I looked big, clumsy, sixty dollar spreader lights and figured there
must be a better option for something I won't use much. I see it
primarily as a way to light up our sails when we really want to be
visible. Expected usage would put the price at about a buck a minute
over the next five years.

I found a nice, compact, fog light for less than twelve dollars a
pair. These things used to last for years in the salt and blast under
the front of my car so it seems like they ought to work on a spreader.
It's about the size of an egg and the same amps as the big chrome
thing that came off because it's straps were dozy from being pushed on
by the sail. Yeah, the bracket is painted steel but I already have a
spare.

I got it all installed with the mast ready to go up tomorrow and then
realized that, even though it is two wire, one is grounded to the case
and thus the mast. As long as I get the polarity right, I don't see a
downside to this. The stays are tied to the bonding system. In fact,
there is an upside in that breakage of the negative wire won't disable
my mast lights. Their black wires are all tied together somewhere in
the mast.

If this were something that was on a lot, like the running lights, I'd
isolate it just to keep it in conformity with standard practice. Do
any of the electrical contributors see any reason to do so for
something like this that is used infrequently?

BTW I did drill a drain hole through the lens to let the water out
since it will be in a position it was not designed for.

--

Roger Long