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Making a Stern Light for 13 footer?
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| kamie |
Posted on 01/28/08 - 4:59 PM
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Disclaimer: Yes I know these are still available from BW for $162.50.
I wanted to price out the components of the stern light
Light: Perko part #0362DPOCHR - $83.60
Pole: McMaster-Carr PN 4816K25 Threaded 316 SS Pipe, 6 feet long. This is Schedule 40 with a wall thickness of .088. This was the thinnest threaded pipe I could find. - $40.78
It might be possible to use Stainless Steel tubing, that is available in .5 inch OD with a wall thickness of .028 but I am not sure how you would secure the light to the base except to solder it.
Wire $5
Two wire plug $2
Total to build your own $131.38 plus shipping for the above parts. Once you get all the parts, you need to polish the SS pipe and cut it to length. I believe the new ones offered are 60 inches long, originally they were 55 inches.
What will I do when the 13 is restored and ready for lights?
Purchase the entire light kit, pole light and new stanchions from BW for $242.25 screws included.
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| Binkie |
Posted on 01/28/08 - 6:58 PM
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Until restored 13 foot Whalers get as valuable as restored `67 Camaros, and they come up with antique boat shows that feature fiberglass boats, I won`t worry about being absolutely correct with a restoration. There are a lot of lights out there that look better than the OEMs, for a few dollars.
Rich
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| kamie |
Posted on 01/28/08 - 8:00 PM
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Considering I don't know yet if the hull weights 300 or 3000 pounds the restoration of the hull is still in question. Once I know that, it will all be clearer.
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| Derwd24 |
Posted on 01/28/08 - 9:24 PM
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Kamie,
Could you drill the base of the light where it slides over the pole, tap it, and use stainless set screws (with a little Loctite) to fasten it? Also wondering if the boat had any bottom paint on it when you bought it?
Dave
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| kamie |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 7:47 AM
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Dave
That actually might be an great option, also possible to use just sheet metal screws. You could drop down to using SS tubing rather than pipe which would be thinner and lighter and cheaper. SS tubing will run you about $19
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| Tom W Clark |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 9:01 AM
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Actually, there is nothing "correct" about using stainless steel tubing on an old 13 footer. In the 1970s the stern light pole was made of chrome plated brass tubing and was only 30" tall. Stainless steel was not used until 1984 or so when the light height was increased to 54" and the slight bend was introduced.
One of the problems with making a stern light yourself if the Perko light was press fit onto the pole, be it chrome-on-brass or stainless steel tubing; it is not threaded.
It should also be noted that the really early Whalers used a stern light globe made by Kainer, not Perko.
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| Yiddil |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 9:49 AM
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Kamie, I have the 64 sport as you know and the light is the globe one I think made by Kainer, but not sure..see my posted picks in profile.
I did not think that the pole was stainless...and Tom has said as much
Your talking about a stern light and my question is...
Are you really going to go out and use that 13 in the evening(dark) when you need to have full lights and if you are, I am sure you can get the parts to make something cheapo including some perko clamp ons
Unless of course you want to make her all original, then youl have to hunt...
Recently a few people took Toms heads up and got some lenses for the original Bow lights...I think the place was A@A Marine...they may have some thing their....
Since your redoing your 13 you have plenty of time to find some parts or make that decision....lots of other work to do on her Id imagine...
Keep your eyes peeled, those parts come up regularly....Henry
Henry
Henry AKA THE YIDDIL |
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| Blake Whitney |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 10:11 AM
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I just rebuilt my 13 sport and opted for a different approach...much easier and not to the rule but works for me and have not gotten busted yet...
I used a perko surface mounted sternlight and mounted it to the engine cover. Mounted a molex plug under the hood for quick dissconnect.
The perko is only 180 degree view and I know 360 is required but I hate all of the spill light forward on a dark night that blows your night vision. I realize that I might get a talkin' to some day but the pole sternlight is a pain and always are getting busted...my setup is very clean...used an LED lamp too for both bow and stern for a amp draw of nil.
My 2 cents
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| kamie |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 11:50 AM
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Tom W Clark wrote:
Actually, there is nothing "correct" about using stainless steel tubing on an old 13 footer. In the 1970s the stern light pole was made of chrome plated brass tubing and was only 30" tall. Stainless steel was not used until 1984 or so when the light height was increased to 54" and the slight bend was introduced.
.....
It should also be noted that the really early Whalers used a stern light globe made by Kainer, not Perko.
Thanks Tom,
I realized that the early lights were shorter but never knew that they were that short and made by Kainer. That helps to sort out the NOS stuff that comes up and would be invaluable to capture somewhere for folks looking to redo their early whalers. Do you know if there are any marks or part numbers visable? In the OEM parts photo's on WC, it only shows the later longer pole with a globe I assumed was made by Perko, since it doesn't specify.
