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Hi guys,

So, the pin connector for my masthead light doesn't have a good connection anymore. I can plug the male end into the female receptacle just starboard of the mast on the cabin top, but my masthead light won't come on unless I exert a lot of downward pressure on the pins, which I can't hold there. Even when it comes on, it's intermittent, as if it's just making partial contact.

I sprayed some battery terminal cleaner on it to try to see if it's just corrosion inside the female recepticle, but it didn't help.

Has anyone dealt with anything similar, replaced that recepticle? How do you access it from below?

Thanks, Joe

Before you get to pulling it out, take a good look inside the sockets. Is it possible to bend the contacts inside a little? Or, can you flare the male pins slightly? That would require split pins and/or socket holes, but some light-duty plugs are made that way. I've never looked at the one on my , though, some I'm just talking through my Tilley here.

Sounds like corrosion or a pin is about to break. You need to figure out what side is the issue, and then you can replace that connector. I have changed my plugs out with multi-contact 0.030" gold pins, they do not corrode. To gain access to the back side of the plug you need to pull out the 6 or 8 screws holding up the piece of wood which wraps around the dagger board (above the mid cabin seat) Slip it down slightly, then angle it about 70-80 degrees and twist the back end to make a gap - now you'll be able to pull it off. Up in that location you'll need to remove the foam blocks and behind that will be the plug.

All that said, I'm not sure you even need to pull that area. I think that plug has three "wood" screws in it that are accessed form outside the cabin on the top deck. Of cousre its glued in with 5200

The pins are split and can be spread for better contact (if I remember correctly). The reason I may not remember is that I despise this connector since it was the source of water getting into my boat and I replaced it with a Perko type where the two halves screw together and when not in use has a screw-on cap. Another reason I had problems is that the person originally rigging this did not strip the wires enough to where the lock screws could hold well and the wires kept falling out.

I just replaced the pins with these things:


So I had to make thinner the one of course but till now I like the solution

RobertB wrote:The pins are split and can be spread for better contact (if I remember correctly). ... Another reason I had problems is that the person originally rigging this did not strip the wires enough to where the lock screws could hold well and the wires kept falling out.

I had the same exact experience. I just put a knife in between the pin to spread them apart and contact was better. Also sprayed some corrosionX into the thing to keep crud down. Oh yea, and I had to redo the wires in the lock screws because they pulled out.

RobertB wrote:The reason I may not remember is that I despise this connector since it was the source of water getting into my boat and I replaced it with a Perko type where the two halves screw together and when not in use has a screw-on cap.

Hmmm, Robert, how did you trace the leak to the deck connector? I have mysterious water collecting sometimes in my hold on the starboard side (above the bilge) where the water ballast meets the hull. It's just a little water, and I wonder if it's getting in when I wash my boat.

Thanks, Joe