Hello,
Does anyone have a recommendation on a form fit replacement for the steaming light on a N26? I’d prefer not to drill new holes.
Shattered by spare halyard on a 25kt day. (40 year’s old)
Cheers,
Mike and Ashley Read
N26C Nauti Girl
Bath, Ontario.
Mike - these seem to be Aqua Signal series 25. I put LEDs in mine - if my mast is easy to get to, have a peek to see what I did. (I soldered wires to Bayonet LEDs to remove one potential trouble spot).
The lights are still available, and MAY be LED-equipped already.
I totally agree that keeping more holes is a good idea, AND, it keeps “the look”. 
JohnS NS26C 046, covered, waiting for spring, Bath, ON.
Do you have a picture of the destroyed unit when it was in its prime days? Perhaps we can help you to identify the manufacturer and the model that way.
mark h
n36#25 Cotton Eye Joe
netherlands
Hi Mark,
Unfortunately, you are probably closer to my mast than I am in Los Angeles. So, taking a picture is out.
Perhaps this is a question for Mike Quill? Who was the OEM for Mast light fittings?
Cheers,
Mike Read
Nauti Girl N26C
Bath, Ontario (Wintering in LA)
Aquas Signal lights were used as far as I know. That is what were/are on my 1982 26. I believe they are the 25 series.
Mark Powers
Hi,
Mark beat me to it as I was typing this…
I replaced mine two years ago. The light is a Aqua Signal Series 25. When doing this, swap out the included incandescent bulb for a LED. Also I believe you may find Victory brand lights are the same size, and screw hole pattern.
Try Ocean Outfitters in Ontario, or Mike Quill.
Don
’87 NS30U #369 - Breezin’
Vancouver, BC
Thank you Don and Mark,
I think you are spot on… though, when I look these up to purchase, they seem to have a convex back. I would be expecting a concave back to meet the mast.
What am I missing…?
Thanks for the advice.
PS (yes I have LED festoons to fill the bulb space.)
Mike,
I believe that other nav lights that I replaced over the years on my N26s (#143 and now #233) were Aqua Signal fixtures, but I don’t know if that’s true for all boats.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
Marina del Rey, California
Page 63.6 of NS 26 Ultra owners manual. OEM mast lights (anchor, steaming and bow running) were Aqua Signal 25 , and optional Aqua Signal 40 for a mast head trilight. There is likely an aluminum filet on the mast to match the curved mast surface to the flat back of the light.
Ken Dakin
NS 33 #7
Sashay
Kingston ON
Thank you Ken andBob
Series 25 includes many different configurations. Here is a link to their catalog. I think you’ll want to look at the Series 25 Classic products.
<https://cala-marine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/AquaSignal_catalogue.pdf>
But I wonder if the mountings are somehow standard. I had a rigger look over my mast before it was stepped in the boat after trucking. He replaced the steaming light fixture by simply walking across the parking lot to the local professional boat repair store and buying a new one off the shelf.
Brian Godfrey
Vela, NS33 #77, San Diego
I replaced all the lights on my NS36 and NS30 in the last few years. I was able to get ones for the NS30 that matched the original AquaSignal Series 25 about 4 years ago, but then I was unable to find them available anywhere when I was replacing them on the NS36 last year.
I ended up finding a similar-sized LED light that might fit the old location if you can’t find the AquaSignal: Hella Marine NaviLED PRO Masthead Navigation Lamp
Good luck!
Bob Gehrman
NS36 #52 “Fortunate”
Greenwich Bay, Rhode Island
Binnacle lists the Aqua Signal Mast Steaming light series 25 for just under $50 CDN.
Mark Powers
Greetings All
It’s my understanding that Aqua Signal is out of the marine lighting business. To Mike Read, I’m going to see what I have left in stock today and let you know. I’ll contact you with a suitable replacement if I’m out of them. Also a light guard might be a good addition to prevent this in the future.
Cheers
Mike Quill
Thank you Mike Quill,
Courtesy of JohnS, here is the context of the mount for said light replacement:
Cheers,
Mike Read
N26C Nauti Girl
Bath, Ontario
Great Mike Read. As mentioned I looked in my supply and I have 3 series 25 steaming lights and 1 Series 25 Nav. light and 2 Series 25 anchor light. Also, Mike Read, a light bale would be a good idea to protect your light.
Cheers
Mike Quill
FWIW for those who have to replace the fixtures, I’ve been replacing mine with Hella NaviLEDs. Here’s how the stern light looks.
They’re smaller, so it entails re-using the aluminum bases and their attachments to the boat and drilling holes in those bases for small screws holding the light housing. They’re promising 10,000 hours of use before needing to replace the bulbs.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch e26U #233
Marina del Rey, California
JohnS: It is generally recommended that you don’t solder any wiring on a boat due to corrosion problems.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Heat shrink tubes of various sizes work extremely well for joints also for crimping
Safe Sailing
Cedric Single Malt
26C # 207
Chester Nova Scotia