Okay so, Lolita is being VERY high maintenance! I installed new lights up the mast. I put a mega light at the top, I used another megalight as a deck light and installed a new steaming light. I don't know what happened but, I think something in the mast let go. There is some downward pressure on the wire heading up to the masthead light and the antenna wire seems to have completely disappeared. I did not replace this wire and on the wire that goes up to my wind masthead transducer. So, the light doesn't work and the wind instrument does all kinds of crazy crap.... Then, the deck/steaming light with 2 separate, new, 16/2 boat cables run up to them are glowing very dimly. When I test with a spare megalight at the base wiring block I get normal power to all 3 wires to the 3 lights. My questions are; 1. what could have happened 2. any idea how to rectify the situation. 3. I'm not planning of ever being more than a few miles from land at any given time, will my hand held VHF be good enough for the rest of this season? 4. Can the deck light, (providing I get the low current thing figured out) used with the stern light give me the 360 degree light I need to suffice for the mast head light? If I do figure out the deck/steaming issue, can I get away without going all the way up the mast? Even if I get up there and find that the wires all pulled down into the mast, there isn't a lot I can do about it. Running new wires where no wire exists currently would be an exercise in futility. There are some small holes at the top of the mast and even smaller where the wire exit the mast in the cabin. I think going up the the steaming/deck light is in order to check those connections...I must have made crappy connections somehow. I got new butt connectors, used the nice crimping tool that Wally Bryant recommended and covered the connections in shrink wrap.... It is just so strange that both light fixtures are dim, when they are separate all the way back to separate switches on the panel. I'm also having running light issues... I think the panels are very old and tired and in need of attention if not replacement. Ugh...I just want to go sailing now, dammit! As always, thanks for any insights, comments and suggestions... Danny
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