Bulkhead light

Following notice at reference 1, the new-to-us bulkhead light has now been installed.

First job, dig out the rats' tail file which came to us from BH's naval uncle and use it to file out the second fixing bolt, perforated but still stuck.

Second job, open up a circular hole in the back plate to take the supply. Wondered why the marked circle did not come ready made, with a plastic cover, in the way of the two holes which had been made.

Third job, remove relevant fuse, deploy the new-to-us ladder (reference 2) and take down the old light. The bar across the top does make standing near the top feel a bit safer. Uncovering a couple of quite large spiders who appeared to have bedded down for the winter.

New light installed in fairly short order, working first time. But I worry about the wires being rather close to the bulb, protective casings notwithstanding. Then it dawns on me why the chap before me had put kitchen foil behind the bulb.

Kitchen foil deployed and light still works. Hopefully it will absorb the heat for long enough to see us out - the previous foil having done for more than thirty years. But I dare say an electrician might pull a long face and suggest we spend several hundred pounds on having him install a proper light.

Then it dawns on me that the reason the light is called a bulkhead light is because it is shaped like a bulkhead, not because you fix it on one. And that bulkheads are the other way round. In which case one would used one of the two holes which were provided - left and right in the snap above - and the wires would be a lot further away from the bulb. Plus, cables coming in through a prepared hole in the bottom of the light casing much more sound from a water point of view than coming in through a hole that I have cut in the back.

That apart, the light looks to be well made. Solid looking, satisfying.

And it looks well enough with the cover back on, although the effect is rather spoiled by now knowing that it is the wrong way around. Not that the right way around would have worked in this particular location.

The next day, worried about the seal ring, which while sound was old, smeared vaseline all over it. Maybe that will help keep the water out.

So verdict, as in the previous post, fair. 

Reference 1: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2021/01/frustration.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/09/ladder-nostalgia.html.