Solar Masthead light?

[Reynard38]

Catnapper is close to being put on her mooring. I’d like her to have a masthead light before I do move her there. It’s a solid mast, and no wires were run by the builder. Anybody know of a solar masthead light?

[MoritzSchwarzer]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

I doubt that's a thing. The area required for the panel would make it unreasonably big. I'd say keep the solar panel on the house top, hook it to a house battery, and run a standard LED light with a cable up the main haliard.

[lupussonic]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Perhaps a shroud.

Running it up a halyard will make an awful mess in the masthead sheave.

[Canoeyawl]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Maybe?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TMFR016/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzM1FMV1FQRjA4OE1UJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjk5MzY3MTlPSlUyRTlWT1JUWSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODU3NDM3MkJSVzRIWVhYWllHVyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbDImYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

[Phil Y]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Garden light?

[dutchpp]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Our Chinese friends seem to have a couple of them https://dutch.alibaba.com/product-de...316f5c58pwfN4m

[Breakaway]

Just pointing out for general knowledge that in US waters nav lights must be USCG Approved.

Kevin


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[CliveP]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Case a few years back.
Boat collide with anchored yacht in dark.
Said there was no anchor light.
Owner of yacht said he had an automatic light, came on at dusk.
Judge asked if he had checked that light was on.
" No!"
Yacht owner found responsible. Should be irresponsible.
CliveP
.

[cstevens]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Regarding the rules, the regulation, in the US at least, states that anchor lights must be used when anchoring "outside a designated anchorage". Assuming that Catnapper's mooring is in a location that is considered an anchorage I would expect that showing a light is a matter of prudence rather than regulation. The local USCG would certainly be able to answer that question but I have a hard time imagining that the would have any problem with someone taking the extra step of installing a light, so long as it is not distracting or misleading (e.g. don't impersonate a tow or an aid to navigation or some such thing).

There seem to be plenty of marine-quality options available. This one looks pretty decent to me although I have no experience with it.

https://www.lakelite.com/products/solar-marine-light

[Hugh MacD]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Do you plan on doing any night sailing? Might you need a way to turn it off when you're underway? Maybe the best thing would be to mount it on a pig stick and run it up so you can drop it when you're underway?

[jpatrick]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Must a moored sailboat, that chooses to display a light, locate the light at the masthead?

Jeff

[Reynard38]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

As I’m rigging the boat today I’ve found that Maynard installed a flag halyard to to top of the mast. Now I’ve got a way to hoist and strike an anchor light.

[Reynard38]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Case a few years back.
Boat collide with anchored yacht in dark.
Said there was no anchor light.
Owner of yacht said he had an automatic light, came on at dusk.
Judge asked if he had checked that light was on.
" No!"
Yacht owner found responsible. Should be irresponsible.
CliveP
.

Good thing I’ll be able to see her from the house and tell if it’s working.

[Reynard38]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

This is what I ultimately went with. Thanks to CStevens.

https://www.lakelite.com/products/solar-marine-light/

Very high quality. Option of steady or flashing, and it’s bright. Seems to stay on all night. Should give Catnapper a fighting chance against the local crab boats.

[cstevens]

Re: Solar Masthead light?

Cheers Mark. Glad that worked out. Looking back I see that this thread is just a month old. Somehow it seems so very much longer than that! #2020.