty good countless times hanging over the cabin table.

Since the fuel is lamp oil and I never leave the lamp lit in the cabin without being present, I do not have an issue with worry about leaking. The oil would not be aflame and the wick would go out if it drained dry. Without the repair I would still use the same caution with a flame below. Still, I kept a close weather eye upon it that first season. Here it is during our end of season layup while on the hard, given away by it's hanging straight down. My nine year old doesn't get to clank his head on it... yet.

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Paul
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