Running Wires to Masthead

[delevi]

I recall some here have run wiring to the masthead. How did yo do this with the foam inside the mast? I would like to install my electric windvane and an anchor light up there. Only thing I can think of is a 30 foot long wire but whre does one get something like that? Coat hangers aren't that big. Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Leon

!	kmclemore:
	Title spelling fixed.

[Scott]

Coiled plumbers tape snake or electricians fish. Sold at HD and Lowes.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Dont forget to wiretie it every foot or so, leaving the plastic ends on, to prevent the wires from chafing in the mast...

[Hamin' X]

Good topic to read:

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... 4&p=141872

~Rich

[delevi]

Rich,

Thanks for the link. Looks like Bubba's solution is a good one.

Stephen,
If i use conduit and leave it in, do I still need to securet it inside the mast? How?

Scott,
A bit more detailed please. Not familiar with that product and what to do with it. I'm a bit mechanically challenged.

Thanks,
Leon

[Kelly Hanson East]

You have to strain relief the connections on the top (fancy word for dont let 30 feet of wire hang on your connection) but the other issue is you dont want the wires slapping inside the mast. You need to stop them from tapping inside your conduit too, I think. These noises can be surprisingly loud (and annoying) in the cabin.

[delevi]

No problem securing it up top so the weight isn't on the connect, but the idea of having holes drilled every couple of feet down the mast doesn't sound good. I wonder how the wires for the factory mast light are secured.

[AKBR]

I fabricated a long bit by welding a couple lengths of emt conduit together, tack welding a forstner bit to one end and a large spike (head first) to the other. I attached a drill to the spike-shaft and drilled out the foam. You can get through the foam in a couple of minutes (not counting fabrication time) this way.

I had trouble running fish tape through the hole in the foam, so I cut the spike and the bit off the emt conduit, shoved the conduit it back in the mast, ran the fish tape through the conduit and pulled the cable, conduit, and fish tape out all at once.

I also managed to tip over the sawhorses that the mast was sitting on during the process. This resulted in bent the spreaders. I’d recommend avoiding this step.

BR

[Scott]

The above post sounds like a great idea. I wonder if you could do it with plastic conduit as well, I secrured our wires by sraying in foam wherever there was a hole in the mast.

As for fish tape it is a ribbon of spring steel, they come in varied widths and lengths. An electricians tape will prob be cheaper than a plumbers. They are narrower and dont need to be as stount.

[delevi]

Scottt,

If I was to use the plumbers, or electricians' fisch tape, would that allow me to force the wires past the foam or does it still need to be drilled out?

[Scott]

Good question. I have both and the plumbers tape is much stouter. It might work. I don't know how dense the foam is or if in fact it runs the length of the mast. Ive never seen it.

[delevi]

Sounds like a bit of a PITA project either way. Will probably wait until winter. Thanks everyone.

Leon

[egwall1]

Leon,
I think running wires up to the mast top often sounds worse than it really is. Boring through the foam by joining rods of most any kind with the end one having a point for penetrating the foam can be done, even if a bit frustrating. I used small diameter (about 1/4") rods of bamboo taped together (one end inside the next) for a starter hole. Then followed that with 1/2" diamater rods I use for my chimney cleaning brush. I started by trying the 1/2" rods, thinking the foam would be easy to penetrate, but it's pretty dense when compressed in the mast, so it got too difficult to push once I got a couple of feet in. The 1/4" size, with sharp point pushed through OK with repeated jabs, gaining a couple of inches per jab. The foam in my 2007 mast only went down from the top about half way, so the total length of the connected rods only had to be about 15'-16' long. Then, the wire pulling tape (like in Scott's picture) was easy. The 1/2" hole size worked perfectly for easily pulling through my VHF antenna cable and anchor light wires.
You were concerned about drilling your mast, but you don't drill the mast to accomodate the wire ties that were mentioned for keeping the wires from banging around inside the mast. You cinch the electric wire(s) you are running every couple of feet with a wire tie, leaving the long tail of the tie attached (not trimmed nicely as in normal wiring projects) and stuff that all into the mast. The stiffness of the tail pushes against the inner mast wall, more or less holding the wire bundle in place. At least it doesn't allow the wire to flail around willy-nilly in there, causing the incessant clanking.

[delevi]

Thanks Egwall. I will probably do a November haul-out and begin the project. I figure the wire inside the foam won't bang around. I may wrap the lower half of the wires in piping insulation. BTW. I see you're in Napa. Where do you usually sail?

Leon

[Terry]

Rich,

Thanks for the link. Looks like Bubba's solution is a good one.
Yes it is a good solution, I used it with great success!
Stephen,
If i use conduit and leave it in, do I still need to securet it inside the mast? How?

Thanks,
Leon

The conduit can be left in the mast and is held fast in place by the foam sections surrounding it.
When running the wires down the mast add a 35' length of fishing line with it so that if you wish to add another wire at a later date you can just tie it onto the end of the fishing line and pull it through.