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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Name That Wire

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/11/2009 : 07:40:26

I photographed the front and back panel of the switch board and wondered if anyone would like to take a stab at the function of:

The white wire coming off the switches that Catalina calls the "Bow Light"?

The Running light switch is the Red (front) and green (back) wires.

Thanks...

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 07:49:55

Steaming light - used while motoring at night along with the red/green running lights.

Edited by - piseas on 05/11/2009 13:22:44

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 08:08:05

I thought it might be the steaming light. Mine is rotted out so I thought I'd ask. Getting geared up to replace the wire to the deck connection for the mast.

Thank You

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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1709 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 08:45:01

I bought my C25 new. When on my first night sail I discovered that none of the electrical connections on the back of the panel matched the running lights they were supposed to be connected to. I had to reconnect all the running lights on the panel. I have read since that there have been similar problems with factory installation.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 09:10:03

I have often wondered why the bow lights and transom light are on separate switches. Can anyone think of a scenario wher eyou wouldn't want all 3 on at once?

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 09:18:38

Yepper.. one of the reasons I wanted to run these down is I never liked the labels they used. Can't tell you how many times I confused the "Bow" light with the running light.

ie.. "Honey..... Can you look out there and see if the Bow light is on when I flip this little switch?"

Not Good.

I'll be changing the label for "Bow" to "Steaming".

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 09:21:16

<<>> says prospector.

I run Red/Green on the bow and white on the stern sailing at night. No Steaming light.

I add the Steaming light to these when under power at night.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 09:25:04

AND how do you like that little green 20g wire running back to my stern light. That's gonna need replacing...

Now wonder the stern light was so dim.... Or was it just that I went off and Left Them So Far Behind... ( har de harhar )

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Prospector
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3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2009 : 13:31:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
I run Red/Green on the bow and white on the stern sailing at night. No Steaming light.

I add the Steaming light to these when under power at night.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Same here - but our stern light is a separate switch from the bow light... maybe our panel is one of the ones that is mis-wired??

I really, really don't want to start playing with wires again. Please don't tell me I need to crawl in the hole and start poking things with multi-meters.

IMO it should work that the Bow lights, transom and compass light all come on with a single switch. The steaming light (halfway up the mast) comes on with a second switch for when you are under power. The Anchor light (masthead) should be a third switch for when you are at anchor.

Our panel is not like that. It likely will not be like that until I have forgotten the painful contortions my mind and body had to go into to rewire the shore power charger.

Edited by - Prospector on 05/11/2009 13:35:25

redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 04:58:33

Says Prospector <>

I don't think any of the Catalinas are miswired, just wired to different specific needs. It is nice to understand what is what.

It would be cool to have all the lights wired to one switch, but it would make it more difficult to diagnose problems if one of the circuits should fail, or blow a fuse. It is nice to have different lights separately switched and fused for this reason and if you loose a fuse you might only loose some of your lights rather than going to black at night.

It taking pictures of mine and posting them to kinda probe everyone for ideas, and to make me think about it myself.

Sounds like yours are setup better than mine right now.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 05:26:51

Prospector, Are you saying that your red/green running lights at the bow and your stern light are on separate switches?
Remember, in Catalina-speak, bow light = steaming light.

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Prospector
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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 06:46:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
 Prospector, Are you saying that your red/green running lights at the bow and your stern light are on separate switches?
Remember, in Catalina-speak, bow light = steaming light.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I will go aboard tonight and recheck, but I'm pretty sure that on Iris (right now) the bow lights are switched separate from the transom light. The compass light is wired to the cabin switch.

Our routine last year for getting the running lights on was to turn each switch on, one switch at a time, until the lights we wanted were left on. It would be nice if this was a little more intuitive.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 06:59:49

2 switches is strange for running lights; there is no situation that requires the three running lights to be used seperately. If your R/G's are on, your stern light must be on, and if your steaming light is on, you must show R/G + stern. A single switch is safer in that it avoids a potential oversight, that is why the R/G/Stern are collectively called running lights.

