Aqua Signal Masthead light

[ctb]

Hi,

Our tri colour masthead light lens has broken. It is very old, circa 1978 so really can't complain!!
I have searched and cannot find either a replacement lens or a replacement upper part.


It mates on the masthead with this, plastic threaded collar which is captive (just below the black insulating tape):


Does anyone know if I can get a replacement anywhere, ideally so I can reuse the fitting which is still on the masthead?
Thanks

Geoff

 

[fredrussell]

Should be able to find one on eBay - you can set a search up that will notify you by text/etc if something matching your search comes up. Or you could post a ‘wanted’ thread in the relevant forum on here.

 

[VicS]

Hi,

Our tri colour masthead light lens has broken. It is very old, circa 1978 so really can't complain!!
I have searched and cannot find either a replacement lens or a replacement upper part.
View attachment 200979

It mates on the masthead with this, plastic threaded collar which is captive (just below the black insulating tape):
View attachment 200981

Does anyone know if I can get a replacement anywhere, ideally so I can reuse the fitting which is still on the masthead?
Thanks

Geoff

You'll probably have to do the same as me ......... Buy a complete new unit . Annoying that the bases are not the same. Even more annoying that the fixing screws are differently spaced .

Time perhaps to fit an LED unit.

I'd offer you my old one but the reason I replaced it was that the lenses had crazed.
.

 

[Dockhead]

Is that an AquaSignal? Maybe a Series 40? If so, the new LED one may fit the old base.

The old Series 40 tricolour often came with what they called the "Quick Fit Base", which also fits the newer Series 34 LED tricolour.

That's what I did with mine, 12 years ago! And is still going strong. It uses about 1/10 of the power, which is very welcome night sailing.

 

[ctb]

Is that an AquaSignal? Maybe a Series 40? If so, the new LED one may fit the old base.

The old Series 40 tricolour often came with what they called the "Quick Fit Base", which also fits the newer Series 34 LED tricolour.

That's what I did with mine, 12 years ago! And is still going strong. It uses about 1/10 of the power, which is very welcome night sailing.

View attachment 200982

Hi, unfortunately it's a bit older than that. 1978.

 

[ctb]

Should be able to find one on eBay - you can set a search up that will notify you by text/etc if something matching your search comes up. Or you could post a ‘wanted’ thread in the relevant forum on here.

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Zing]

Hi,

Our tri colour masthead light lens has broken. It is very old, circa 1978 so really can't complain!!
I have searched and cannot find either a replacement lens or a replacement upper part.
View attachment 200979

It mates on the masthead with this, plastic threaded collar which is captive (just below the black insulating tape):
View attachment 200981

Does anyone know if I can get a replacement anywhere, ideally so I can reuse the fitting which is still on the masthead?
Thanks

Geoff

It’s 47 years old. Time for a shiny brand new one I think. Don’t reuse anything, bin the lot.

 

[Cerebus]

Hi,

Our tri colour masthead light lens has broken. It is very old, circa 1978 so really can't complain!!
I have searched and cannot find either a replacement lens or a replacement upper part.
View attachment 200979

It mates on the masthead with this, plastic threaded collar which is captive (just below the black insulating tape):
View attachment 200981

Does anyone know if I can get a replacement anywhere, ideally so I can reuse the fitting which is still on the masthead?
Thanks

Geoff

My first thought was Ebay.

My second thought is how do you feel about DIY?

One can buy transparent acrylic, green and red, cheaply.

I have heated acrylic and bent it to shapes I require.

Perhaps you or a friend could repair what you have?

 

[dansaskip]

Yes as others have said time for a nice new LED one

 

[Tranona]

My first thought was Ebay.

My second thought is how do you feel about DIY?

One can buy transparent acrylic, green and red, cheaply.

I have heated acrylic and bent it to shapes I require.

Perhaps you or a friend could repair what you have?

The lens are made to meet visibility standards and as you see they are not plain acrylic. As suggested, time for a new unit

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Alternatively remove the base, pull the wires and eliminate the tri colour. They were a compromise for yachts in the days of crap batteries where 3 filament bulbs risked flattening your battery.

They are not needed these days.

 

[Refueler]

My first thought was Ebay.

My second thought is how do you feel about DIY?

One can buy transparent acrylic, green and red, cheaply.

I have heated acrylic and bent it to shapes I require.

Perhaps you or a friend could repair what you have?

My bow dual light had its lense smashed by riding the pontoon while baltic moored. The case and fittings are fine ... just needs a lense .... but of course cannot be had.
I have thought about fashioning my own as you suggest .... only conisderation is the lense characteristics to meet light specifications.

