Category: Product Reviews

Lunasea Tri-Color/Anchor/Strobe LED Navigation Light

Back in 2015, my old 25W incandescent Aqua-Signal Tri-Color was showing its age. The plastic housing was worn, the lenses were getting cloudy, and it became increasingly temperamental – working one day and burning out the next. The bulbs just seemed to get more expensive – and never more efficient. The high draw was draining the batteries when anchoring overnight… I decided it was time to bite the bullet and go LED.

I did a lot of research and after comparing features, construction, and price, the clear choice was the 4W Lunasea Tri-Color/Anchor/Strobe LED Navigation Light.

I’m VERY happy with my choice. The engineers at Lunasea really thought this one through…

This lightweight (4.9oz) LED light is machined from hard-anodized aluminum with glass lenses. It feels like a solid piece of aluminum in your hand. A masthead light fixture is not what one would call easily accessible, so knowing it is made from resilient materials gives me peace of mind.

Installation was easy – especially since I’d had my mast down for the winter… 😉 Unfortunately, the bolt pattern didn’t match up with those from my much larger previous light so I tapped new holes. C’est la vie…

Lunasea supplies its Tri-Color with a waterproof quick-disconnect that can be unscrewed with one hand – a welcome feature if you had to disconnect while aloft. The thin power cable allowed me to route it alongside my antenna cable, sharing the same exit hole from the mast. The cable’s three wires connect to the boat’s running and anchor light wires and share a ground. Speaking of the antenna, Lunasea claims zero electromagnetic interference and my experience thus far confirms this.

To this day I am amazed at the brightness of this light. Last summer in Port Jefferson harbor the anchor light beckoned me home while making the 1.5nm dinghy ride back from the shore. She stood out like a sore thumb amongst all the other anchor lights bobbing around that night. My friend at anchor beside her told me he thought the moon was full, but it was my anchor light…

Another duly considered feature is the anchor light’s auto-off daylight sensor – for those mornings when the captain forgets the switch was left on. It’s really apparent that Lunasea did their homework.

The icing on the cake for me is the strobe feature – something other manufacturers charge a lot more money to include. To activate the strobe distress signal, turn on your anchor and running lights together (something one would never normally do.) The strobe pulse is hard to miss, and I hope I never have to use it, but I’m glad to know it’s there if I need it.

Finally, I know plenty of captains who are plagued by bird bombs… The Lunasea Tri-Color light is topped with a bird spike (or more appropriately, an anti-bird spike) that can be removed and replaced with a Davis wind indicator. If the spike isn’t enough, the motion of the wind vane ought to deter birds from roosting on your masthead. 

The light comes with a three-year warranty, and mine is still going strong well after expiration. There is no replacement bulb as the LED circuit board is integral. Lunasea offers out of warranty service or full out of warranty replacement with a new unit for $99.

I’m really pleased when a manufacturer does its due-diligence and produces a design that addresses so many issues and at such a reasonable price. Kudos, Lunasea! Keep up the good work!

For Lunasea’s complete specs and installation instructions click HERE.

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate your comments.
I’ve many more helpful articles on the BLOG page, and more to come…

New York City Sailor has these lights at a great price:
Lunasea Tri-Color/Anchor/Strobe LED Navigation Light
with fast, FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100*

While you’re here, take a look at the user-friendly SHOP page…
– over 6,000 products specially organized to make it easy to find the parts you need.

For orders outside the US 48 or for any questions – please send email via the CONTACT page.
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Fair Winds,

VIKING
NewYorkCitySailor.com

Attwood 3500 Series 2-Mile LED Sidelights

A little over five years ago I decided it was time to retire my old incandescent navigation lights and go LED.

After looking around and comparing I chose the Attwood 3500 Series 2-Mile LED Sidelights. The lights have been performing like a champ ever since.

These tough LED lights are super bright and the styling fits well with my classic Pearson. I would say they’d look good on more modern boots too.

