Lights on Cape Dory 25D

[Bob Dugan]

Hi Folks!

I haven't posted in a while... but my wife and I are now the owners of a very nice CD25D Hull #92 "Cricket"

The surveyor made a list of a few things we need to fix before we put her in the water.

In the area of lights, he recommended replacing the motoring light lens on the mast. The light itself is fine... it's just that the lense is fairly opaque. Is there a part number that I should be giving to Boat U.S. or West Marine?

Also I need to add an anchoring light to the top of the mast. This seems like a little more of a challenge... I guess I just drill a couple of holes at the top of the mast to attach the anchor light, then figure out how to extend the wiring from the motoring/deck lights at mid-mast. Hmmmm if I only had really long thin arms and an eyestalk so I could see inside the mast. Any advice here?

Thanks!

Bob.



bdugan@stepzero.com

[Bill]

Hi Bob

Well you certainly have chosen a worthy project. The steaming/deck light fixture are still available (at least they were in May 2001) from WM part number 174409 (I think). You may want to go ahead and replace the wires to this light while you are at it....

The anchor light is a bit different....First you will need to pull the wire to the steam/deck light (in order to use the sail track all the way to the top), then use wire ties to "bundle" the new ground/hot wire for the anchor light with the steaming/deck light (and probably the VHF coax as well)wires. If the coax is old you may want to replace it while you are at it... I used one of the upper shrouds to snake the new wiring. When you pull the old steam/deck light wire be sure and attach a snake/messanger line to it before you pull it....

In the salon I was able to snake new wire from the distribution panel, between the cabin liner and the coach top, to the compression post and thus avoid "configuring" some sort of splice to provide power for the anchor light....

Finally, I re-did the exit of the wire at the mast and the thru deck at the same time. I have some pics and an explaination (sp) of this at the link listed below.

How this is helpful and not to vague....

Fair Winds and good luck

Bill
Captain Commanding
S/V Rhapsody (the Original)
CD25D #148
Oklahoma Contingent of the NE Fleet CDSOA
Gally Wench S/V Evening Light

Hi Folks!

I haven't posted in a while... but my wife and I are now the owners of a very nice CD25D Hull #92 "Cricket"

The surveyor made a list of a few things we need to fix before we put her in the water.

In the area of lights, he recommended replacing the motoring light lens on the mast. The light itself is fine... it's just that the lense is fairly opaque. Is there a part number that I should be giving to Boat U.S. or West Marine?

Also I need to add an anchoring light to the top of the mast. This seems like a little more of a challenge... I guess I just drill a couple of holes at the top of the mast to attach the anchor light, then figure out how to extend the wiring from the motoring/deck lights at mid-mast. Hmmmm if I only had really long thin arms and an eyestalk so I could see inside the mast. Any advice here?

Thanks!

Bob.

cd25d@rhapsodysails.com

[Shelby]

Where does it say that the anchor light has to be at the mast top?
Really? I have the notion, that the anchor light is just an all around whitle light, visible for at least two miles. And in that logic, my anchor light is hung from the backstay, when at anchor, and is much easier to maintain! If I am overlooking some detail, please someone point out my error.



ssboat@juno.com

[sloopjohnl]

sounds good to me because i hang mine from the forestay using the jib halyard. and a davis megalight hangs from the boom for a cockpit light when desired.


Where does it say that the anchor light has to be at the mast top?

Really? I have the notion, that the anchor light is just an all around whitle light, visible for at least two miles. And in that logic, my anchor light is hung from the backstay, when at anchor, and is much easier to maintain! If I am overlooking some detail, please someone point out my error.

[Will W.]

You are perfectly fine with a set up as you describe. I have used a lantern hung from the jib halyard until this year when I installed an anchor light at the top of the mast. The rule states that the light must be visible from 360 degrees or all around. I suppose technically a lantern hung might not be visible from one or two degrees looking trough the mast, but this would only be a factor in dead calm. I believe the reason that when people install a fixed anchor light they always mount it on the top of the mast is because that is the only place to mount it to be within regulations. An all around light mounted anywhere else would not work as needed or be in the way of something.
I only installed a fixed anchor light because I was tired of buying D size batteries for the lantern I was using.Also all the wiring in the mast needed replaceing anyway. I will be using more power from the battery now but that should be ok.