 

[Cerebus]

The lens are made to meet visibility standards and as you see they are not plain acrylic. As suggested, time for a new unit

Yes, a bit too difficult to create the fresnel affect. I was going to suggest routing the plastic before bending but forgot; too much work for an old unit.

The unit linked to below has a ‘fresnel’ lens for white but not for green and red; presumably the green and red are made up of multiple LEDs that point in different directions?

https://foxschandlery.com/products/..._9dlBD2t_8oLPeE23flbSizx2d_dbj0xoC0-MQAvD_BwE

 

[Cerebus]

I note you are not a proliferate poster (as I have been deemed).

If possible, I would be interested to know your decision or choice of remedy; I like to fix things…

I realise some people do not reply to such requests and respect their privacy.

 

[Dockhead]

It’s 47 years old. Time for a shiny brand new one I think. Don’t reuse anything, bin the lot.

This is the right answer.

 

[Cerebus]

This is the right answer.

Don’t ask me to bin my boat; it still floats at least

 

[LittleSister]

The lens are made to meet visibility standards and as you see they are not plain acrylic. As suggested, time for a new unit

The unit linked to below has a ‘fresnel’ lens for white but not for green and red; presumably the green and red are made up of multiple LEDs that point in different directions?

I believe the fresnel lenses on traditional incandescent bulb nav lights are normally horizontally patterned, and are there to limit the vertical spread of light, directing light which would otherwise illuminate the sky or the close by sea surface in a more horizontal direction. Without that a more powerful bulb would be needed to achieve the same light intensity when viewed from other vessel. (Perhaps the shape of the housing limits the vertical spread of light sufficiently?)

I note the all-round-white in the nav light you link to has instead vertical fresnel patterning, and I guess this is to more evenly spread around the horizon the light coming from the separate LEDs, which are spaced horizontally with gaps around their circular mounting, and would otherwise have relatively dark gaps depending on the angle from which the lamp is viewed.

The surface of the trip-colour does not have fresnel patterning, as you mention, but I suspect that behind that plain transparent exterior there is some sort of lens arrangement on the LEDs themselves. Otherwise there would be insufficient cut-off between the colour sectors to meet the regulations, as is the problem of simply putting an LED. For example there seems to be some sort of lens on the LEDs, and behind the plain exterior lens, on this different brand nav light.

 

[Dockhead]

. . . .I like to fix things…

I do too.

But optical quality is critical for nav lights. The sectors of visibility of the different colours. One should be realistic about one's skills and resources.

Yet another reason to upgrade rather than fix is that you will save a ton of power with a modern LED tricolour. 1.9 watts for the Aqua Signal Series 34, vs. 25 watts for the old one. That's an awfully big difference on a long overnight sail.

 

[Refueler]

I do too.

But optical quality is critical for nav lights. The sectors of visibility of the different colours. One should be realistic about one's skills and resources.

Yet another reason to upgrade rather than fix is that you will save a ton of power with a modern LED tricolour. 1.9 watts for the Aqua Signal Series 34, vs. 25 watts for the old one. That's an awfully big difference on a long overnight sail.

True .... but don't forget that if a light and lense is in usable condition - you can get LED bulbs to fit in ... they have come a long way from the days of not providing the right light travel for nav lights ... now you can get nav light purposed LED bulbs ... the question is whether you are happy enough to step outside of Lamp specs and fit ... (some people seem to have a 'hissy fit' over this !!)

I doubt anyone has ever been caught out by this .. in incident or not ... I for one am happy enough to plug in an LED bulb and enjoy the reduction in amps draw ..

 

[Boathook]

True .... but don't forget that if a light and lense is in usable condition - you can get LED bulbs to fit in ... they have come a long way from the days of not providing the right light travel for nav lights ... now you can get nav light purposed LED bulbs ... the question is whether you are happy enough to step outside of Lamp specs and fit ... (some people seem to have a 'hissy fit' over this !!)

I doubt anyone has ever been caught out by this .. in incident or not ... I for one am happy enough to plug in an LED bulb and enjoy the reduction in amps draw ..

I fitted LED's purpose made for nav lights. The cut off seem good, colours good and so much brighter than the traditional bulb for a lot less power.
If the lens on the existing light is crazed it is time for a new light fitting, etc.

Got mine from Navigation Lights: LED Replacement Bulb Information . Could have got them possibly cheaper but the tri light on the mast by the VHF aerial was not a problem.