Led or normal bulbs for mast

[lustyd]

It's also worth noting that you're putting a lot of faith in people being able to tell the difference between red and green. If there's a light, don't be near enough for it to be a problem! Red and green were, in hindsight, a very poor choice.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Are those sealed electronics? For the price I'm tempted to do that rather than replace the unit. I'm not overly worried by colour correctness as long as one looks green and one red - it's not like the crappy plastic in my existing lights is the same colour it was when new!

Also tempted by the ones Paul linked earlier which look decent for a replacement "bulb"

I use cool white in my anchor. stern and steaming lights as this is a brighter light giving a greater range.

I went for warm white for the my multi colour lights for use in either of my lights.

The only issue I have had was when my mast head tricolour/anchor was blown completely off during a storm. No issue with the LED bulbs at all.

Also buying direct from china is cheaper and quicker than buying from the UK for me.

 

[Travelling Westerly]

Can we get some more specific recommendations? It's pointless just saying "sealed unit" as that could be anything. The only one I'm aware of is the NASA combined tri/all around and those are terrible for all kinds of reasons on anything more serious than a dinghy. I'm looking to swap mine out soon and so far I've only seen NASA or bulb replacements.

Why are the NASA combined lights terrible?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Why are the NASA combined lights terrible?

I did have the separate NASA units some time age that kept on blowing the LED's Having replaced the LED's several times I gave up I refitted my Aqua Signal with LED bulbs as I posted early

 

[lustyd]

Why are the NASA combined lights terrible?

Almost everything about them! They include a non-removable cable tail which must be joined to your cable at the top of the mast somehow - this is by necessity open to the elements. It's incredibly hard to fit, and impossible with the mast up if you want to do a good job since it needs soldering and heat shrinking realistically. Due to the short tail and the fact that this tail must go through the metal plate at the mast head it's not even easy with the mast down.
The mounting bracket is fairly weak, and a medium bird landing will easily break it or bend it.
There are numerous reports of failure of the LEDs, electronics and waterproofing. I know multiple people who have suffered from this, and given the completely sealed nature of the device that means replacement, and that means dealing with the fitting again, which I may have mentioned is a nightmare.

The one redeaming feature is that while working they are excellent lights and easily outperform every other anchor light in an anchorage!

 

[PaulRainbow]

Almost everything about them! They include a non-removable cable tail which must be joined to your cable at the top of the mast somehow - this is by necessity open to the elements. It's incredibly hard to fit, and impossible with the mast up if you want to do a good job since it needs soldering and heat shrinking realistically. Due to the short tail and the fact that this tail must go through the metal plate at the mast head it's not even easy with the mast down.
The mounting bracket is fairly weak, and a medium bird landing will easily break it or bend it.
There are numerous reports of failure of the LEDs, electronics and waterproofing. I know multiple people who have suffered from this, and given the completely sealed nature of the device that means replacement, and that means dealing with the fitting again, which I may have mentioned is a nightmare.

The one redeaming feature is that while working they are excellent lights and easily outperform every other anchor light in an anchorage!

All sealed LED lights come with short tails Dave. Easily dealt with by using glue lined, heat shrink, crimp connectors.

 

[lustyd]

That doesn't stop it from being a design issue in my opinion, I'd still prefer not to have that join open to the elements at the top of the mast, and I certainly don't fancy using a heat gun in a bosuns chair The Aqua Signal seems to manage OK with the straditional connection methods and swappable unit.

 

[Gixer]

I hope they're not crap I've just fitted one and put the mast up.....

 

[lustyd]

I'm sure you won't have problems in 2021 Gixer

 

[Travelling Westerly]

Almost everything about them! They include a non-removable cable tail which must be joined to your cable at the top of the mast somehow - this is by necessity open to the elements. It's incredibly hard to fit, and impossible with the mast up if you want to do a good job since it needs soldering and heat shrinking realistically. Due to the short tail and the fact that this tail must go through the metal plate at the mast head it's not even easy with the mast down.
The mounting bracket is fairly weak, and a medium bird landing will easily break it or bend it.
There are numerous reports of failure of the LEDs, electronics and waterproofing. I know multiple people who have suffered from this, and given the completely sealed nature of the device that means replacement, and that means dealing with the fitting again, which I may have mentioned is a nightmare.

The one redeaming feature is that while working they are excellent lights and easily outperform every other anchor light in an anchorage!

Oh dear doesnt sound promising then. I had one on a RIB A frame and it was great but only had it for a year before moving the boat on. The mounting and tails werent an issue as the A frame was only 5 ft high .

It was very bright though which I liked as not much chance of missing it. I wonder if some anti bird spikes could be glued to it to stop birds landing on it? Im still considering one as climbing my mast is not an issue for me. You've got me thinking though.....