Will Wheatley
Suzi Q
CD25

Where does it say that the anchor light has to be at the mast top?
Really? I have the notion, that the anchor light is just an all around whitle light, visible for at least two miles. And in that logic, my anchor light is hung from the backstay, when at anchor, and is much easier to maintain! If I am overlooking some detail, please someone point out my error.

willwheatley@starpower.net

[D. Stump, Hanalei]

Captain Dugan,

According to the regs. an anchor light is only required when anchoring outside of an established anchorage! I would contact Spartan Spar/ Rigright(address in "where to look" on Web) for the lens, and forget about a masthead light, unless you want to go through all the wiring hassle. Sure, it is nice to have, but it is not required!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30C
CDSOA NUMBER ONE ! !

[catherine_monaghan@merck.]

Dave,

You may want to use an anchor light no matter where you anchor, especially in areas where fishing boats may be travelling through in darkness. (Anchorages are quite often right outside and on the way to mooring fields and marinas.) Wouldn't want to get t-boned in the middle of the night, whether I had the right to be there without a light or not. It also makes it easier to find your boat when rowing back from shore after dark. Anyway, you don't need to use the anchor light in anchorages designated as 110.60 (at least I think that's it -- check the Coast Pilot), in most others you'll need to use the light.

It's not terriby difficult to run the wiring up through the mast. And you don't have to run it from the steaming light, you can run new wiring from the base of the mast, it's up to you.

Anyway you need to use an electrician's snake. Remove the masthead, run the snake through the mast (it should make it to bottom relatively easily since it's made of metal), attach the wire to the snake, attach sail slugs to the wire every 12-16 inches or so and wind up the snake. Someone will have to feed the slugs through the track inside the mast. Or you can attach the new wiring with cable ties to the wiring that's already in the mast (which means disconnecting the wiring at the steaming light, attaching a line to it, and pulling it out of the mast. You'll still have to use a snake to get the other wiring to the masthead.). It can be done. We did it on Realization.


Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Captain Dugan,

According to the regs. an anchor light is only required when anchoring outside of an established anchorage! I would contact Spartan Spar/ Rigright(address in "where to look" on Web) for the lens, and forget about a masthead light, unless you want to go through all the wiring hassle. Sure, it is nice to have, but it is not required!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30C
CDSOA NUMBER ONE ! !

catherine_monaghanNOSPAM@merck.com

[Neil Gordon]

Even when it is required, it doesn't have to be permanently mounted at the masthead. A temporary light meeting the specs can be sent aloft on a halyard.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



cdory28@aol.com

[Larry DeMers]

How would it clear the mast then? Use a stick to loft it above the mast head?
Don't forget that the occluded portion of the light will be HUGE if it is located close to the mast, rather than above it. The angle of occlusion would decrease as you backed away from the mast, with probably 1-2 deg. of occlusion back by the backstay.

Cheers,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 on Lake Superior

Even when it is required, it doesn't have to be permanently mounted at the masthead. A temporary light meeting the specs can be sent aloft on a halyard.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167

demers@sgi.com

[Hanalei]

Captain Monaghan,

No, you are not ALWAYS required to fly an anchor light, but the PRUDENT thing to do is to probably show it wherever you anchor! I mean, it would be a little embarrasing to have to stand on your quarter deck showing a hand salute to the varmit that just ran you down at 0200 hrs. and you ARE sinking! I'm sure all would hold you in highest esteem for staying with your vessel as she slowly slips beneath the waves. By the way, anchor lights must be visible for at least two miles and from 360 degrees around the vessel. Larry has a point, an anchor light blocked by the mast might not be seen for the entire 360 degrees, but it would probably only be occulted for 1-2 degrees. Well, not to worry, UNLESS that varmit is headed directly at you from that 1-2 degree area. Again, being PRUDENT, is SAFEST!
OK, 'nough said, so what anchor light does Hanalei show - you're gonna hate this - - it is a Den Haus kerosene fired anchor light that is actually not approved for use as such by the Coast Guard. I use it because I think it is "shippy" looking and it's fun, and OH, by the way, Hanalei has never been struck at ODark thirty! Knock on wood!

