Mounted Dinghy Blocks Stern Nav Light

[bajturner]

Hey everyone,
I am in the process of buying a dinghy, and also embroiled in the "how to mount it" thought process and decision. While staring at pictures of the stern of my boat and swim platform, it occurred to me that regardless of what mounting system I choose, it will block the stern nav light (by the way, thanks to kaz911 for the dinghy davit/mount review...very helpful!).

The mast light could be rewired to illuminate front and back while underway as well as at anchor, but when the dinghy is not mounted I would have two stern lights. I could remove the bulb from the stern light, or maybe add a toggle switch to the cover plate on the underside of the radar arch directly below the mast light that would have mounted/not mounted position that could disable the rear part of the all-around light when underway without the dinghy.

Any other options that others have done to solve this?

I appreciate the help.

P.S. Any input on the best way to mount a 9'6" dinghy on a 300DA is also welcome (5'7" beam)! I'm trying to find a way such that the swim platform is still accessible, considering custom attachment methods from the underside such that no new hardware will be necessary on the swim platform deck, and the entire system can easily be removed.

 

[bajturner]

So, has no one considered or resolved this problem in the past?

 

[Molson]

My dinghy also blocks my transom light. I just made the arch light shine 360 when in both NAV and ANC position.

 

[JohnGordon]

I have the same problem but have yet to come up with a solution. One thought has been to mount a light on the standoff bar that would reach over the dinghy. Another is to attach another pad to the dinghy for the portable stern light from the dinghy, but this light is meant for smaller boats and I don't think it meets the 2 NM requirement. We got stopped by the CG at dusk pulling in to Frankfort, MI and I have been trying to find a solution ever since. For the time being we tow the dinghy if we are traveling at night.

 

[Woody]

I'd just convert the mast light to an 360 and make the stern light a courtesy light with an on/off switch.

 

[JimFromMD]

Couldnt you just make the mast light shine 360 degrees always, and take the bulb out of the stern light?

 

[bajturner]

Couldnt you just make the mast light shine 360 degrees always, and take the bulb out of the stern light?

That is my plan. I think it is the easiest thing to do. It's a very simple rewiring exercise behind the access plate in the radar arch; there are splices there already. Considering the wiring diagram, if I simply jumper the Nav power feed for the front-facing bulb to the rear facing bulb at the mast light fixture, the Anchor light EIM relay will be back-driven when the Nav light switch is on, and the Nav light EIM relay will be paralleled with the Anchor light EIM relay when the Anchor light is on. Unless I am missing something, the parallel scenario is no problem. Am I safe to assume the back-drive scenario is ok as well? It seems so since the relay is simply open.

Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[Creekwood]

I have the same issue on my 330 with using Weaver davits. My boat has a separate switch for the anchor light and running lights so I just turn both switches on when I have the dinghy on the back. That way the white light is on both fwd and aft. The only downside is the transom light is on at the same time and lights up the inside of the dinghy which is not great for night blindness.