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In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-1

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jbyers
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In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-1

Post by jbyers » Wed Aug 10, 2016 1:28 pm

I purchased an old style Attwood 9000-1 bow light on eBay. It is pre 1950's I assume because it has the blue lens rather than green on the starboard side.

It is in near mint condition and I couldn't pass it up.

Does anyone have or know of a source for the green replacement lens?

If worse comes to worse, I will mold and cast one out of tinted acrylic............ I Really don't want to go there however.

Thanks in advance,

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Bilge Rat
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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by Bilge Rat » Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:08 pm

Have you tried lighting it up? Although the glass may look blue, it might look the correct color when illuminated. Incandescent bulbs are quite yellow when operating.

yellow + blue = green
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:27 pm

Not yet BR........ I will as soon as I get it. I thought of that myself but I guess I am wondering what the game warden would think if he saw it during the day and it was clearly blue to him...........

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Bilge Rat
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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by Bilge Rat » Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:37 pm

If the warden is wearing polarized sun glasses, maybe he won't notice. 8)
1966 Lyman Cruisette 25 foot "Serenity Now!"
1953 Chris Craft Sportsman 22 foot "Summerwind"

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Wed Aug 10, 2016 2:52 pm

Not with my luck BR.............

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tkhersom
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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by tkhersom » Wed Aug 10, 2016 3:35 pm

Up here the wardens tend to leave wood boats alone because they don't want to be accused of scratching them when they come along side to check things out.

Besides, if your warden is concerned about a blue light vs green there ain't much going on in your area is there. :lol:
Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Wed Aug 10, 2016 5:40 pm

Ha ha. I'm one of those guys who attracts bad luck. I may go with the blue until they stop me. Some day a green one will show up. I thought o found one today on eBay NOS but he had just sold the last one.

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by tkhersom » Wed Aug 10, 2016 5:47 pm

Have you checked with Jim Staib?
http://www.finewoodboats.com
Troy in ANE - Former President CCABC

1957 CC 21' Continental "Yorktown" (Mom's boat)
https://www.chris-craft.org/boats/22625/
1985 Formula 242LS "Gottago"
1991 Formula 36PC "Band Aids"

Life Is Too Short To Own An Ugly Boat

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:58 pm

No but he doesn't see this string I will. Thanks.

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by drrot » Thu Aug 11, 2016 7:43 am

Bilge Rat wrote:Have you tried lighting it up? Although the glass may look blue, it might look the correct color when illuminated. Incandescent bulbs are quite yellow when operating.

yellow + blue = green
The lens started out as green and the UV rays leeched the yellow out of it turning it blue. A common occurrence. Post a photo of the light.
Jim Staib
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1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:05 am

I will Jim...... It's in transit to me right now.

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by bflaherty » Thu Aug 11, 2016 6:35 pm

It has been my experience that with any interaction with the warden it is best to leave one obvious "issue" for them to find easily otherwise they will spend more time thoroughly searching for an "issue" just to make it worth their time of stopping you...

For me it's always been easy cause the marine sheriff stops me at least once a year to question our registration numbers... Most boats in Washington state have numbers in the form WN-####-?? However our boat was originally registered in Pierce County in 1969 and got WN-91-CT... They always accuse me of forgetting two digits
Brian Flaherty
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"You'll never discover great lands, with your feet planted in the sand"

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Thu Aug 11, 2016 6:55 pm

Good point Brian........ kind of like leaving a bread crumb for an auditor so they won't spend as much time digging for the more egregious stuff............

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Thu Aug 11, 2016 7:08 pm

I pretty much consider it a challenge at this point.......... I have already researched the process and materials I would need to cast and pour an exact copy in green. Knowing me, I'll spend more fabricating the lens than I did on the light itself.

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Fri Aug 12, 2016 1:37 pm

[/attachment]
bow light 004.JPG
Just came in the mail. DEFINATELY Blue and evidently never on a boat before. He even sent a replacement lens, but also blue. This was a great find for $90...... essentially NOS without the box.

What do you think?
Attachments
bow light 003.JPG
bow light 006.JPG
bow light 002.JPG
bow light 005.JPG

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:51 am

I was sitting around last night about 10PM and decided to email the GA Parks and Wildlife division through their website about the lens color. I told them this was a vintage boat and the bow light was the type and color used during that time period.

