Reconfiguring an nav/anchor light mast

Minnetonka · Post by **Minnetonka** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:47 pm

Greetings.

I am looking into reconfiguring my nav/anchor light mast and am interested in your ideas or pics showing how you reconfigured your light mast. I have a 1981 F-32 Flybridge and the mast is currently located in it's original configuration, that is until I went under a low bridge and caught the mast on a steel girder. The d*m!@@ thing sits up too high and quite frankly is a visual obstruction when I'm on the flybridge. Any suggestions/pics are appreciated. PS. I used the anchor light just a few times per year since I am normally at the dock when I overnight on the boat.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:12 pm

Welcome to the forum.

I don't share your problem but I am sure there are many here that will have both experience with the situation and good suggestions for solving it.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:40 pm

At least it was only the light . I move mine to the hard top so it was not in the line of sight . the stock light is not very tall but in the line of sight your lucky no one hit the bridge , I know of one case here where a man was killed hit a low bridge .

I don't know how you can lower the light and still be legal .

Maybe a fold down light ?

I assume you have no top ?

Minnetonka · Post by **Minnetonka** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:57 pm

Correct, no top. On this Minnesota Lake there are two bridges that have one girder, a few inches lower than the rest. I found this out after I had the mishap and have taken heed of the warning to avoid these areas. We've also had significant rain/snowfall over the last year which has caused lake levels to rise. I like the idea of a fold down light. I will explore that option. The other option I was considering was to cut the bend out of the bent portion of the stainless steel mast and re-weld it to the base plate, thus lowering the mast about 5-6 inches. I've only gotten one price quote for this job and it was around $300. I understand that it's stainless steel, but that seems high.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:35 pm

If you just want to shorten it remove the lamp cut the tubing and reinstall the lamp

Minnetonka · Post by **Minnetonka** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 8:41 pm

I considered that but there is a bend at the base that reminds me of my gaff with the bridge everytime I look at it. It's got to go! However, cutting the top is definitely a less expensive option. Thanks for the suggestion!

hodgkinsbrian · Post by **hodgkinsbrian** » Fri Jul 16, 2010 9:44 pm

Minnetonka

I have a F-26 Trojan an the anchor light on my boat is hinged an will fold down, thus giving you an extra 15"s of clearance.
I believe this is original equipment so you might be able to buy one at Beacon Marine.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 1:26 pm

I have the same probelm on my 77 F-32, a friend of mine and a professional boat captain came aboard when I bought her a few months back and the first thing he said was "nice running light, what idiot installed it right in the line of sight, I am removing mine completely and moving the radar arch, i'll change it to an all around light and make a cover for the stern light. this will get the light up where it can be seen, I think I am going to move the nav lights as well up to the front corners of the bridge for the same reason, but go to a bigger light.

San Diego bay is a working port and a military port and the trip to catalina crosses a shipping lane, whle I may been seen on radar, i want to be seen by eyes as well, the best time to cross the 75 mile open water run to cataline is at night, the wind lays down as thus so do the seas

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:06 am

Minnetonka wrote:Greetings.

I am looking into reconfiguring my nav/anchor light mast and am interested in your ideas or pics showing how you reconfigured your light mast.

Here is what I did. Changed the angle of the base bracket and used a shorter straight tube.

It may still be too high for your needs, though it could be lowered to the top of bridge and still meet regs. It would then not be suitable for an anchor light.

g36 · Post by **g36** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:48 pm

gettaway said "nice running light, what idiot installed it right in the line of sight"

you do know if its the original mast and wired properly you will only have the forward facing bulb lit and not the bulb thats in your face when the running lights are on. only when the switch is in anchor mode will both bulbs be on for an all around anchor light

dollarbill · Post by **dollarbill** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:59 pm

I have also been on the look out for an Nav/Anc light option also to remove the present monstrosity...

All of the fold able options I have seen online are too short to get the right height.

wowzer52 · Post by **wowzer52** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:11 pm

Just about any canvas shop will have tubing that lights will fit on and fittings for mounting or clamping wherever you desire.

Trojan Boat Forum

Reconfiguring an nav/anchor light mast

Reconfiguring an nav/anchor light mast

nav/anchor light

Re: Reconfiguring an nav/anchor light mast

Where did you get the parts to fabricate your light?