Doug, My tricolor / anchor light is made by OGM. As you know it's very bright, probably one of the brightest I've seen. And it uses very little power. Using the anchor light every night for two weeks hardly put a dent in my battery. Here's a link; https://secure.orcagreen.com/xcart/home.php?cat=249 It's a bit pricy, but it's top quality and I would buy it again. If I do buy one in the future, I will get the strobe option. Considering the limited range of my handheld VHF, a strobe at the masthead seems like a reasonable safety item. Rick M15 #337 Bluebird
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 07:13:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Kelch <doug_kelch@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: M_Boats: Running Lights M-15 To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Message-ID: <83425.66554.qm@web58701.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Jim,
I cruised along the east coast for 5 years without electronics in my M15. During that time I used a clip on bow light and made up a stern light fitting that would clip on the tiller at the transom.
I used the now illegal night light to hoist up the mast using the main halyard.
When I was planning the cruise to the Dry Tortugas ( 80 nm west of Key West) I decided I needed masthead running lights and a masthead VHF antenna to be seen and heard in the possible swells.
Since masthead running lights can only be used while sailing I installed two sets of running lights - masthead and deck.
The deck lights in the bow actually attach to the bow pulpit and the wiring comes though the deck underneath the foot of the pulpit and runs thought the hollow stainless tube to the mounting point.
The only tri-color masthead lights I could find were far cheaper at defender than West Marine - about 1/3 less.
The make a masthead tricolor with an anchor light for a lot more money so I bought a little white all around light and bolted it to the top of the tri color - added some pins and little wiring and it has worked fine for the last 5 years.
I do not use interior lights and I could cruise for a week without recharging the 80 amp hr gel cell battery when only using the anchor light, vhf radio and about and hour of running lights.
I have recently added a solar panel but have little practical experience with it yet.
Rick Langer has a great small led mast head anchor light that I have been meaning to ask him where it came from - Rick - Can you enlighten us?
I could send pictures off line if you like.
Thanks
Doug Kelch M15 #310 "Seas the Day"