Sternlight and dinghy on swim platform

[JohnGordon]

When my dinghy is flipped up on the swim platform it blocks the sternlight mounted on the transom. The masthead/anchor light is too far forward to act as a sternlight. Has anyone come up with a solution to this?

I was thinking of attaching a sternlight, that would extend up over the dinghy, to the stand off bar with a quick disconnect plug.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Are you looking for a temporary or a permanent fix?

 

[JohnGordon]

Well, I would like to find a permanent fix that is easily removed when I don't have the dinghy on the swim platform. I saw your post about the sternlight pole mounted on the transom but I don't want to cut in to the canvas and don't want to drill holes in the fiberglass. Sorry, dont mean to sound picky. I am really leaning towards attaching something to the stand off bar and was wondering if someone had done something similar.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Well, there are battery powered lights that are meant to be attached to bars/rails.

I recently saw these http://www.perko.com/search/rail mount /page/1/ in a trade magazine.

Our pontoons use something like this: http://veada.com/boating-accessories/pole-stern-light.html

Unless you can find a dedicated "stern" light (as opposed to an all around light), you'll need to black out the appropriate area.

Whatever you decide, you'll still be drilling holes in the glass. Not to push you in a direction, but don't shy away from installing a more permanent fix (it's actually a pretty simply install). You could use a long enough pole to eliminate your masthead light, or just get a pole that is long enough to extend past the dinghy. In the end, it will be a much cleaner install with no exposed wiring.

 

[JohnGordon]

Dennis,
Thanks for the suggestions and links. I will let you know what I come up with.

 

[moparlvr4406]

my old fisher marine has a socket in the hull and a mast style pole that just slides into it and pulls out for storage
I think it's a Perko but if you are interested I will check.
I saw replacement poles at Gander Mountain recently.

Here is the base on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PERKO-BOAT-...303705&pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&vxp=mtr