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30C
CDSOA Number ONE

P.S. Fleet Captain Heintz: You WILL be able to identify Hanalei in the Napatree anchorage when you finally get there AFTER dark on 4 August! I promise, I will show the proper light! Just to help ya gets there!!!!

[Don Carr]

Larry; I use a guest battery powered light which rides on the forestay and is reasonably free swinging so the occlusion you speak of is normally only momentary on any given point of the compass. Plus the added motion of it swinging in my mind is actually as good or better than a fixed lantern.

FWIW



carrds@us.ibm.com

[Michael Heintz]

Capin Dave,

Are you telling us you use a kerosene fired anchor light????????????????????????????????

Please tell me it ain't true!!!!

ps. Captain Kaplan has assured me he will share his "oil" with you, to get you by the night AUG0402. Im'm told it's a good single malt...you may need it!!!!

Cappy
Michael



Mzenith@aol.com

[Hanalei]

Fleet Captain Heintz,

Yes, I surely do use an oil lamp for an anchor light! It is designed as such and is described by West Marine as a "Traditional anchor light that uses a fresnel lens to get the most light from the flame. Bails on top and bottom prevent swinging in the wind outdoors, but, they look equally elegant at home sitting on a table. Use lamp oil or kerosene. Not Coast Guard approved to mark a boat at anchor. Large lamp operates 30 hours on 10.1 fl.oz. reservoir. 6" X 5" fresnel glass lens, 14" high X 6 3/4" diameter. Cost $169.99." Manufacture is Den Haan.

Have never had any trouble with it, other than I did drop it overboard once at the Napatree anchorage as I was removing it from the Starboard signal halyard in the morning. Immediately went swimming for it and found it on the first dive!

If you were a ways from Hanalei, you wouldn't be able to tell that it isn't a 12V lamp. I believe it is not Coast Guard approved because of a perceived fire hazard, but these lamps were used for years aboard conventional vessels, whether they burned a few of them to the water line or not, I don't know, but it does work well and I don't worry about pesky wiring. AND, ya almost never run out of fuel, if ya did, the engine isn't running either!

I remain Sir, your wild and crazy servant.........

Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30C
CDSOA Number ONE

[Larry DeMers]

Don,

Yeah, that will be fine I would expect. The situation that is intolerable in my mind (from personal..scary experience) is the guy that has his fascination with sailings past (not a bad thing in itself), and tries to repeat the past by using a kerosene lamp on the foretriangle or off the backstay over the cockpit. Because it is "traditional", it is good in this persons mind. But they are fooling themselves badly.

A usual kerosene lamp does not have the necessary lumen output to be seen 2 miles away, yet the boats owner goes to sleep in blissful ignorance of the danger he could in or causing.

In my case we missed T-boning a guy anchored, using a kerosene lamp hung 6 ft. above the cockpit, by a mere 15 ft. The lamp *was* seen, but was so yellow, and so dim as to be confused with the dying embers of a shoreline campfire, which there were several of. The loom of our running lights reflected off the hull, and I did a very quick 90deg. turn to avoid him. the next morning I rowed over and related this story to him..and he gulped a few times. Knowing his stubborness, I suspect he is still using the kerosene light.
In response to this situation, I added 3M silver colored reflective tape p[ieces to the stanchions, the mast and boom, so when hit with light at night, my boat lites up like a christmas tree. During the day, the silver colored tape blends into the S.S. stanchions perfectly. Now we can be seen by late night arrivals, as well as 'see the boat' when we are rowing back from visiting other boats, and using a flashlight to pick out which hull out of 30 out there, is ours?
This stuff is available in hardware stores for a couple dollars and is well worth applying.


Cheers,

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30

Larry; I use a guest battery powered light which rides on the forestay and is reasonably free swinging so the occlusion you speak of is normally only momentary on any given point of the compass. Plus the added motion of it swinging in my mind is actually as good or better than a fixed lantern.

FWIW

demers@sgi.com

[Chip]

Some folks I know have used a kerosene fired anchor and running lights for years on there very traditional wooden boat. In fact, they are somewhere in the Med right now. Besides, your boat will only burn down to the water line:)


Chip




chip88673@yahoo.com