Yiddil wrote:
Are you really going to go out and use that 13 in the evening(dark) when you need to have full lights and if you are, I am sure you can get the parts to make something cheapo including some perko clamp ons
Unless of course you want to make her all original, then youl have to hunt...
Recently a few people took Toms heads up and got some lenses for the original Bow lights...I think the place was A@A Marine...they may have some thing their....
I am not sure if I plan to use this boat at night or not, in fact, not even sure if the 13 floats yet. I actually looked at the lenses for sale on ebay and realized they are for the older lights but there were older and newer versions of the bow light as well, both of which use different lenses. I have the new version, so if anyone has a line on replacement lenses for that, let me know. I have a non-functioning older light as well.
I actually have a legal stern light that was on the boat to use or I could purchase a new one, the point was could you replicate one of simular quality and within the price range of purchasing a new one from BW. It seems that you can get close, if your willing to accept the newer version, SS and taller. If you want an exact copy of the older version, it would take some work and you might get something ok but not great. If your looking at NOS for an older stern light, be aware that it won't be a perko globe, so if that's what is on the light it's not truely NOS, they could have purchased from BW for resale on ebay.
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| Yiddil |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 11:57 AM
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Kamie, now you know she will float!, She may not sit out of the water completely, and may float upside down, but she will always float! Shes a whaler
Henry AKA THE YIDDIL |
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| Yiddil |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 12:41 PM
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Try This Kamie....
http://www.classicboating.com/Bowlights_Lenses.html
Henry AKA THE YIDDIL |
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| kamie |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 4:26 PM
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So to wrap this up, here is what we know so far
1. Original Stern Lights for 13 foot Whalers were 30 inches tall, pole was chrome plated brass and the globes were made by Kainer (same folks who supplied the original steering wheel)
2. The height was raised to 55 inches about 1984 and the pole used was Stainless Steel. A slight bend was added to the pole.
3. Stern lights are still available from BW but I believe they are now 60 inches to comply with new regs.
Henry, since you have a verified older version of the stern light, how about some detailed photo's with measurements so Joe can add them to the OEM photo gallery.
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| Yiddil |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 6:32 PM
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Kamie, I'm not down at the boat site right now, but I belive I can do some photo work next time Im their....although I may have a pic somewhere...there is also a pick of the globe part at A @ A...me thinks...
Henry AKA THE YIDDIL |
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| Mad Hunt |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 7:24 PM
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My 1983 has what looks to be a chrome over bronze pole with the light pressed on. There was a little sticker inside the clear lens that said "Perko". Any idea how to remove the light from the pole for re-chroming?
Kevin
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| Tom W Clark |
Posted on 01/29/08 - 7:27 PM
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The current part is 54" overall length, not 60". This has been consistent since 1983 or 1984 (I do not know the exact date of the change.) Yes, the change was implemented to comply with the international lighting requirements.
Kevin -- There is no way (that I know of) to remove the fixture from the pole.
Edited by Tom W Clark on 01/29/08 - 7:28 PM |
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| Yiddil |
Posted on 01/30/08 - 5:12 AM
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Tom, I will have to check, but I thought the "globe' part does unscrew...I sent A2A an email asking them about theirs ....awaiting a reply...That place is a great find. Thanks, Henry
Henry AKA THE YIDDIL |
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| Tom W Clark |
Posted on 01/30/08 - 6:41 AM
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Henry,
Yes, the globe (lens) unscrews from the light fixture but the fixture itself is press-fit onto the pole.
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| Yiddil |
Posted on 01/30/08 - 7:03 AM
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I'm looking at the Whaler brochure from 1964 that came with my 64 sport and noticed something I thought I'd share..The Stern light is on the R side of the stern on the 13, but on the COver, and in the brochure the 16-17all show the stern light on the opposite side...L side of stern...wonder if this got int he way with the larger boats? Just something i noticed, not a big deal at all, but interesting in the photos
On the globe, if I can find out what kind of thread the a@a dome has, it could well be a replacement done for that light. Its a same the fixture can not be replaced....goes really well with the boat. Mines a bit browned so i may try and clean it ...but carefully) hehe
Henry AKA THE YIDDIL |
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| Yiddil |
Posted on 01/30/08 - 7:07 AM
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PS Oh mY! I looked at the prices for the different parts...and boats and it makes you want to cry.....WOW! thats cheap!
Henry AKA THE YIDDIL |
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| Tom W Clark |
Posted on 01/30/08 - 7:51 AM
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Whaler has installed the stern lights on both sides of the small Whalers over the years. There is no rule that says it needs to be on side or the other.
The prices are not really cheap at all. Convert them all to 2008 dollars and you will see.
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