what up with my navigational toggle switch?

Not enough information.
First, proof your post. It does make sense as written - ie: "when I want to use on stern light to anchor the port wiper comes on".
Is this the first time that you have tried using the anchor light since buying the boat?
Or has everything been normal until something happened last week, like you stepped on the cat's tail or something?
Does your anchor light come on when you place the switch in that position or is it just the port wiper?
What happens when you turn your wipers on?
Do they both (starboard & port) come on in the switch down position?
 
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Yes this just started.Noticed over the 4 th when we went to hang out on the hook for fireworks.I flip switch up for running lights fine.I flip down for stern light it comes on but so does port wiper.I turn off and light goes off and wiper too.The wiper switches work just fine on off.I though it was an old switch.So I put a new one figured corroded was causing a short.No that didn't change a thing.My SR manual doesn't have a wiring diagram in it.I would like to unplug the wire that's heating wiper and see if wiper switches still work proper.
 
Ok, what you are describing does not sound like a switch issue.

It sounds like the hot wire for the anchor light and the hot wire for the port wiper are touching bare wire to bare wire. Possibly it is at a point where there are connectors and the two connectors are shorting together.

So, my question is, does the anchor light come on when you turn the wipers on?

What does this mean?: "I would like to unplug the wire that's heating wiper and see if wiper switches still work proper".
 
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No the light does not come on with wiper.No just wiper with on stern light not running lights. I did run through each wire and everything will work individually with a hot wire and wipers do not come on.There is two purples together from factory.I couldnt get a ground or power from the
.I didnt even hook them to the new switch at all. So that eliminated two wires still the wiper runs.What I don't under stand is I power each wire one at time everything works. Hook switch up and everything goes goofy.none of the wires would even power the wipers.it's got to be back feeding or something.
 
I believe that the purple wires that you are referring to go to your ignition alarm.
This is not an audio circuit, you don't have any "feedback" loops.

Think of this analogy, when you turn on your anchor light, it is like connecting a water hose to a faucet. The switch merely completes a path for the electrons from the switch to the anchor light.

Likewise, when you turn your wiper switch on, it is like connecting another hose to a faucet that goes to your wiper motor.

The only way that you can get your wiper motor and your anchor light to come on at the same from one switch is to connect two hoses to the faucet.
This why I am saying that the wires that go to your wiper motor and your anchor light are touching together at some point. Either chafed wires or connectors that are arcing.

Is your anchor light mounted on your windshield or on your radar arch?

Also, I am guessing that when you say "stern" light, you are referring to the anchor light position on your nav. switch. In that case, it is not a light located on the stern, it is a 360 degree light that can be seen from any position when you are anchored. Is that correct? We are talking about your "anchor" light aren't we?

BTW: It is not necessary to post in two places. Your post will be seen even if it is in the wrong section.
 
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I won't double post in future.I was told I should move.Only made sense.The light is on windshield Your right about the light 360.All my other boats had them on stern.Thanks for advice headed to marina in a little bit I will check over tonight.Thanks
 
Did you find anything? I'm thinking that if your anchor light is mounted on the windshield, the wire to activate the port wiper runs right past your anchor light wire. The two wires could be chafed and shorting to each other. In that case, your port wiper would come on when you turn on the anchor light.
Let us know what you find.
 
MLauman said:
Yep, that's a very likely explanation for this. Although it is a little perplexing that the wiper switch does not activate the light. Might just be an intermittent short and a coincidence.

Haven't noticed you around in a while Dave M - welcome back!
Click to expand...

Yes, I have not been on here in quite a while. I had to go back and look up old email to find my username and password!

Yes, it is odd that the problem only shows one way, but it may be intermittent as you say, or maybe the short between the wires is corroded and somehow acting like a diode. Not convinced that is possible, but weird things happen. I thought I posted the wiring diagram for the switch panel here years ago, but have not found it yet. Also might be that duckmnn does not have all the symptoms exactly nailed down. I don't think he has stated that he has seen the rear half of the light actually illuminate when it should, could be a bad bulb there too.

Well, I have a new alternator to install and go check it out today. Better get moving.
 
MLauman said:
Although it is a little perplexing that the wiper switch does not activate the light.
Click to expand...

That was the same thing that I was thinking. Would like to hear back from the OP to see what he is finding and ask more questions if necessary.

At the start of the season, I was checking my shower sump float switch and happened to look at where the float switch lead connected to the incoming hot lead. It looked odd, so, I inspected it a little closer and could see a pin head size hole in the connector that was also darkened. I took the connector off and the wire going to the float switch was discolored for about another 1". Somehow, that connector had burned thru and was drawing current. I still have not figured out how it was finding a ground, but, not drawing enough to kick a breaker. Strange stuff!
 
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