Their rounded shape doesn’t catch sails or sheets. They also have an indicator on top of each light allowing you to verify operation from the cockpit. The 2.4W lights are fully potted to seal them from the elements and with a 10-year warranty, I found them to be an unbeatable, energy-saving bargain. I went with the 2-Mile deck-mount version but Attwood also offers a vertical-mount 3500 Series and 1-Mile versions that are even less expensive.

Installation was easy. (Attwood’s instructions HERE.) You simply unscrew the stainless cover from the black plastic base, make the wire connections, screw the base in place, and reattach the cover. It took less than an hour and now my nav lights draw 1/10th the power my old ones were using – and no bulbs to change.

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate your comments.
I’ve many more helpful articles at the BLOG page, and more to come…

New York City Sailor has these lights at a great price:
Attwood 3500 Series 2-Mile LED Green Sidelight – 12V – Stainless Steel Housing
Attwood 3500 Series 2-Mile LED Red Sidelight – 12V – Stainless Steel Housing
with fast, FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100*

While you’re here, take a look at the user-friendly SHOP page…
– over 6,000 products specially organized to make it easy to find the parts you need.

For orders outside the US 48 or for any questions – please send email via the CONTACT page.
Your business is appreciated and enables me to keep this site running.

Don’t forget to check out the Facebook Page and hit that Like button!

 

Fair Winds,

VIKING
NewYorkCitySailor.com

Polyform A-Series Fenders / Buoys

My Polyform A-Series fenders have been in service for eight years now…

While others popped, tore, took on water, etc, these fenders come back for more year after year, faithfully protecting my boat from docks and comfortably buffering her when tied up with other boats. In fact the A-Series work better than any other fender when tying up.

My Polyform A’s have taken some heavy abuse here on the Hudson, where ferries and freighters throw wakes as big as ocean swells. They’ve protected my 30 footer admirably.

From bow to stern on each side, I use an A-3 (17” diameter) fore, followed by an A-2 (14.5” diameter), then an A-1 (11” diameter) amidships, then another A-2 on the quarter, finishing with a second A-3 aft.

For smaller boats, you could move down a size and use A-0’s through A-2’s. Likewise for larger boats move up to A-2’s through A-4’s, etc.

After eight years of being smashed and squished up against the dock, I’ve never had one pop or tear. The rope holds are reinforced and incredibly tough. The rubber is heavy-duty and consistently thick throughout the entire sphere. Apart from some fading of the color, they look and perform exactly as when I bought them in 2010. I can’t tell you how many other fenders blew out on me, and the ones that survived absorbed marks that just make them look terrible.

They have super-efficient check valves that make inflation easy – no struggling against air trying to escape. When it’s time to deflate, I insert a screwdriver or other implement to hold the check valve open while I sit on the fenders to push the air out.

Speaking of which, I always leave two A-3’s inflated at all times. Not only are they great to throw over the side for a quick stop at the fuel dock, I keep them tied to my stern rails and use them to seat guests on my poop deck. They’re actually super comfortable and work really well for this purpose.

I also keep two A-1’s in the dinghy for when I bring the tender alongside the boat or dock. I just flip them over the side of the dinghy and tie on. The A-1’s provide great protection.

A final benefit: these big, red balls provide plenty of fodder for stupid jokes your inner 12-year-old can repeat ad nauseam – just in case you’re running thin on cockpit, seacock, poop deck, and head jokes… You’re welcome. 😉

Thanks for reading! I would appreciate your comments.
I’ve many more helpful articles at the BLOG page, and more to come…

New York City Sailor has these terrific fenders at a great price:
Polyform A Series Buoy A-1 – 11″ Diameter
Polyform A Series Buoy A-2 – 14.5″ Diameter
Polyform A Series Buoy A-3 – 17″ Diameter
with fast, FREE SHIPPING on orders over $100*

While you’re here, take a look at the user-friendly SHOP page…
– over 6,000 products specially organized to make it easy to find the parts you need.

For orders outside the US 48 or for any questions – please send email via the CONTACT page.
Your business is appreciated and enables me to keep this site running.

Don’t forget to check out the Facebook Page and hit that Like button!

 

Fair Winds,

VIKING
NewYorkCitySailor.com