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06-11-2021, 20:34
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Orcas Island, WA
Boat: Cheoy Lee Offshore 40
Posts: 34
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Which mast do spreader lights go on?
We’re redoing the electrical system from scratch on our 1968 Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 yawl. She has no spreader lights, but we’re planning to add some.
This prompted us to ponder a question that perhaps only people with two-masted sailboats might have:
Which mast should the spreader lights go on? The main or the mizzenmast?
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06-11-2021, 20:41
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Boat: Beneteau 40 CC
Posts: 253
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Depends where you want the light pointed
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06-11-2021, 20:44
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,135
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
My choice would be a strong LED light on the main mast pointing at the foredeck, plus a light(s) on the mizzen pointed down at the aft deck and cockpit area. This arrangement would cover the main areas where additional lighting is most often required.
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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06-11-2021, 20:45
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: LI Sound
Boat: Sabre 34II
Posts: 818
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Spreader lights on the mizzen will light up your transom if that’s what you want, otherwise put em on the main mast.
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06-11-2021, 20:56
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: On Vessel WINGS, wherever there's an ocean, currently in Mexico
Boat: Serendipity 43
Posts: 5,508
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Spreader lights are not lights required by navigation or boating laws.
They are lights installed to illuminate some part of the boat where people might work or loiter or otherwise wish to see during periods of darkness.
Which parts of your boat do want lighted? Then, how do you best light those parts?
We light the foredeck with a light on the mast.
We light the cockpit with temporary electric lanterns.
__________________
These lines upon my face tell you the story of who I am but these stories don't mean anything
when you've got no one to tell them to Fred Roswold Wings https://wingssail.blogspot.com/
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06-11-2021, 21:38
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Wherever we please, GOM
Boat: 46 ft cutter
Posts: 177
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Ever since man went down to the sea in ships, this has been a fundamental question for mariners, indeed. Oft times, naval traditions might be counted on to solve this complex problem, but rum, sodomy and the lash have nothing to say on deck lighting. Below decks, it’s a different story.
During Napoleonic times, on Her Majesty’s ketch rigged line of battle ships, the main mast was the one festooned with LED lighting. This had most to do with the desire to limit cable runs from the ship’s house batteries. A carry over from lead acid battery days, the sulphuric acid venting batteries would be kept in the foc’sle, as far away as possible from the officers quarters in the aft of the ship.
By not lighting the mizzen, the intrepid sailors also did not blind the helmsman with excess light during night maneuvers. Directly lighting up the helm will result in loss of night vision.
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06-11-2021, 21:57
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Orcas Island, WA
Boat: Cheoy Lee Offshore 40
Posts: 34
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
PirateGuy, this forum denies us the simplicity of an “upvote” response feature but please know that your superbly written answer would have earned one from me.
Thanks all for your responses.
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06-11-2021, 23:17
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#8
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jan 2019
Boat: Beneteau 432, C&C Landfall 42, Roberts Offshore 38
Posts: 6,253
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
spreader light placement might have an obscure definition or requirement.....but typically you'll find a "steaming light" placed somewhere around the spreader location...
many "steaming lights" also come with a downward facing light for deck work...might be a solution...this would take care of the main mast.....standard spreader lights could then be placed on the mizzen for general deck lighting..
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07-11-2021, 00:15
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
Boat: Fisher pilothouse sloop 32'
Posts: 3,413
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Quote:
Originally Posted by PirateGuy
Ever since man went down to the sea in ships, this has been a fundamental question for mariners, indeed. Oft times, naval traditions might be counted on to solve this complex problem, but rum, sodomy and the lash have nothing to say on deck lighting. Below decks, it’s a different story.
During Napoleonic times, on Her Majesty’s ketch rigged line of battle ships, the main mast was the one festooned with LED lighting. This had most to do with the desire to limit cable runs from the ship’s house batteries. A carry over from lead acid battery days, the sulphuric acid venting batteries would be kept in the foc’sle, as far away as possible from the officers quarters in the aft of the ship.
By not lighting the mizzen, the intrepid sailors also did not blind the helmsman with excess light during night maneuvers. Directly lighting up the helm will result in loss of night vision.
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Wow, those Napoleonic mariners had LED lighting??
Her Maj had ketch rigged line of battle ships, really?? Apparently with lead acid batteries.
__________________
Rob aka Uncle Bob Sydney Australia.
Life is 10% the cards you are dealt, 90% how you play em
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07-11-2021, 07:35
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 272
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steely Dancer
We’re redoing the electrical system from scratch on our 1968 Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 yawl. She has no spreader lights, but we’re planning to add some.
This prompted us to ponder a question that perhaps only people with two-masted sailboats might have:
Which mast should the spreader lights go on? The main or the mizzenmast?
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On a yawl, you'd put them on the main spreaders to illuminate the deck - unless you want to light up your wake.
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07-11-2021, 08:01
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Eastern Caribbean for the 2020 season then east coast or Panama
Boat: Lagoon 470 cat
Posts: 698
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Both, as Jim Cate said.
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07-11-2021, 08:08
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portsmouth, UK
Boat: Westerly Conway 36ft
Posts: 961
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Cate
My choice would be a strong LED light on the main mast pointing at the foredeck, plus a light(s) on the mizzen pointed down at the aft deck and cockpit area. This arrangement would cover the main areas where additional lighting is most often required.
Jim
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Good answer
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07-11-2021, 08:18
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 756
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Both would be best.
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07-11-2021, 08:42
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 33
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
Before fitting the "most powerful LED" please consider if you are lighting the boat to show it off in the anchorage or simply to get around safely on deck. In that case you might want to use the minimum you can and thus preserve the night vision of both crew and helmsman.
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07-11-2021, 09:21
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Camden, ME
Boat: Pearson 365
Posts: 57
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Re: Which mast do spreader lights go on?
On our ketch, we have a deck light as part of the steaming light assembly that does a reasonable job of lighting up the foredeck. We have spreader lights on the main that really light up the entire boat, but not the cockpit very well, mostly due to the interference of the dodger. We also have a deck light just below the radar on the mizzen, which does give some light but does not really cover the cockpit either due to being blocked by the mast. Our mizzen is essentially at the front of the cockpit. I have been thinking of putting a couple of small lights on the mizzen spreaders, mostly to use when grilling or just hanging out in the cockpit after dark. We almost never use the spreader lights on the main because they are huge overkill for most situations. They would be great in an emergency, however - someone overboard, some kind of rig failure, some reason why we really want to be seen, etc. as far as lights go, you can probably get some LEDs a lot cheaper than the ones sold as spreader lights. Maybe headlights for snowplows or similar?
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