Chrysler Sailors Forum

Now that I have new lights everywhere, I would like to install the new electric panel that I just purchased at WM. I have wires going everywhere and I would like to see an original wire diagram if anyone has one or knows where to find one?

any help is appriciated...

I have never seen an original wiring diagram for any of our boats.

I just looked at everything (wiring wise) on the boat over good ahead of time and then ran the wires in the most logical way I could find. Behind things, under things, around things and all held in place with tiny zip ties and stick on secure points to attach the zip ties too.

When I got my boat from the prior owner he had just started rewiring everything. I misunderstood and thought he said he had completed the re-wire. But NOOOOO.

The new panel was mounted and the new battery was mounted which was good and fully charged. Then I found all the wires were gone, removed, non-existent and 2 brand new coils of 16 gauge wire coiled up under the seat ready to be installed.

I found this out crossing the Shipping lanes in Puget Sound as the Sun was setting. I went from this to this to this to this and in the end I went to this when I came to the realization "I" should have checked this before trying to sail her home from his marina to my new marina. I took her out of port improperly inspected for a 16 hour first voyage.

My wiring diagram was from the "Wing It" specification.

Thanks
Alan

My biggest concern is on the anchor light, I dont have the all around light on top of the mast...so I need the stern light and the steaming light to come on at the same time to give me 360*

I have wired my Stern light, Bow Red Green Light and Mast Steamer Light all on the same switch.

My Anchor light is on it's own switch independent of everything else.

My Mast Steamer light is a combo light. It is the Steamer Light and a Deck Spot Light.

The Deck Spot Light is on it's own switch independent of everything else.

All my switches are on the circuit panel.

Thanks
Alan

Alan-

Your steamer comes on with your nav lights?

mcrandall wrote:Alan-

Your steamer comes on with your nav lights?

Yes, if my Navigation lights are on, I need my Steamer light on too if I read the Coast Guard rules correctly.

When the Coast Guard boarded me for an inspection they found my lighting correct and I passed with flying colors on all lights and everything else. They even gave me a paper and a sticker for my mast that says I passed and should not be bothered for X number of years after the inspection.

Thanks
Alan

My anchor light is a solar charged garden light that I have rigged on the back stay. Works good for the lake.
As far as the steaming light goes, I always understood the lighting configuration as follows; under sail alone a sailboat is to display a 240 deg white stern light and the usual bow red and green. Under power the sailboat is to display a white light visible 360deg as any other boat should, thus the 120 deg steaming light to complete the circle, and of course the usual bow lights. What do ya think?
As far as a wiring diagram, don't think think there ever was such a thing, least not as far as the end user was concerned. My boat wiring was very basic with everything running directly off the batt. I had one dome light that was wired hot with it's own switch and one three position switch in the cockpit for the above mentioned lighting configuration with inline fuses. But, after 30 years it still worked. Nothing wrong with the KISS method.

If your steamer is on, you follow the same rules as power boats--sails or no sails. Be careful, if those powerboaters or other sailors know their stuff, they're gonna think you're under power and expect you to act accordingly.

Coasties may have only checked that the lights worked, not that they came on appropriately.

We do inspections and are associated with the CG. We assume the lights are used appropriately, therefore, we typically just check that they work. Maybe we should do more. We give decals out each year. Those decals say to the CG that you went through an inspection and passed it at one time. They may cut you a little slack, but they will still inspect anytime they wish. Never heard of an exemption because you could be wrong anytime.

Good luck!

AH ha, I will have to rethink my current wiring configuration. Thank you for pointing out the error of my logic. I knew it was too easy.

The mast is down right now so this would be the time to make this change and I still have one open unused switch on my panel too. Hmmmm.

Thanks
Alan

So if I wire my steaming light to come on with my stern light that should satisfy the 360* all around white light for anchorage?

yes, it your red and green nav lights are extinguished at the same time.

That is one confusing issue! I've yet to find a straight answer on it. If you read the rule, you may not need one in a normal anchorage or if your a certain size and away from normal boat traffic. THEN they throw in the requirement that the location be identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security. So is it, or isn't it?!?!? Sounds like a gumint operation.

Here's a chart that you've probably seen before: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ight-Rules

Certainly not the end all for this rule, but it does imply a seperate light for anchor. And you'll see the requirement for anchor lights on both power and sail boats to be above the other deck lights. I would say the stern light might not pass due to that issue, but that's just an opinion.

Also read in one of the blogs about folks using solar lawn lights for this purpose. I think it's a great idea, as long as they're bright enough andstay bright enough the entire night. They may not be USCG Approved, but my 2nm USCG Approved anchor light was dimmer than you-know-what! I replaced it with an LED and it's nice and bright now!

One thig they also recommend is using the deck lights. I plan on using a few of the solar lawn lights on my deck. Easy-peasy!

So, the moral of the story is, I still don't KNOW. But I'm still checking.

Ooooh! lighting questions and I missed it! LOL!


Sorry guys, wish I jumped in sooner!

Lets get this correct.

SAILBOT SAILING: Shows a bow green, a bow red, and a STERN white. NO STEAMING LIGHT

SAILBOAT WITH MOTOR RUNNING ( whether in gear or not ) MUSTdisplay the red and green bow lights a stern white AND steaming light.

An anchor light is not an adequate all around light for a sailboat motoring at night.


Remember: a single all around 360 degree light on the stern of your sailboat IS NOT ADEQUATE. It is not visible 360 degrees because of the mast thus the "steaming light" Also note it is called a steaming light not a sailing light so when sailing it SHOULD NOT be on.


Alan, you should have a separate switch on your steaming light. It should not simply turn on with the running lights.

Granted what the rules are and what people do are generally quite different. Most of the time it is a non issue. However should there be an accident, all these things will come into play. Also note that the rules are different for smaller craft.

I understand all of the lighting as far as the steaming light , and the nav lights..my question is this..

My Chrysler 22 came with 3 lights

1. Red/green on the bow
2. white 120* stern light
3.Mast light. 240*

So with that said...is the STEAMING & STERN light in conjunction with each other, a suitable all around 360*light when at anchor out side of a designated mooring area?

I copied these pictures off our site a couple years ago. Couldn't find them again so I scanned them into my photobucket for future reference. Don't remember whose boat, but I liked the layout for anchor VS running, & steam VS sailing lights.

http://s814.photobucket.com/albums/zz65 ... lectrical/