steaming light

[Ron]

THE STEAMING LIGHT IS OUT ON OUR 1987 CAT. 34. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT IT MAY BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE BULB? WHAT ELSE CAN I CK. BEFORE I SLITHER UP THE MAST WHICH I DONT WANT TO DO UNLESS NOTHING ELSE WORKS. ANY IDEAS??

[mogline]

Ron,
   Check the wiring at the base of the mast.  Connection points (i.e. plugs or wiring terminals) are prone to corrosion.  You can also use a meter to check continuity in the circuit before you climb.

[hdevera]

Ron,

Most boats have a junction relay box to which the wiring from the mast is connected.  That way when the mast comes off, you can disconnect the wiring.  You could check to be certain that you have current getting to this point.  Then you would at least know the problem is from the masthead light to the junction box (and most likely the bulb).

[Ted Pounds]

If/when you go up the mast you might find that the bulb is OK and that the contacts are corroded.  So bring some fine sand paper with you.

Ted

[Stu Jackson]

We had the same problem recently and knew that the bulbs were fine.

Check the fuse.

I did, the fuse was fine, but the tips just needed a bit of cleaning.  I must have replaced the fuse last time with dirty fingers.

Quick and easy (no going up the mast) fix.

Just for starters.

Whenever something like this happens, do what everyone here says, but list everything that could be wrong and do the checks in the easiest order first.

Stu

[Ray Erps]

Certainly agree with Stu about checkign the easy stuff first.  Our Nav lights are flakey and I'm pretty sure it's the contacts in the switch, because if I turn the switch on and off a couple of times, they start working again.  There's always something!