Surprisingly I got an answer back about 11 PM. How's that for customer service? As expected he said it needs to be green, not blue. He suggested I try to paint it thinly so as to allow the light to project the required distance.

I have the molding/casting supplies on order to reproduce the lens with the required transparent green tint in otherwise clear acrylic with UV protectors. I'll retain the mold in case anyone else is in search of a green lens. Who knows, I may become the next Forest Gump in the bow light replacement lens business............. :mrgreen:

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Wed Aug 17, 2016 8:33 am

OK, I got another more formal response from the GA Dept of Wildlife:

"The light emitted must be green for legal use.

Reading unverified information online, many have suggested that older heavy duty bulbs from the 50's put out a yellowish cast, and that seen through a blue lens, the blow light emitted a green color. And perhaps some bow lights were manufactured with a blue lens for use with these heavier duty yellow-cast bulbs. Some writers suggest a quick fix for older bow lights with blue lens using modern white bulbs is to apply yellow "lens tape" to the inside of the blue lens so that it will emit green, or to use yellow bulbs. We have not verified any of this information, but may be something that you could test to see if it would allow your light with a blue lens to emit a legal green color."

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jim g » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:24 am

Get a yellow turn signal bulb and use it in the bow light.

Yellow and blue make green

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Doug P
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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by Doug P » Sun Aug 21, 2016 11:40 am

don't go out after dark

jbyers
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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Sun Aug 21, 2016 2:23 pm

You guys are too pragmatic.......... :lol:

I'd rather beat my head on the wall......... I'll figure a way to reproduce it if it bankrupts me. :mrgreen:

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Doug P
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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by Doug P » Sun Aug 21, 2016 2:37 pm

It's cheaper to look for a complete light on ebay similar to what you have. The lights are more plentiful than the lenses

For example http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-PERKO-B ... 2207412328


The guy ran backwards all the time :lol:

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Sun Aug 21, 2016 6:36 pm

I know Doug, but this is an NOS in mint condition. I've searched and there are very few of these around...... none in this condition. I even searched for a beat up one with a green lens I could use, but to no avail.

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Doug P
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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by Doug P » Sun Aug 21, 2016 6:42 pm

What I should have emphasized....many Atwood lenses are the same. Buy the light, remove lenses, trash the purchased light.

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jim g » Sun Aug 21, 2016 6:58 pm

The light you bought came new with a blue lens and a yellow light bulb.

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:06 pm

I've been looking for those too Doug..... believe me, I can see that lens shape in my dreams......... :D

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:06 pm

I agree Jim....... I'm just too hard headed for my own good..........

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by Greg Wallace » Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:48 am

I believe these were blue to start with. Try a yellow/amber bulb or paint half of a white one.

In the end I would be willing to bet the cost of your first "warning" that no one in authority will give a rat's a-- .

Your best excuse is that the equipment is original. (I don't think this style light is original to your boat, however.)

If you would like to post the dimensions and curve of the lens I will check my stash for a NOS replacement.
Greg Wallace 23 Custom 22166 former Chris-Craft dealer Russells Point, Oh.

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:24 am

Thanks Greg..... you are right that this style light is not correct for my boat. It is however from the time period that my boat is from. I just thought it looked good and the price was right considering the condition. I am attaching a link to the eBay add for the red lens and it shows the dimensions. If you can find a green one I would be Eternally greatful.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201642786042?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

Thanks again,

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Sun Sep 04, 2016 7:24 pm

OK, here is the mold I just made. Pretty much flawless in the details of the lens. Next step is to tint some UV resistant acrylic with green die and hope it casts out without any major bubbles in the mold. Wish me luck...........
Attachments
IMG_1935.JPG
IMG_1932.JPG
IMG_1931.JPG

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Re: In search of a replacement bow light lens/ Attwood 9000-

Post by jbyers » Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:13 am

OK, here is the good news, bad news. Good news is after two tries to make a rubber mold, I finally succeeded and the casted acrylic lens looks great. Bad news as you can see is that I mixed too much green tint into the acrylic and somehow in the mixture of the two part epoxy acrylic mixing it tuned BLUE............. which is NOT what I wanted obviously.

Oh well........... hopefully the next mixture will be a success.
Attachments
IMG_1937 (1).JPG

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