Masthead Nav Light Broken Free

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stevd

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My mast head nav light had broken off and is now dangling by its wire :-S

Unfortunately I am not able to go up the mast but I can winch someone else up there. They aren't very diy minded, so I aqm trying to work out what they will need to take up with them and describe what will be needed. I am guessing that if it is dangling by its wire then it is probably going to have to be replaced completely as the mounting will have probably craqcked and broken? How are they usually attached to the mast head? Are they just screwed on?

Thanks
 
Likely that the housing is plastic which has weakened in the sun and snapped, yes. Arrangements will vary, but I would expect smallish machine screws and nuts. Send her up with medium and small flat screwdrivers, PZ2 screwdriver, and a small socket set (the kind that goes from 4mm or thereabouts to 13mm). Spanners in similar size might be useful if they need to slip into a slot (mounting plate above the masthead, say) where the sockets won't go.

Might also be worth making arrangements to send a bucket up and down for forgotten tools and parts - it's a lot easier than bringing the climber down to the deck! A spare halyard is best, but if not available tie a piece of cord to the bosun's chair for the climber to pull items up with.

Pete
 
Another thought - in this technological age it might be worth having some arrangement to send pictures down to you. Facetime between two iPhones would be ideal (live video, no setup needed) but even texting a photo could save a lot of frustrated shouting.

Pete
 
Send her up with a 2nd rope. If the rope round the winch develops a riding turn, she wont be best pleased being stuck up the mast.
 
prv said:
Another thought - in this technological age it might be worth having some arrangement to send pictures down to you. Facetime between two iPhones would be ideal
Click to expand...

...or Skype or google hangouts if android..especially when combined with a hands free set...or one of those wireless GoPros (with phone audio separate) attached to a cycling helmet.
 
Thanks for the replies. All very useful.

In the end she went up with a roll of gaffa tape to secure the light to the side of the mast to stop it from blowing around. It will now be secure enough until I can get someone to winch me up next week :-) problem solved with gaffa tape once again.....well almost :-)
 
If it's an Aquasignal 50, they had a habit of coming unscrewed at the knurled ring at the bottom. All that is needed is usually for someone to go up there and screw it back on.
If it really has broken free it's likely that the plastic mounting plate has UV degraded and broken up.
The good news, if the latter, is that you can now invest in an LED masthead, because the cost of spares for Aquasignal are ludicrous and it's easier to fit new.
I had mine die in Malta and found a chandler who couldn't sell the tricolour/anchor Aquasignal at the official list price, so I helped him turn his stock over at a more sane price than list.
If just fixings, you'll need 3 x 3mm bolts at least 45mm long.
 
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