AquaSignal Mast Lights?

[tidalwave]

I just received an Aqua Signal Series 25 Combo Deck and Masthead light.

Such a light unit has an upper 20 watt halogen bulb with a clear wrap around lens and a downward pointing 10 watt light to illuminate the foredeck.

When I opened the factory fresh plastic wrap...I found that the foredeck light had no protective lens...the bulb actually extended downward through the parabolic reflector out into the air (like a flashlight bulb but without a protective front lens)!...the bayonet socket was also exposed to the air. There was also a visible gap between the plastic housing and the backing which is screwed to the mast. There was no provision for a watertight gasket between the front and back pieces and no provision to have clear lens to cover the lower bulb. It looks like the unit is actually designed this way.

I have never seen an electric device so open to the outside environment in my life! The cheapest dollar flashlight is sealed like Fort Knox compared to this piece of junk! It wouldn't even last ten minutes if there was salt spray blowing.

Has anyone on this site ever purchased an AquaSignal mast light...if so, is the design of my unit typical of what AquaSignal manufactures (the unit is made in Germany...I didn't think that the bureaucrats in the E.U. would allow such a thing to be sold)

I also have a mast-top tricolor/anchor light backordered from AquaSignal...much more expensive that the masthead/foredeck light and I am worried that the tricolor will be just as poorly designed as the combo.

Does any one have AquaSignal mast lights...are they all this badly designed?

[Moe]

Here's the Aqua Signal Classic 25 brochure, if it's any help. It appears it's supposed to be open on the bottom, but I do see a gasket in the drawing.

FWIW, for an anchor light, I'd want a low-draw LED unit, and if you're serious about sailing at night, an LED tri-color light. They aren't cheap, but look at Orca Green Marine.
--
Moe

[Paul S]

Is this the one you have ?




It doesnt come with a lens on the foredeck light. Seems like a decent unit. Where it is not totally sealed..at least it can dry out and have no water get trapped inside

Paul

[tidalwave]

For anyone considering buying this thing...
I am looking at the housing as I type. There is a rubber gasket supposedly to protect the the upper halogen cylindrical bulb...but the gasket is thinner than the housing which supposedly butts up to the back plate...I can see light between the gasket and the front barrel plastic lens even when the bolts are tightened completely. I suppose a bead of silicon sealant would fill in the gap (lol).

The schematic does show the foredeck light hanging out in the open just like my unit. The metal socket appears to be made of stainless steel with a copper wire lockdown which secures the copper wire coming in from the mast connection.

So in Germany, salt spray doesn't make a short circuit when it gets into a stainless steel socket? And also I guess in Germany salt water in contact with a socket made of ss and copper in physical contact with each other won't cause corrosion?

I am thinking about returning this dud to my e-tailer for a refund...

Does anyone know about other brands masthead-foredeck combos which are actually sealed from the elements (such as Hella or Forespar)?

[ESPERANZA]

I bought one just like the one pictured above. I thought the same thing when I pulled it from the box. A real POS... I mounted it last fall and used it on Haloween to light the dummy the kids made to hang from one of the spreaders. Worked OK for that but, I don't think it will last long if a little water hits it...

[tidalwave]

Sometimes I am not sure if I get the 'dry' humor of some of the posters on this site.
Did you actually mean "you not sure what will happen to the unit if it gets wet?"

I suppose if I keep my in my machine shed ...the light would last.

What kind of company would design a light for a 'sailboat' which shouldn't be allowed to 'get wet'?

[ESPERANZA]

Well, I think if they tried to seal the light water tight, condensation would destroy the connections inside. Making it easy for the water to get in as well as escape and dry out, it may just last. As for getting water on the lamp while it's burning, I don't think it will last...

[Moe]

If you are looking for a combo masthead/deck light with a cover over both bulbs, look for the Hellamarine 8504 or 8505 "Deck Floodlights".

--
Moe

[jsserene]

I had the same combo mast light on my last two Catalina's. I also added it to my . I never had any problems on any of the boats.

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

I'm no expert, but it seems to me if you were getting water that far up the mast then the light getting wet would probably be the least of your worries.

[puffect]

Our Mac 26x has had this combo light since delivery in March 1976. Never a problem and she has sailed the Florida gulf and atlantic waters. One caution, when you do have to order either replacement bulbs...go back to Aqua Signal...The folks as WM sent me 4 replacements and never got it right.