1978 E27 Spreader Light Replacement

[japerra]

Hi all,
While removing masts from the mast rack at our club, it seems that someone has broken off my spreader light casing. The light is still operational but the case is all but gone (I think someone was trying to hide the evidence, lol). I'm wondering if anyone knows if this part or the light assembly is available. I'm also open to suggestions for a replacement.
The picture is a little blurry but you should get the idea. BTW, the picture is of the intact light with the lens removed, not the broken one.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Guy Stevens]

Perko, still made

Perko and it is still made, while you are at it you can also get Lunasea LED replacements for those very inefficient incandescent bulbs.

http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/lighting_fixtures/product/427/

If you call them they will sell you spare parts. Nice company.

Guy

 

[tenders]

I had those lights before I rebuilt my spreaders. They're a surprisingly poor design coming from Perko, which usually has OK stuff. But the lenses are relatively inexpensive.

Perhaps you should get more than one replacement set. When you look at the plastic lenses you'll quickly realize that there is very little meat between the attachment ears where the screws go, and the bulk of the lens. After a season or two that plastic gets brittle and has basically no strength to bear against any sort of contact. I think one of mine cracked off in a heavy wind - and snow or ice would have definitely removed them as well. The lens turns yellow and gives the light from the bulbs a maudlin glow. I also found that the festoon-style bulbs mysteriously lose their connectivity to the mounting clips and need to be spun in their fixtures every once in a while, perhaps because the fixtures are not very watertight. This requires a trip up to the spreaders with tools in hand and is 100% as much work as changing the bulbs.

Perko makes a larger version that uses a $6 30-watt tractor bulb with an integral glass lens clipped into a stainless housing with electrical terminals that screw into the bulb. This is a simpler, better design in my opinion - farmers don't have time to waste on finicky fixtures. They're the largest lighting draw on the boat by a long shot, and I keep waiting for something to burn out so I have a reason to replace them with (expensive but low-power) LEDs. Those lights steadfastly refuse to give me any reason to mess with them.

 

[toddster]

I put in these 5-LED floodlights. One aimed forward, one aft. Lights up the deck real good.

 

[japerra]

Perko and it is still made, while you are at it you can also get Lunasea LED replacements for those very inefficient incandescent bulbs.

http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/lighting_fixtures/product/427/

If you call them they will sell you spare parts. Nice company.

Guy

Thanks Guy,
Found the part and a distributor in Canada with the part number you sent.
Truly appreciate your help.

 

[japerra]

I had those lights before I rebuilt my spreaders. They're a surprisingly poor design coming from Perko, which usually has OK stuff. But the lenses are relatively inexpensive.

Perhaps you should get more than one replacement set. When you look at the plastic lenses you'll quickly realize that there is very little meat between the attachment ears where the screws go, and the bulk of the lens. After a season or two that plastic gets brittle and has basically no strength to bear against any sort of contact. I think one of mine cracked off in a heavy wind - and snow or ice would have definitely removed them as well. The lens turns yellow and gives the light from the bulbs a maudlin glow. I also found that the festoon-style bulbs mysteriously lose their connectivity to the mounting clips and need to be spun in their fixtures every once in a while, perhaps because the fixtures are not very watertight. This requires a trip up to the spreaders with tools in hand and is 100% as much work as changing the bulbs.

Perko makes a larger version that uses a $6 30-watt tractor bulb with an integral glass lens clipped into a stainless housing with electrical terminals that screw into the bulb. This is a simpler, better design in my opinion - farmers don't have time to waste on finicky fixtures. They're the largest lighting draw on the boat by a long shot, and I keep waiting for something to burn out so I have a reason to replace them with (expensive but low-power) LEDs. Those lights steadfastly refuse to give me any reason to mess with them.

Thanks Tenders, I have grabbed two of these lights just in case. Went with the LED bulbs as well to lower the draw.
Cheers,
James