Looking For A Specific Stern Light

[l008com]

Heeeey
I'm trying to get a new stern light for my boat. It needs to be an all-around, white light. I want LED with a 2nm rating for visibility.
So far that's all easy to find. But what I really want is something that's not removable. Something telescoping like an old style fm radio antenna. That would stay installed, but easily be extended and retracted.

In all 25 years we've had this boat, we've rarely had a working stern light. It's impossible to keep the socket clean and corrosion free. Thats why I'd rather have one thats not a socket at all. Also there's plenty of room beneath where the light mounts for a retractable pole to gather

I've spend lots of time on google searching but I haven't come across anything good.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

Attwood makes 4 different folding led stern lights.

http://www.backtoboating.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=76

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

I recently shopped for an all-around light for my 15' trihull, and I too was looking for the telescoping type.

Unfortunately, I don't think anyone even makes telescoping-type light poles anymore. If you are adamant about having that type, I think you are literally going to have to make your own base out of some non-corroding material (aluminum or Starboard or somesuch) and a thumbscrew. I did consider that myself.

And I can see the issue of corrosion in a socket-style base (not to mention losing the pole overboard), which is why I opted not to go that way.

Ultimately, I decided to go with a fold-down also. I went with a Hella Marine 24" in the 2010 line because it was all-black (looks cool), was easy to lock and unlock, and is all aluminum and plastic with no corrodable metals such as chrome-plated zamac (sp?) like most of the Attwood or Perko offerings. It's a festoon bulb not LED, but still plenty bright.

Biggest problem with a fold-down of course is finding a place to install where it is safe and not in the way when folded down.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

A little silicone grease solves the corrosion issue (especially in the connector), drilling a small 1/8" hole in the base will prevent water from collecting in the bases works wonders. These are the mods I made to mine to increase reliability.

Since I sealed my lights up with silicone grease it floats too.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

I008,
Here you go, from Innovative Lighting...

Here's the link...Innovative Lighting. They even have them in motorized versions...

Just make sure you have the room under the gunnel for the mast...

 

[l008com]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

Kind of odd that they don't tell you how bright it is, or how tall it is when extended. But 'single LED configuration' means its probably not very bright at all.

 

[Josh P]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

comes in 3 lengths 4 foot 5 foot and 6 ft "Requires 20.25 inches gunnel depth"

 

[l008com]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

Ooooooh now I see. So how bright is the light? Is it a 1mile light or a 2 mile light (or more)

 

[seabob4]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

Kind of odd that they don't tell you how bright it is, or how tall it is when extended. But 'single LED configuration' means its probably not very bright at all.

It's 2NM certified CG! How can it NOT be bright? I've installed 2, the owners love them, did them both on flats boats...

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

Oooh, that's a nice light! Kinda spendy, but then again all the LED nav or stern lights I've seen are.

 

[l008com]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

Yeah the more I look at that light, the more I like it. They have an automatic version too, and *this* website has the automatic for $101. The Manual is as low as $70. Anyone know how it mounts?

 

[l008com]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

Hey I was just thinking about the automatic light...
If it's automatic, how does it retract? Because once you turn it off, there's no more power to run the motor to retract it. Does the light have a separate power lead for the motor?

 

[seabob4]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

When you turn the light off, the "stick" automatically retracts. The switch at the helm actually activates the motor and light, the wiring in the light is internal. There is a small limit switch in the base that, once the light starts extending, the switch is tripped and the light now has power.

On the manual one, even if the lights on, once you retract it and push the head into the base, power is cut to the light. That way you don't have the light burning in the base, and you kill the batt because you don't know it's on...

 

[l008com]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

So this light is not in stock anywhere. I bought one about 2 weeks ago from one of the few places I found it, where it wasn't listed as out-of-stock. So I bought it and 10 days later I got an email saying it was out of stock. Of course they charged the credit card right away anyway :-/ I guess no night boating for a while longer.

 

[seabob4]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

So this light is not in stock anywhere. I bought one about 2 weeks ago from one of the few places I found it, where it wasn't listed as out-of-stock. So I bought it and 10 days later I got an email saying it was out of stock. Of course they charged the credit card right away anyway :-/ I guess no night boating for a while longer.

Thank you very eff!n much, right?

 

[l008com]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

Is there a way to tell if an item on this website is in stock? Can one of you fancy moderators check? There is no "stock" indicator on the item's page. I don't want to place my order if it's not in stock. But if it is instock, i want to order nowwowowowowww.

-- I'm trying to link to it but iboat's store page has some really messed up linking system --
It's the 48", Manual Extend-A-Light

 

[l008com]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

I placed the order and now it's out of stock. So there must have been one in stock and I got it. I hope it's a new one and not some messed up one that someone else returned :-O

 

[l008com]

Re: Looking For A Specific Stern Light

I should have went with my gut. My light arrived today, and it's a 60" model not the 48" like it was labeled. It also was missing all of it's mounting screws and bolts, and looks pretty clear that it had been installed once. I haven't yet decided yet if I'm going to return it or keep it. If the manufacturer can send me the missing nuts and bolts, I might just keep it. Although I won't even be able to extend this thing without climbing up on the back of my boat and i don't like that. I really need the 48"