Replacing tricolour at mast top

A

Amari

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Nov 2004
Messages
250
Location
Suffolk/Turkey
Visit site
Tha tricolour light at the top of my Kemp (subsequently taken over by Selden) mast is cracked and not working. Boat based in Turkey is a 1985 Wauquiez 35 and the mast probably original.
If I buy a replacement unit (maybe LED) in UK before going out to Turkey (where units much more expensive), how do I know it will fit my mast top? (I'm much too heavy/decrepit to have been hauled up the mast to inspect the fitting at the end of last season).
I tried emailing Selden via their website but no reply.
BTW, I often get no replies from enquiries via web sites ? a common problem.
Grateful for forumites thoughts
 
Maybe do a little more research first.
If you're too heavy get someone else up the mast. Is it simply a bulb replacement? Can you remove the fitting and test it on a battery? This would enable you to photograph and describe it properly. Have you checked the voltage at the deck fitting?
I would advise returning to the boat with a inexpensive multimeter rather than purchasing a nav light that may not be required, particularly if you can get away without nav lights for the interim. Good luck
 
The tricolour supplied by nasa marine comes wth a bracket that can be bent to fit most installations. I can't find it on their
awful website but it's in their 2008 catalogue.
 
Thanks folks for sensible advice. Wishful thinking: I was hoping someone would tell me all fittings are compatible.
I will ask boat guardian to retrieve fitting and look at it more thoroughly but I couldn't sus the fault last time and light got put back on top of mast in error
 
If you buy a Lopolight it will definitely fit the masthead as its footprint is probably less than half the area of a bulb-type tricolour. However, it is not a direct replacement or anything like it. It requires three holes to be drilled and tapped into the masthead plate, plus soldered wire end connectors and sealant. I doubt very much that I can do all this successfully up there, so one of my jobs when I get out there in a couple of weeks is to have the mast down, when I shall replace VHF aerial, all wiring, several sheaves, etc.
 
Many thanks.
I dread the thought of taking down my keel mounted mast. Expense and complications! My boat guardian is half my weight and very willing so I will winch him up
 
I would reccommend the lopolight, too; despite the need to remove the mast. If one or two LEDs fail, you still don't have to do anything until the end of the season.

I made the change after having to replace thee masthead bulbs on a ten day cruise.
 
[ QUOTE ]

I made the change after having to replace thee masthead bulbs on a ten day cruise.

[/ QUOTE ]

you shouldnt have had to do that whatever type of light you had- did you discover any fault in your wiring when replacing your light?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top