Anchor Light

[Cap'n Pete]

Can't find a way to deploy the anchor light on my 2020 Freedom 325 without climbing on hardtop. Any suggestions from others with this problem?

 

[ROBERTH]

I have this same problem with my 252G and also with the antennas. I made a 2x2 piece of lumber and drilled in the end to match up with the design of the knob on the light. I can unscrew the knob with the 2x2, lift the light up and then tighten with the 2x2.
I also use this same 2x2 to break free the antenna mount lever and use the 2x2 to lift and lay the antenna.
Otherwise, you have to climb on top.

 

[Cap'n Pete]

Thanks Roberth. Will try that on mine. Good idea.

 

[Hookup1]

Why don’t you just set it up and crank it down? It shouldn’t be too high. Trailering should be ok. I do this with mine to FL and back to NJ every year.

 

[ROBERTH]

If I left mine up, it would be gone in 5 minutes due to trees. My radar barely misses most, but that is only due to me driving certain routes that have higher trees. My light pole has to be higher than the radar dome to be seen. My radar is even flush mounted!

 

[vocz]

I moved it closer to the port side so it can be reached easily. It doesn’t have to be seating in the middle.

 

[Cap'n Pete]

Reason I can't leave it up is that the boat is stored inside and the clearance to the rack above is tight. Would not survive the first time. This boat has a power sunshade and I am concerned about just crawling up on the hardtop to put the light up. Concerned I may ding the sunshade machinery. Moving as suggested by vocz may be best, but first I am going to try what ROBERTH suggested. I attach a picture of what appears to be the latch for the anchor light shaft.

 

[Cap'n Pete]

I finally figured out how to solve this problem. A little embarrassing. I stood facing the stern, with feet on both the Captain and Mate's seats, and with the overhead hatch opened. Then stuck my head up into the hatch opening. You can then reach the anchor light latch with your left hand, raise the light pole, and relatch.
Voila, problem solved.
Sorry to have bothered the Forum with my need for gymnastics. I am a happy boater. If you have a Freedom 325, this solves an issue you might have in deploying the anchor light.

 

[Fishtales]

Request a motorized light option from GW. I'm sure someone will get cracking on it.

 

[wahoo33417]

Same problem here. My boat didn’t fit rack with light up, as I found out when I left it up once. So I bought the shortest light I could find. It’s like 6” high. Clears rack and more importantly, is still visible from any reasonable distance around the boat.

Certainly more visible than previous solution - never put the light up again.

That light/location was not one of Grady’s better ideas.