Seafari Navigational lighting advice sought
 

Hello Folks:

I am at the stage of wiring my 1972 Seafari dash, and have some decisions to make regarding nav lighting configurations. I have never been a fan of those fold-down masthead lights on the windshield, especially with a bimini over that area. I likely will take the option of an all-around stern light, but would like to hear what other Seafari owners like or don't like about their configuration. I do have the combination red/green bow light already installed.

As a related matter, the boat came with a running light/anchor light 3 position pull switch on the dash, and I would to make use of that for the switch, as re-doing the entire dash to incorporate a Blue-Sea Switch panel is out of the budget and time available right now.

Your thoughts are sincerely appreciated.

The reason they used the combination anchor/running light above windshield and a 180 degree stern light is that a 360 stern light will be blocked by the bimini and cabin unless it's on the end of a very long pole! A more practical reason is that the 360 stern light will kill your night vision by shining light into cockpit! Even the 180 degree running light on top of the windshield will kill your night vision with reflection off the white deck unless you install a shield below it as shown in picture below. Also, if you ever install an anchor bracket on bow and replace the red/green bow light with separate red and green lights, I'd mount them on the flat area just below the side windshield instead of forward of the cabin windows like I did. Reason is the cabin sides up forward are not parallel to centerline, so the lights may not be visible from 9 & 3 o'clock as required by USCG. Whatever you go with, I'd try to use LED lights, which are sealed, so more reliable and draw fewer amps than bulbs with contacts that can corrode.

Thanks for the observations, Denny - I knew I could count on you!