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 11:01:47

<< A single switch is safer in that it avoids a potential oversight >>

I disagree. My light switches have caused confusion on all occasions.

The Bow Light Switch is often mistaken for the Red/Green light on the bow.

The Running light switch implies your running lights are on, when the steaming light is not on.

I find it very confusing and my point and suggestion is that bundling all the circuits into one sounds good, but might be safer if on separate fuses and if each switch had the correct name for each light.

I've never liked the labels they use and I'm trying to figure out a better configuration and labeling for the circuits I have.

I'd prefer a switch and fuse for each light:

Bow Light (red/Green)
Steaming Light
Anchor Light
Stern Light

I'd find it much less confusing.

IMHO

Edited by - on

redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 11:10:18

I don't have enough switches, so I think I'll also combine the Bow Red/Green running lights and Stern lights and call the switch Bow/Stern.

and label the Steaming Light. ( Steaming )

Thanks!

Edited by - on

redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 11:25:05

I think I'd like to use this..

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 11:37:22

Obviously you tune the setup to your own preferences, but we agree that the steaming light needs a proper label. I think it is correctly referred to as a mast or masthead light, but that is confusing on a sailboat. On a powerboat the masthead, white all around replaces the stern/mast combo of a sailboat but neither is called a bow light in the colregs. I'll stick with 3 running lights on one circuit and a steaming light on another.

Edited by - on

redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 11:53:11

Yepper... I with you for having one switch for the Running Lights. That sounds good to me, only it implies you are good to go...when in fact you may need the steaming light on.

I'm thinking I'll go with naming the switch for each light it turns on.

Steaming is a pretty strange name to be using also, but I've always seen confusion with the Anchor and Masthead so I'm using it to make me remember I need it when under power.

Thank You for the input, it helps me to have someone review my views.

regards.ray

Edited by - on

dmpilc
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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 15:05:29

If you don't like Steaming (as referring to old steam-driven ships), then label it Motoring. A little label maker is not expensive. Personally, I like the simplicity of flipping 1 switch for both of the primary running lights, red/green-front and white-rear.

Edited by - on

Voyager
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USA
5352 Posts

Response Posted - 05/12/2009 : 18:35:51

Ok, bow & stern together or apart, whatever floats your boat, but what does the Deck Light control? It was not even hooked up to anything but the 12V courtesy outlet on Passage.

I've rewired it to feed a 12V plug in the starboard scupper so I can plug in a light if I need to from the cockpit.

Edited by - on

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2009 : 05:32:23

The deck light also called a spreader light is used to illuminate the deck, and is not used for navigation. Think of it as a porch light

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2009 : 06:46:01

I thought the deck light was for the spreader lights that lit up the deck. I don't have any deck/spreader lights on my boat. ( Catalina calls the bow light )

I'd like to use that circuit to separate the cabin lights, but it may be more trouble than it is worth.

thanks

Edited by - on

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2009 : 10:05:34

On the current thread “Bow / steaming light & deck light” Sloop Smitten has a picture of a steaming deck light combo. This unit is wired to 2 separate switches. One switch will turn on the steaming light (or the “Bow light” as Catalina refers to it). The deck light switch would be for the other light. If you don’t have a deck light, that switch can be used to control something else. An idea for additional cabin lighting !!!! We have a 12 volt DC rope light that is hidden above the port shelf in the cabin. The lights can be turned on a night and allow someone to see around the cabin, with out ruining the night vision of the skipper. It is also a cool mood light back at the dock

Edited by - on

redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2009 : 10:25:31

Yepper... I saw that combo/steam light photograph he posted. Sweet. That's a nice light.

I'm gonnna run 4 wire to the mast to allow for that but I'm not adding the combo right now.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 05/13/2009 : 13:15:12

That is the same one I installed last winter, but I haven't hooked up the hot end yet.

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