View Single Post
  #1   Report Post  
posted to rec.boats
Frogwatch[_2_] Frogwatch[_2_] is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,525
Default Light atop the mast

My anchor light atop my mast has always given me problems with the
bulb burning out requiring somebody go all the way up there to replace
it. Then, you get up there and replace it only to find that it is
actually the wiring that has gone bad. As I have gotten older, going
up the mast is simply not an option anymore. So, I now have an LED
light I hang from my topping lift which I pull back from the mast so
it is only blocked by a tiny angle. Still, I'd like to have a light
atop my mast and would also like to have my wind speed anemometer up
there too.
So.........I have a spare halyard after replacing my old jib with a
roller furling one. So, attach light and anemometer to a "pole" that
is weighted on the bottom with light and anemometer on top. Attach
halyard toward end with light and anemometer and haul up with a
smaller line attached to pole bottom.
The end of the pole with light and anomemeter will then go up above
the top of the mast weighted so it always is vertical and easy to haul
down. Easy to replace light, wiring etc.
Because it will always be vertical, one can then use a high gain VHF
antenna too instead of a 3 db one.