Nav bulbs and wiring query

Morning everyone. I seek your guidance on two lighting topics, first the type of bulb used (went to replace stern bulb and naturally dropped it in the drink...)and the wiring diagram for the 3 wires and 4 holes used for the mast lights. And the bonus question, are the lenses supposed to be kind of frosted rather than clear? As always, thanks all! :)bill

Thanks for the response. Went and looked at the bow and the bulb is tube-like and I can not read any of the numbers/letters on it - I am guessing I will not find this at Lowes! So now I have three questions, (1) does anyone know the bulb type and where to obtain replacements? (2) If you put in LED's what kind did you put in and what did you have to change to make them fit/work on the boat?
(3) Where can you get new lenses that fit the boat?

I do not have the light at the top of the mast, only the one about 2/3'rds up. The connector I have at the base of the mast is circular with 4 holes/pins while the wires coming out of the mast number only three so I was curious as to the wiring pattern. Thanks!

I recently replaced my bow and stern light assemblies completely with exact replacements which are available at West Marine. They were stock in the store - I just took what I had to the store and found the exact replacement on the shelf. The original, incandescent versions of the bulbs are also stock on the shelf. LED versions of the bulbs are available at west marine although you may have to order them. (I was able to find mine in the store.) They look different from the original bulbs but they fit in the socket without modification. The LED bulbs are expensive - almost $50 each compared to like $4 for the incandescent version. However if you have any overnight races or do a lot of night sailing, I think they are worth it. LED bulbs will last years and draw so little current that you could probably leave them on for days and not drain your battery. For the same reason, I would also replace my anchor light with a LED bulb if I had an anchor light, (see below.) I did not replace my steaming light with the LED version since it’s only on when the motor is on charging the battery.

As for the wires - you describe what my boat has; except the original connector was replaced before I bought my boat. My boat has no anchor light either – apparently it was replaced by a windex light by a previous owner. The windex light is wired to what was originally the anchor light wire.

If you wish you can PM me with your e-mail and I can send you the entire manual that came with the boat. It has a wiring diagram.

I have a west marine catalogue here in my office. Page 305 of the 2009 catalogue lists the housings:

Bow: bi-color nav light housing: 174367
Stern: white stern light housing: 174375
Replacement bulbs:175203 (i think they call this a "double dimple" festoon bulb)
These are all from Aqua Signal. I never replaced my steaming or anchor light but i assume they are aqua signal series 25 as well. They don't list a "steaming light" I think they call it a "mast head" light.

Now, for the LED.. Page 312 of the 09 catalogue shows a DR Led Polar Star 25 LED replacement bulb, but they only show one model, 9353483 which they say is for bi-color nav lights. I can't remember, but i'm almost positive it works for all the Aqua Star Series 25 lights.

I'm pretty sure the above is correct, but use at your own risk. I'm not actually at my boat so I can't be 100% sure; also your boat (or mine) could have been modified from stock. Worst case, they don't fit and you have to return them.

A visit to auto part stores today revealed a number of LED lights for driving, accent, interior etc. These are low cost sources of LED elements you can adapt to running, steaming, anchoring and interior lighting. Since your current housings are water tight any way, open them up and solder,tape or crimp LEDs into your existing housings. I have used the HeadLight, a contraptoion with LEDs and an adjustable headstrap stuck on my foredeck to read telltales in night races. With all the options available, it should be an easy retrofit.

WarBird

With these cheap (I mean frugal)methods, has anyone found a cross reference to a frugal fuel filter????