I have intalled the spreader lights before. It was no big deal for
me and I have trouble changing a light bulb. The light is best on the
spreader rather than the mast when you consider being out of the way of
flogging sails / halyards. After I installed the light I rarely used it
however because the light on the white deck was irresistable for every bug
for miles. That might be a local phenom. though. Another meathod I have
used is to run light (like you would use while camping with the pivoting
beam) up a halyard and guided by the backstay or headstay. Besure to attach
a retrieval line from the bottom to help it down if needed. Congratulations
on the purchase and good luck.
Bob Weber
14 Jan 2002
I use a battery powered clear running light as a work light. I mounted
mine with tape and a hose clamp on the pushpit rail, next to the swim
ladder. I find that most of my work is in the cockpit, so that's where i
mounted the light.
Dick
14 Jan 2002
I agree with Stan that permanently mounted deck lights on the mast of a
trailerable sailboat are troublesome. We use the battery powered Coleman
flourescent camping lanterns for deck lighting while at anchor. We also use
one of these Coleman lanterns, hoisted up the flag halyard, for an anchor
light. A set of 6 alkaline D-cell batteries lasts for more than a week-long
cruise in these Coleman lanterns. For picking up buoys & spotting obstacles
at night, we have a Night Blaster 2,000,000 candle power handheld spotlight.
This spotlight has an on-board rechargable 12 VDC battery pack, or it can be
operated from ship's power thru a cigarette lighter plug, or from 120 VAC.
The incredibly bright white, tightly focused beam is also great for shining
deer or annoying your neighbors. (Just Kidding!) For illuminating the
headsail telltales while underway, we have rail clamps that fit a 2 D-cell
Eveready halogen flashlight. For night sailing, we mount one of these on a
cockpit stanchion on port & starboard & turn them on & off as appropriate
for the tack we are sailing on. We can aim them at the headsail & lock them
in place. The narrow beam illuminates the genoa telltales without
destroying your night vision. For a personal light that doesn't wipe out
your night vision, the boys & I use our "VistaLite Super Nebula 5" red LED
bicycle taillights. These devices have 5 very bright red LEDS in a sealed
housing with a membrane switch. They have a handy belt clip that attaches
onto the belt on your PFD. They also come with a bicycle seatpost clamp
which be used to position one of these red LED lamps at the nav station, in
the head, or on a stanchion in the cockpit. As a bicycle taillight, these
lights are rated visible for 1-2 miles which makes them more than bright
enough to read a nav chart or tie a knot in the dark without killing your
night vision. For emergency signaling, these LED lights also feature
blinking & chase modes, although they are a little too directional to be a
good emergency beacon or man overboard light. Being an LED device, the burn
time on a set of 2 AA alkaline batteries is very long, several night time
sailing sessions. Just this year, for Christmas, my brother gave me a new
white LED headlamp for camping. It's called the Moonlight by Black Diamond
& it casts a very flat wide angle beam which can be aimed up & down. I find
it lightweight & comfortable enough to wear for several hours at a time.
The light source is from 4 very bright blue-white LED's & it's also
completely waterproof. The burn time on 3 AAA alkaline batteries is rated
at 70 hours. I haven't tried it for sailing yet, but it should make a very
useful personal light, although the bright blue-white light will absolutely
wipe out anyone's night vision. Hunters take note, this headlight is REALLY
useful for finding your way out to your deer blind before dawn.
Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
14 Jan 2002
For deck lite, consider the Davis (Mega) Masthead lite with photo sensing
switch. it can be located almost anywhere.
Brock
15 Jan 2002
Decklight- I went with the Deck/Running light combo.
With an 8' beam the deck light work fine for anchoring
and such and the running like is needed for night
sailing. I mounted mine about a Yard above the
spreader. That location has work well for me. Block
nail it with the Davis maga masthead anchor light with
photocell. That what I have and it great on morning
that you want to sleep in or have hangover and must
sleep in while at anchor. The light will turn itself
off. Can't beat that.
Steve
15 Jan 2002
