Drilling mast question

[Bluecrab]

I am planning on adding the golf ball size LED spreader lights. I'd be drilling a small hole in the front of the mast above the spreaders for wires. Too much hardware in the way below the spreaders. While doing a search (drilling hole mast), in the 5 pages of post I found, the only thing mentioned was some one who was installing a rail to the mast for a whisker pole.

What I would like to know if there are any do's and don'ts for drilling the mast such as max hole size or bad locations. I have to admit I do not like drilling holes in boats, hulls or masts.

Thanks, I'll be ready for the water soon.

Wally

[bubba]

I just put spreader lights on last week and I put a 3/8 hole just above the spreaders. I ran into some foam in the mast for about a foot and I used a wire coat hanger to poke out a hole so I could run a stiff wire down the hole and to the bottom end of the mast to pull up the electrial wire. You may want to control your drill bit not to go too deep and cut other wires. Good luck

[Highlander]

Just make sure that any holes are not to close to or inline with the spreader / hound 3/8 mounting bolt hole I'd go 4"-6" above or below

J

[Divecoz]

I did pretty much as has been described. I did insert a rubber grommet into the hole to protect the wires BTW..
Unless You have installed and Anchor light there should be no conflicting wires at that point. I need yet to install something to stop the Anchor light wires from rattleing/ tapping, inside the mast when I am at anchor or in my slip ...for me that tapping can be irritating when trying to sleep.

[Kelly Hanson East]

One of my sailing buddies from the UK sent me a post of someone who swiss cheesed his mast - leading to failure.

its a good picture to have in your mind before you start drilling anything...

[Divecoz]

One of my sailing buddies from the UK sent me a post of someone who swiss cheesed his mast - leading to failure.

its a good picture to have in your mind before you start drilling anything...

That did cross my mind as I saw a boat with LEDs that ran the entire length of the mast and I can only assume they were mounted somehow thru........ the mast... It Looked VERY COOL at night

[Bluecrab]

Thanks everyone,

You may want to control your drill bit not to go too deep and cut other wires. Good luck

There are no wires in the mast, just the messenger line I snaked up the PVC for the anchor light wires. PVC gone also. I need to make a hole large enough to hook the messenger for a second line to the spreader lights. A grommet will be used also. I am definitely one to limit the number of holes in the mast. I will need to have a second hole at the base for the anchor/spreader lights to exit to a second 4 pin connector.

I also plan on using expanding foam to reseal the holes drilled in the foam.

One note here, the "4 pin" deck connector I bought from WM looked good originally but the strain relief hole and grommet are so small I could not even get (4) 18ga wires in it let alone the 14ga I have planned.

Wally

[tangentair]

Just a few thoughts - If you switch to LEDs you can use lighter (smaller) wires. Otherwise look in some army navy surplus place for used hardware that have weather proof connectors of the size you are looking for. If you try to get them at We$$$t Marine or commercially, they will likely cost you dearly. Or if you don't mind repairing/replacing them often, you could rig up a trailer power connector though it might corrode faster than one made special for a marine environment.

[John Jessie]

A little hint when running wires through the mast to the hole you have drilled; get a piece of string or twine as long as the mast, place the string/twine in the bottom of the mast AND TIE IT OFF, and finally, place your shop vac over the hole ant turn it on. The vac will suck the string/twine up the mast and out the hole, thus giving you something to tie your wire to and pull through. I just realized you probably all know that already and I sould a tad pompous - sorry, just trying to kelp.

[tangentair]

......a tad pompous - sorry, just trying to kelp.

Oh, well you know, on this board you will have to try a lot harder to sound pompous, some of us have far more experience at it and have got it down to a science.

By the way - nice tip
Ron

[Divecoz]

A little hint when running wires through the mast to the hole you have drilled; get a piece of string or twine as long as the mast, place the string/twine in the bottom of the mast AND TIE IT OFF, and finally, place your shop vac over the hole ant turn it on. The vac will suck the string/twine up the mast and out the hole, thus giving you something to tie your wire to and pull through. I just realized you probably all know that already and I sould a tad pompous - sorry, just trying to kelp.

Wish it was that simple . But your not dumping 30 feet of string down a 1/2" conduit 25 feet long...
You wont create much suction thru a 3/8" hole . I have an attachment to allow you to blow a string and a "mouse" as well, that just doesnt work for our purposes either. From what I have seen so far its often a Fish Tape of a Piece of stiff wire, to go the full length top to bottom you'll find as I recall 3 or 4 foam blocks that you must penetrate through, so most of us have used 20 to 30 ft. 1/2" PVC conduit

[Bluecrab]

If you switch to LEDs you can use lighter (smaller) wires

You're right, LED's will be the way to go. I have a LED replacement for my Aqua Signal anchor light and plan to get replacements for the steaming and halogen deck light.

The 14 ga wire will be good in case the LED's go bad, stolen, etc. and the incandescent bulbs can still be used for backup if LED's are not available. There was another post mentioning that larger wires handle vibration and stress better. As for the spreaders they were LED's to begin with and I am using a smaller wire there.

Thanks,
Wally

[Kelly Hanson East]

Fish tape and an 11 year old assistant worked well for me. Watch out for wasp/hornet nests