stern light availability

[BrianW]

I've got a 95X and I am looking for a replacement for my stern light. I called BWY and they said they are no longer available. Thought I would ask if anyone knew of another supplier before I try to fabricate something.

[Russ]

You could probably use something like this
http://www.go2marine.com/item/86211/per ... p0chr.html


This is what Macgregor put on the Ms
http://www.go2marine.com/item/228604/aq ... 25500.html

I would mount that on a block of wood and change the bulb to LED. I changed all my lights to LEDs. Red/Green running lights need to be warm white LED or the color not correct.

[Wind Chime]

PANIC BUTTON !
Is BWY possibly discontinuing reselling Mac parts??

[Russ]

Don't panic.

The running lights, in fact most of the parts, are not custom parts but rather standard marine hardware.
My guess is that the manufacturer (Sea Dog?) has discontinued the stern facing, horizontal mounted running light.
The M uses Aqua Signal or Sea Dog (not sure) lights. It is possible that Aqua Signal may discontinue some of their less popular lights in the future as well.

[Wind Chime]

Thanks RussMT,
Gee-Wiz ... I thought the sky was falling for a moment there huh

Don't panic.

The running lights, in fact most of the parts, are not custom parts but rather standard marine hardware.
My guess is that the manufacturer (Sea Dog?) has discontinued the stern facing, horizontal mounted running light.
The M uses Aqua Signal or Sea Dog (not sure) lights. It is possible that Aqua Signal may discontinue some of their less popular lights in the future as well.

[Tomfoolery]

Aqua Signal still makes Series 20 lights, which is what the original was, but they don't even show the deck mount stern light on their own web site. I guess they discontinued it.

I'd use the Perko that Russ posted, as it's about the only small deck mount stern light (2 mile, white, 135 degree swept visibility) out there, and should fit the little pad MacGregor put on the .

[paul I]

On my X, I believe the stern light housing is the same as the bicolor shown here http://www.westmarine.com/aqua-signal-- ... 77_001_007

Do you still have the white lens? If not, and you want an exact replacement, I'll bet WM will order you one. Then swap it out with that bicolor on the new fixture when you install.

[Tomfoolery]

On my X, I believe the stern light housing is the same as the bicolor shown here http://www.westmarine.com/aqua-signal-- ... 77_001_007

Do you still have the white lens? If not, and you want an exact replacement, I'll bet WM will order you one. Then swap it out with that bicolor on the new fixture when you install.

You just have to be careful about the black plastic piece inside, which limits the azimuth to 135 degrees for a stern light, but allows 225 degrees in the bicolor, per the COLREGS.

[BrianW]

Thanks Russ. I ordered the perko and I might change to led lights later also. Just reading an article in Sail today about led lights.

[tlgibson97]

Since this is a topic of stern lights, I've created an issue for myself. When I installed the arch, it blocked a portion of the stern light that would be visible at certain angles. I haven't been bugged about it yet but I know it's not legal and have been looking to replace it. Does anyone know of a good stern light that can be attached horizontally to the arch? I don't think I can get a vertical stern light to work because there really isn't a vertical portion of the arch that can be seen at the required angles. I think my best option would be to mount a horizontal-mount stern light on a bracket similar to the one used for the steaming light on the upper horizontal portion of the arch. My main concern is 1. not have it blocked by anything and 2. not be snagged by the shrouds when rolling the mast back to it's step.
Any opinions?

[Tomfoolery]

The stern light on the started off in a bad spot as the rudders block the light in a fairly wide arc when they, especially the port side rudder, are up. But since you're going to move it anyway, if it were me, I'd have a SS shop make a round or half-round plate and weld it to the back of the arch, hanging down, and use one of these LED stern lights for about $30.



Alternatively, this rectangular light would work, but I think the round one is less obvious other than when lit. They're both WM branded, and the actual LED and lens portion seems to be the same, so I'd go with the smaller 3" diameter unit for the aesthetics.



You could, of course, make your own mount if you have the capability. I've never worked SS so I can't say any more about it, but there are plenty of others here who do on a regular basis and could advise you if needed.

WM has an Attwood unit that looks similar to the first pic, but it's incandescent and plastic (others are LED and SS construction), and for $3 more, I'd go with the SS LED unit.

And as an aside, I can't believe how far and how fast the prices of LED nav lighting is dropping. I wouldn't even consider incandescent nav lighting at this point if replacing old units.