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I'm trying to finish up my masthead VHF install on my 2001 X. The cable run down the mast was no problem but I've run into some bumps trying to get a cable through the boat.

My plan was to run the cable from by the compression post and fish the cable through the port side above the galley. There's a channel there where the jib block tracks are through bolted that seemed to be a good place to run the cable.

I tried a magnet and string/washers first but my magnet isn't strong enough to move it. So then I tried an electricians fish tape but it's getting jammed up. There seems to be several places where resin has the whole channel sealed off so the fish tape won't push through.

For those of you that have run masthead antenna installations did you run into this? How did you make your run? Is there enough room in the overhead liner to slide the cable without having to go through that channel?

I suppose my next plan is to get a stronger magnet and try going overhead. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Digging through the archives. For future searchers this post on cable routes is a bit helpful.

I had to run some cables above the rear berth and monkeyed around for hours. Tried with a soft copper electrical cable first, but never got through The thing that worked in the end was a flexible steel cable (must have been an old clutch cable, or a bike brake cable without the casing.) It snaked around all right, but at some point it showed through the hole I drilled so I could fish it out with a hook. I plugged up the holes with white plastic caps from Menard's--they are smaller than the stock Mac caps, but then again,I drilled the holes accordingly.
Distance between holes--between one foot and two

Well, I got the strongest magnet I could find at Lowe's. We'll see if it works any better. Between it and the info I found in the archives maybe I can make it work now. And of course I'm going to go mess with it in the heat of the day.

Hart-
Have you tried using George Carlin's "Seven Magic Words"?

Yeah, I've been liberally applying Carlin's lube. Taking a break now. I've got string run about 1/3 of the way I guess, from the fuse panel to near the galley sink. Apparently that was the easy part. I'm about to start applying some Fat Tire and see if that loosens things up some.

The magnet is working but my 5/16 washers were too big. I found some smaller ones in the junk drawer and they're working better.

Man it's hot. I've got a box fan pulling air out of the fore hatch with a decent breeze coming in the companionway.

Listening to the fisherman chat on the portable VHF is a nice diversion. Apparently they're having a fair amount of luck with gar today.

Now I'm just ill. I had it. The combination of a small washer and dental floss worked like a charm. I then tied some mason's twine to the dental floss and slide it through figuring the floss wasn't strong enough to pull cable. Then I attached the coax to the mason's twine and... the twine snapped up in the liner somewhere. I guess some fiberglass cut it. So now I get to do it all over again tomorrow.

hart,ive run cables along the same channells on my 2001x,i found that a wire coat hanger straightened out did a better job than the magnets or electricians snake,i also dropped the cable down to the port side just above the galley once you get it down there you can run it by easing back the upper part of the boat,you will find that there are cables there,run by Macgregor then when you just drop the hanger down and tape the end of the coax and pull it up to the fuse board are

I've hit my boiling point and gone past it. I've got coax run from the compression post to over the galley. I've got string run from the fuse box to within about 6 inches of the cable. I can get string through to the coax, a coat hanger, and even my fish tape but the coax wont go through. Every time I try either the string breaks or the cable tears loose from the wire or fishtape. So looking for another route I've broken a dozen pieces of string, lost a few washers in the liner and broke the end of my fish tape off. Now there's a nasty thunderstorm overhead. To hull with it. I've had enough for now.

Now that you've had enough, my system might sound attractive. I also looked at the idea of a thru-deck fitting at the mast base then went below to see how it would be routed. After scoping it all out I decided it would require too much cable length, too many twists and turns, and far more work and patience than I was willing to put out. So I just ran it down the mast, out a hole at the bottom side, over to the port cabin top slide rail, along the rail with little clips, then through that little gap in the top corner of the companionway hatch and lid, into the cabin where my VHF is installed right below the port winch. I used several feet less of cable, no thru-deck fittings that cause signal loss and no heated temper. There is only one down side to this. Make a note to yourself to remember to dis-connect the radio when taking the mast down for trailering and coil up the cable and then re-connect after mast up. You have to do this with a thru hull anyway. I have velcro clips I use on the cabin top to keep the cable in place and I find this method to be pretty simple and uncomplicated. No tantrums, no swearing, no hollering, just satisfaction from keeping it simple.
Oh yea, one more thing, I have one un-interupted continuous length from the antenna to the radio with minimal curves, no 90 degree bends. The antenna is in the center of the mast cap with the cable running straight down from it, I believe it is about 42' LOA. (30' M mast)

Hart-
Just a thought...
Consider running the coax along the path of the factory routed lampcord for the mast lights. From the compression post down to the bilge, under the galley, and then back up to the fuse panel. Another idea, which I'm considering when I get to the task of rewiring the boat, is to relocate the fuse panel closer to the battery, simplifying some of the routing challenges.

That's an interesting idea and I may try it if this doesn't work. I've now got a 5/16" rope run where I need the coax to go. The cable fits everywhere except for this one small spot (maybe an inch long but very narrow). Actually, I think the cable will fit, but the rope and the cable attached to each other do not. I bought a different snake tonight I'm going to try working through that one spot.

I haven't paid that much attention to the bilge area yet but I've got lamp cord galore in the liner just above the galley. I just assumed some of that was my mast light wires.

Terry, thanks for your thoughts. If I hadn't already made my thru hull I'd give it much more consideration.

I may have to relocate the electrical panel this fall anyway. I have a 97X and while making the front berth up, the admiral became 're-aquainted' with the fuse buttons.

I had same problem getting coax cable through that channel. Cable was white so I routed it on outside of the channel. Think I used a couple of small cable clamps to keep it close to the channel.

I've managed to run several wires in that roof channel, including a coax. And yes, the big problem is getting round the deck reinforcing rib halfway along. I ended up drilling another access hole into the liner in the side of the section that covers the rib, which I then closed with a white plug.

I had to work it in sections by taking out various plugs to get a strong leader cord through, but I was then able to pull several cables.

For the deck connector I got one of these. Not cheap, but in the end not much more than multiple connectors and much easier to install. It replaces the original 2-pin, and carries VHF, plus steaming light, deck light, wind transducer, and some over for anything else I might want.

Well I finally got it this morning. Not sure what worked exactly. I used the new snake with a flat head on it and ran it back and forth several times, then I took my 5/16 line and used it as sandpaper more or less running it back and forth through the slot. Then, instead of tying or taping the line to the cable side by side I stretched the cable jacket a bit and used an awl to insert the line inside the cable jacket. Then I used my wrapping twine to lash it all together tightly (like how you whip the end of a rope only it was over the splice). That created a nice smooth taper. It was tight but that got me past that reinforcing spline before my lashing gave out and I was able to pull it the rest of the way by hand.