Nav Lights

R

rhytid

New Member
Oct 17, 2006
24
Maryland
I have a 1998 290 and the nav lights do not seem to be working. I flipped the switch on the helm but there is no light. Before I switch out the whole thing (the bulbs look to be OK), do I need to be in gear or does the engine have to be turned on before the nav lights will come on? If anybody has an answer I would appreciate it... maybe the Franks can help out??

Thanks,

<HAN>
 
I am not sure about the dash lights as I have usually checked during the daytime.... there is a separate switch for "cockpit" lights... and that works...
 
rhytid said:
I am not sure about the dash lights as I have usually checked during the daytime.... there is a separate switch for "cockpit" lights... and that works...
Click to expand...


Cockpit lights would not be on your dash.

The lights I’m talking about would illuminate your instruments like the tachometer.


I’m trying to determine if you have a functional switch and it has power. If your dash lights are not working no way are both navigation bulbs and all the dash lights burnt out at the same time. Then we look for other issues like a fuse or loose wire, etc.


Did the navigation lights work earlier this year or last year?
 
I see where you are trying to lead this blind fool.... yes.. the nav lights worked early last year but since i do all my boating during the day, i didn't really check them after that. This year, my little girl wants to anchor out with me so I am trying to make sure all my safety stuff is in order.

I will have to check the wiring to the switch and also check the fuse....
 
Presentation said:
Cockpit lights would not be on your dash.

The lights I’m talking about would illuminate your instruments like the tachometer.


I’m trying to determine if you have a functional switch and it has power. If your dash lights are not working no way are both navigation bulbs and all the dash lights burnt out at the same time. Then we look for other issues like a fuse or loose wire, etc.


Did the navigation lights work earlier this year or last year?
Click to expand...
Pres are you saying that when your on the hook that your dash full of instruments is lit up all night because you have the anchor light on. That doesn't make sense.
 
I am not sure about other boats but on mine, there is a separate switch for "lights" which turns on my all around anchor light and another switch for "nav lights." So it would seem turning on the "lights" switch should not light up the whole dash board.... but then again, what do I know?? I am the one asking questions here, right??
 
rhytid said:
I am not sure about other boats but on mine, there is a separate switch for "lights" which turns on my all around anchor light and another switch for "nav lights." So it would seem turning on the "lights" switch should not light up the whole dash board.... but then again, what do I know?? I am the one asking questions here, right??
Click to expand...

What Presentation was saying is that the backlighting for your dash gauges is on the same circuit as your nav lights- for obvious reasons. When you turn on the headlights on your car, the gauges/dash light up, right? If the gauges do not illuminate when the nav lights are on, there is a power problem. As he said, the fact that BOTH lights suddenly stopped working eliminates the problem being with the nav lights barring an unlikely coincidence.

Every boater should have a basic working knowledge of 12v electrical systems (there are books on the subject) and a way to do miminal troubleshooting- which preferably would be a digital multimeter, but you can get by with a light or a buzzer on the end of a couple of test leads. You need some way to check for voltage to see where the problem lies.

Do the gauges illuminate when the nav lights are turned on? Difficult to see in daylight, but shield them with your hand and you'll be able to tell.
 
Woody said:
tobntr
Does your boat work that way? I doubt that it would be like that on all boats.
Click to expand...


Hi Woody,

You have the same boat as I do.

Assuming the 2005 model is like the 2003 model, one button turns on the anchor light only. The button labeled “NAV” (from memory, I’m not at the boat) turns on the anchor light, the red navigation light, the green navigation light and the dash lights.
 
Pres
Not on my boat. That's why I was questioning the value of using the dash lights as an indicator of navigation light problems. Do you have reg switches or the little touch pad things?
 
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The hot lead for the gauge illumination circuit could be fed from anywhere; a separate switch, if you like. Every boat I've owned had it tied into the switch for the nav lights. Theoretically, if you need the nav lights- you also need your gauges lit, right?
 
tobnpr said:
The hot lead for the gauge illumination circuit could be fed from anywhere; a separate switch, if you like. Every boat I've owned had it tied into the switch for the nav lights. Theoretically, if you need the nav lights- you also need your gauges lit, right?
Click to expand...

Yes I do agree with you.

I have not been on Woodys boat. Its wired as you describe on our boat.

Anchor switch is just for the anchor light.

“Nav” switch turns on the red, green, anchor and dash / instrumentation lights.
 
I wondered if I remembered correct so went to verify. On my boat:
-gauge lights come on when starter switches(rockers) in the dash are in on position so they must be on any time engine is running

-anchor lite button turns on anchor lite anytime the bat switch is on

-navlites button turns on nav/anchor lites anytime the bat switch is on but not guage lites. It does turn on switch pad lites

-keys don't and/or engine start rockers don't have to be on to use nav or anchor lites
 
I like the way mine is set up. Like during 4th july fireworks things get crowded. I'm afraid someone will cross my anchor line so I want them to easily identify the bow of the boat. I just use the Nav lites while anchored and the guages aren't lit up bugging me.
 
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