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This may sound an odd question, but where is the stern nav. light located on a standard X?

I'm asking because I've just bought a '97 X, and the original owner (I'm 3rd owner) had installed a stern arch. The nav. light was mounted top centre, but all that's left is the base of the lamp, because it's directly under where the mast comes down

My guess is that the OO never towed it anywhere so never dropped the mast. The PO had towed it, so I guess he smashed the light when dropping the mast.

So in short I need to re-locate it, and was wondering where it went originally

Just one of many tidying up tasks to be done - this boat's going to keep my busy over the winter

Mine is on the port aft rail about 4" down from the top.

My light is on the port stern near where the lift gate hinges on my 1998 26X. I suspect that when combined with the mast forward running light, it doesn't give full 360 degree visibility. I have been thinking of replacing it with a 12-16 inch pole mounted light.

The stern light should only give 135 degrees of white light for a Mac sized boat (12-50 meter range) to meet Colregs - it is fair to balance strict adherence to colregs with making yourself as visible as possible, but dems' da Regs

..

Problem isn't so much the degrees of coverage 135 stern and 225 mast head are ok. The problem I have is when I sit on the aft seat to steer, my plus size body effectively blocks about 45 degrees of light visibility from the starbord aft and beam. If the light was higher this problem would be eliminated. I would assume that is why it is on the aft port rail on Retcoastie's boat

jasper wrote:My light is on the port stern near where the lift gate hinges on my 1998 26X.

Ah, I see where that is now. On mine a plate with a small tubular jam cleat has been screwed onto the original mount for the light. I've no idea what purpose it served, but I guess the OO must have hooked a line from something through there!

I agree it's not the best position, though difficult to find anywhere better on a standard boat. I'll put a new one on top of the arch again, but to one side so it's not under the mast.

On a related note it occurred to me that it would be handy if the steaming light was hooked into the motor switch, so it would automatically come on when the motor was started and the nav lights were on. Has anyone tried that as a mod (I haven't searched the mods pages, just thought of it, plus being lazy ).

Cheers

On the as it comes from the factory, if you want a quasi-anchor light, you need the stern light and the mast light both lit. Also wouldn't running the stern light through the motor switch rule out it being lit while sailing at night. So I kind of think it is not such a good idea.
I am working a light (LED) arangement this winter that will put a 360 anchor light, a 360 red over green sailing light and a (as seen looking down on the top of the mast) red tail and brake light on the top of the mast. Not to sure if I want to toss in a few spreader lights - I have never used them - but quite a few boats have them added on so they must have some utility. Now if I can do all this with diodes so that I do not have too many wires or weight aloft, I will post. (Otherwise I will quietly move on to the next mod on the growing list.)

On mine a plate with a small tubular jam cleat has been screwed onto the original mount for the light. I've no idea what purpose it served, but I guess the OO must have hooked a line from something through there!

Is there one on each side? He may have used it for the rudder lift/drop lines instead of using the horn cleats.

Dreaming big are we?

COLREGS applicable are for 'vessels less than 12 meters' (rule 22)

sorry about that

jasper wrote:Is there one on each side? He may have used it for the rudder lift/drop lines instead of using the horn cleats.

That was my first thought, but there's not one on the starboard side. The rudder lines are secured on the standard cleats.

tangentair wrote:Also wouldn't running the stern light through the motor switch rule out it being lit while sailing at night. So I kind of think it is not such a good idea.

I was actually talking about the mast steaming light at that point - I'd switched away from the stern light!

The quasi-anchor light using mast & stern is an interesting idea, I hadn't thought of that. I think I'll probably put a 360 on top of the mast anyway though. I don't really expect to sail at night, but it's easy to find yourself out on the water later than planned, so I want the lights to be fully working.

There's a whole load of additional wiring and switches been done on this boat, but it's all getting a bit "iffy" (exposed soldering on the back of the switch panel for example). It certainly wasn't done to marine standards and is showing its age, so I need to rework a lot of it. So first I need a plan ...

There's a whole load of additional wiring and switches been done on this boat, but it's all getting a bit "iffy" (exposed soldering on the back of the switch panel for example). It certainly wasn't done to marine standards and is showing its age, so I need to rework a lot of it.

A quick temporary or permanent solution to those exposed wires is liquid electric tape. It usually comes in a convenient can with a brush in the screw off lid. I am not sure who sells it over there.

tangentair wrote:A quick temporary or permanent solution to those exposed wires is liquid electric tape. It usually comes in a convenient can with a brush in the screw off lid. I am not sure who sells it over there.

Interesting, I haven't come across anything like that here.

I was reckoning on covering all permanent connections with silicone sealant, that usually works well as a cheap form of encapsulation. I'll see if I can find anything like the liquid tape though.

Cheers