Hi Folks,
I just pulled the photos and video from my night sail into the computer. Not surprisingly, video at night didn't turn out too well. The lights are packed away in the trailer, so I can't get to them tonight. I will try to get them out and take some pictures of them mounted this weekend.
The deck light I posted before earlier can be used as a mast light. The suction cup on the back end of it is removable. Removing the suction cup leaves a long (about 6 inches) narrow plastic body that is about the same diameter as a AA mini-mag light. It uses three AA penlight batteries, if that gives you any better idea of the size. The body of the light is narrow enough to fit inside the top of the mast sleeve of the sail. It's a fairly snug fit, and I've had no problems with it coming loose while in use. There are a couple of molded loops on the body of the light that could be used to thread a velcro strap or some such thing through. The light has two white LEDs that shine up into a conical shaped clear plastic lens (picture the orange coned flashlights that traffic cops use when directing traffic at night) with a thin piece of semi-translucent white plastic inside it. The LEDs light up the lens, and the piece of white plastic, so when the light is positioned vertically it really is quite visible from 360 degrees. There is no remote on/off, so you would turn it on when you put it up, and turn it back off when you take it back down. With 100+ hours of use on three AA batteries, you can light it when you rig in the morning, and it'll already be lit when the sun goes down that evening.
The red & green running lights are the exact same light, but with colored lenses installed instead of clear. The set of two lights come in a nylon canvas mounting pouch/sleeve. The sleeve acts to limit the directions from which each of the two lights can be seen. The sleeve has three grommeted holes (one at the back and one more one each side near the front) that I laced with shock cord. I made the shock cord just long enough that it reaches to the hooks one each side of the forward hatch. As an added measure I also make sure the forward hatch bungees are laced on top of the lights.
Here is a link I found to the navigation lights
http://topkayaker.net/topkayakershop/in ... 0a7b5825d6Here is the deck light (masthead light for us) at the same site
http://topkayaker.net/topkayakershop/in ... cts_id=143The lights mounted quite easily, and they seem pretty durable and waterproof. I talked to some folks who were watching me from on the marina wall, and they said I was pretty visible, even from about a half mile out. That's as far as I got from the shore, so I can't say now much further they may be seen. Of course, you have to remember that the running lights are only sitting about 5 inches above water level, so those won't be spotted until you're fairly close. I'd suggest also carrying a flashlight so that you can light up the sail if anyone is coming at you.
I purchased all of mine locally in the Annapolis, MD area, so I don't know this vendor. It's just one I found that has them on their site. I hope that this additional info helps, and I'll try to get some pictures taken this weekend (weather permitting).
Happy Sailing,
- Jim L