R 22

Rhodes 22

 

Spreader/Deck Lights

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

web page developed by Logic Unlimited, Inc.

1