Visiting Savusavu, 'the big city',
Chris & KT on S/V Billabong, like several hundred
cruising yachts, fell in love with our lighting products. They were kind
enough to give us permission to share these with you.
In these photographs, Chris used a 'dead' closed cell
foam pad to cut out stabilizing donuts. On several other vessels, I've
seen adhesive closed cell foam weatherstrip tape used (same as hatch tape, but
1/3 the price from a building supply store). Please note that these
fixtures all have ventilation holes in the back side of the fixture. If
you do not leave a little ventilation, you could have a premature failure during
a high voltage equalizing charge.
In these photographs, Chris again used the closed
cell foam donuts. Instead of just pushing the wires into the base, I would
have led the wires through the fixture and connected them directly to the
switch. I've found (painfully), that in the hot, humid, salt-laden
tropical air, that there is no substitute for a soldered connection. Crimp
connectors (crimped with a proper crimping tool not a pair of
pliers!),with adhesive lined shrink tube, is an acceptable second choice for
longevity.
 |
I like this the best. Chris used a piece of double sided hook and loop tape,
such as is sold for bicycle pants clips or fishing rod holders, or even home-made, as a reading
light on watch. Please note that red light protects your night vision is an old wives tale. The best way to dark
adapt your eyes is to remove all light for 30-45 minutes prior to night operations. The reason why red lenses were used in the past was the red
pigment in the lens absorbed the emitted light from the flame source and acted as a 'volume control' on the light. Although we differ on the origins
of the myth, for an excellent piece of scholarship on the issue, please reference this site. |
We converted this incandescant stalk lamp for Tony on Cariad. First, we removed the lens hood and the red filter. Then a
5/32" (5mm) ventilation hole was drilled in the hood. The original bulb wire was removed from the switch and pulled through. Finally, the extra long Doe lead was threaded through
the stalk and the positive wire was connected to the switch. As custom work is our specialty, this entire job only cost Tony F$5.00!
Photos by Michael |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Proving that there is never too much of a good thing, Chris & KT returned to Savusavu
in May 2006, just to buy more lights! Just kidding, they love the cruising here along with the lights. Here are some of S/V
Billabong's new installations. | |
| Chris doesn't agree with the red light issue,
so he took the red lens cover from his 'Mag' brand flashlight and moved it to the Doe LED reading light. |
 |
 |
Click Here for a Second Course of Doe.
*The reference here is from classic SF film 'The Day the
Earth Stood Still' and the book recovered from the alien invaders, 'How to Serve Man'. It was a
cookbook! 
