Trad Anchor light (convertion to LED) internal fittings?

[Roach1948]

I am trying to fit a masthead anchor light using the original 40’s fitting. The thing is that the interior of the light was totally corroded so I binned what was inside thinking I could relatively easily replace the electrical fittings. I want an LED for obvious reasons and bought an LED cluster for the light with two bulb prongs attached as illustrated. It didn’t fit exactly, so as you see, so I have padded the LED bulb with insulating tape.

But that is not the point. To sort this out I need a new electrical socket that holds two pronged bulbs (if that is the right word) and is fits inside diameter (1 inch). Any ideas where I can get one from?

 

[cliffordpope]

I thought the traditional method was to hoist a hurricane lamp up the forestay?

 

[bobgosling]

I think your best bet would be to buy a 2nd hand nav light and cannibalize it for the appropriate socket. Have you tried Index marine ( web page ) ?

 

[Peterduck]

I have fitted my masthead anchor light, nav lights and cabin deckhead leights with LEDs. I each case I mounted the LEDs on printed circuit board. I've never tried using LEDs with bulb bases, mainly because I haven't found any here in Melbourne. Bulb bases tend to come in standard diameters, and the ones which take 'prongs' are called a bayonet mounting, because of its similarity to that military hardware. The thing is to find a base of the same diameter as your bulbs. I am confident that you'd find it at your local motor wrecker in a tail-light or parking lamp. You might have to do some mild adaptation to the new housing. If the bulb is very small, a holder might be found in a hand-held torch.
Peter.

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]you mean these pics?
A variety of bulb holders/fittings available from here
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Kristal]

Hoisting a hurricane lamp somewhere aloft is certainly the traditional method for failing to sleep and risking dousing your boat with paraffin. The only place I use hurricane lamps is down below, where I can keep a proper eye on them, but even if you aren't as paranoid as I am, if your boat has an electrical system, using an LED anchor light is far more efficient and IMO effective - you can fit sensors to activate at dusk, for instance.

Unless one's traditional boat uses oil sidelights, and I don't know anybody whose does without having electric backups, why not?

/< (technophile and phillistine)

 

[fisherman]

There's a boat anchored up the Helford with a solar powered garden lantern on the bow. Didn't go by in the dark, so don't know how effective it is.

 

[Kristal]

According to ColRegs, that means "You are approaching a patio - proceed with caution". Col, of course, being my mate Colin, who knows everything.

/<

 

[Peterduck]

All the solar-powered garden lamps that I have seen are visible from about 10ft away, but not much further. They're pretty weak, as there's only a single LED in them, and that's not a particularly powerful one. I think that I put 4 of the most powerful available in my masthead light, and I can see that from quite a distance.
Peter.

 

[kestrel1891]

I've always used an oil riding light. I don't remember it ever having blown out in 20 years, nor have I yet mananged to douse the boat in parrafin. It is a proper riding light and not a so called hurricane lamp.
For the record I have only oil side lights too.

 

[Mirelle]

Trad Anchor light (unconverted)

I use a great big Davey cone burner light, which was once one of a pair of Not Under Command lights on a long-scrapped coaster. I just took the red shade out. If the Board of Trade said that was visible from three miles away with the red shade in, that is good enough for me.

It does occasionally misbehave; I find it is more likely to do so in a flat calm than in a gale, however.

I do not object to being mistaken for a Thames barge/harbour tug/Baltic trader at night!

 

[Talbot]

recommend you buy a lazilas anchor light from Alladdins Cave and bastardise the light fitting from that. They are very cheap

 

[sarabande]

This company seem to have good connections with LED research for boats, e.g. white anchor lights, red table lights, etc.

The owners a sailor too.

www.triton-marine.co.uk

(Potential customer, when I get round to the winter refit !)

 

[Roach1948]

Apologies for the pics, I seem to be having a problem linking the pics to my blog. You can see the pics manually by going to http://roach1948.blogspot.com/

Cliff thanks for the link. They may have a bulb holder that will do. Looks hopeful. I have ordered a selection.

I would also like to defend my anchor light saying firstly that I do own a proper paraffin anchor lamp too, but I, like Krystal, use it down below or as a lantern in the cockpit. The second thing is that this yacht is a restoration and I dont believe in just replacing everything with the lastest . I quite like the fact that I can keep the old fixtures and fittings. Lastly, as I am under 7m I can, in theory, use only one all-round white light for navigating at night. I will eventually add "proper" anchor lights too (which I will use when coastal sailing at night) but on the Deben or Alde I think my arrangment is fine for the moment.

 

[Roach1948]

Correction - I will eventually add "proper" NAVIGATION lights too (which I will use when coastal sailing at night) but on the Deben or Alde I think my arrangment is fine for the moment.