I think he means Netscape Communicator, which used the lighthouse icon (where the metaphor has something to do with guiding you around in the dark?); Navigator had the boat wheel icon.
You're right. I think the lighthouse was also used in some version (or theme) of the animated icon in the top right corner, which was usually a big N [1].
http://dialup.pacbell.net/images/16-4_22.gif