Wiring Up an Anchor Light on the 26M

[Jimmyt]

I searched a bit and saw several threads about wiring approaches, but didn’t find a post about how to pull the wire from the steaming light location to the top of the mast.

For those who have done it; did you pull all of the flotation foam out of the mast? If not, how did you make the pull from the steaming light to the top?

I’ve concocted a fairly elaborate plan to attempt it; consisting of a fish tape, fishing line, and a shop vac. My backup plan is tying a thread around a trained carpenter ant.

But thought I’d better check the forum knowledge first. One thing I know about me is; if there’s a hard way to do something, I’ll find it.

[OverEasy]

Hi JimmyT!

While we’ve been running about in ‘Cruiser Mode’ with our Mac26X for a while now we do have the mast accessible & tied to the side of the garage. So it piqued my curiosity and I went and looked at ours.

One thought came to mind would be to utilize the “old” wire set to pull through a “new” wire replacement set. (After sitting in there for 24+ years that isn’t a bad idea to bring more and better wire into use.)

If you ever get that ant trained to pull wire could you bring her by as there are a couple other projects I’d like to have her help with!

Best Regards,
Over Easy

[Jimmyt]

One thought came to mind would be to utilize the “old” wire set to pull through a “new” wire replacement set.

If only…. My boat did not come with an anchor light, so nothing in the top of the mast but pristine styrofoam and frustration.

[NiceAft]

If I remember correctly (from reading posts), the foam is only in sections, not the full length of the mast. Some have punched a rod down from the top and inserted a PVC pipe for a space to run wires. Is the space hollow behind where the light will be? Wires from above can be run down the mast, and grabbed through the opening for the light. The other end grabbed at the base.

I never did this, but I read it.

[Be Free]

It took a while, but here's the post referenced above. I've quoted a couple of on-topic sections for any who don't want to read the whole thread.
viewtopic.php?t=9992

by Jack Sparrow » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:27 pm
The mast is filled with flotation I cut it out by using 1 1/2 plastic plumbing pipe on one end of the pipe I filed cutting teeth and the other end drilled a hole through the pipe and inserted a turning bar. Rotating the pipe and pushing it down the mast (starting at the mast head) cutting about a foot the it requires it to be removed and the core cleaned out from the centre if the pipe. The pipe then remains in the mast and the coax' is fed down the centre of it. Now to answer your question the coax cables do slap on the inside of the raceway and require attachment points down the mast raceway, this job is on my winter lay up list

Jack Sparrow

by Terry » Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:24 am
The PVC pipe with teeth cut into it works just fine, starting from the mast top you only need two 10' sections to clear the last piece of foam which is just above the running light on the mast, from there you can jiggle it the rest then grab it with a long coat hanger. Be sure to send a long peice of fishing line down there with it in case you want to add a wire later for a mast head light or something, makes it easier to pull one through with the fishing line. I left my PVC pipe in the mast to prevent any wires from slapping the internal mast although I may take them out this season, not sure it is necessary.

As I read it, you make a "drill" using some 1 1/2" PVC to get through the floatation and then leave the "drill" in place as conduit to run the new wire.

[Be Free]

When I rewired my "X" mast (no flotation) I found it easier to drill out the rivets and remove the plate at the base of the mast to make pulling the wires easier. I don't know if the "M" has a similar riveted plate.

[Jimmyt]

It took a while, but here's the post referenced above. I've quoted a couple of on-topic sections for any who don't want to read the whole thread.
viewtopic.php?t=9992

As I read it, you make a "drill" using some 1 1/2" PVC to get through the floatation and then leave the "drill" in place as conduit to run the new wire.

Thanks for this Bill! Just read the referenced thread. I saw where Russ was able to get his antenna wire down without the 20 foot conduit drill bit. I’ll take another look at what I have and see where it takes me - now that I have some additional info. I’m hoping I don’t have 20 feet of expanding foam to deal with. My boat is a 2013. It looks like Macgregor changed the mast foam approach over time.

My mast cap has self tapping screws. My mast base is removable also. But, I’m only pulling wire from the steaming light location to the top of the mast.

Ray: there is no foam at the steaming light mount.

I’ll be posting some pics as I dig into this project.

Thanks again,

Jim

[Russ]

I got lucky and was able to fishtape from the top of the mast through the foam. That's how I ran my coax for the antenna. I pulled a string for future use. Perhaps the fishtape "drilled" some space between the mast aluminum and the foam.

When I wanted to run an anchor wire from the top to the steaming light, I wish I had a trained ant. I couldn't do it. The hole for the steaming light wire was small and I couldn't figure out a system to grab the pull string through that small hole.

What I ended up doing was simply running the anchor light wire all the way down to the base using the pull string. My pull string is double the length of the mast so I can retrieve it and use it again if necessary.

At the base I joined the anchor light wire with the steaming light wire INSIDE the mast. I still have only the original steaming light wire protruding the base of the mast and 2 prong deck fitting. My anchor light is LED, however, it didn't respect polarity, so I added a diode to that fixture.

At the cabin switch panel I have a DPDT switch that reverses polarity to toggle between anchor/steaming light. Since they can't both legally be on simultaneously, this works very well.

[Jimmyt]

I got lucky and was able to fishtape from the top of the mast through the foam. That's how I ran my coax for the antenna. I pulled a string for future use. Perhaps the fishtape "drilled" some space between the mast aluminum and the foam.

When I wanted to run an anchor wire from the top to the steaming light, I wish I had a trained ant. I couldn't do it. The hole for the steaming light wire was small and I couldn't figure out a system to grab the pull string through that small hole.

Thanks, Russ. Pulling the wire out of the mast at the steaming light will be a trick for sure. I drilled another hole to make it possible, but we’ll see. It looks like marine 14/2 wire at the steaming light. That’s what I’m trying to pull for my LED anchor light. Can’t tell if there’s any strain relief on the steaming light wire, so that’s an issue I’ll have to look at. I was planning on strain relief for the anchor light wire.

After seeing your approach in the thread Bill linked, I have some hope that I can make it happen. I’ll admit that a 20 foot, homemade PVC conduit, hole saw has me puckered.

The good news is, it’s supposed to be rainy for the next two days, so I can focus on this project.

A few images











The mast base is held on by a through-bolt and a sheet metal screw.

[Be Free]

Marine 14-2? Aren't we fancy!

The "X" mast was wired with 14-2 lamp cord .

[Jimmyt]

Russ method for the win!

I pulled out a few of the flotation blocks to get past internal bolts/nuts.




Then, I tied a small steel nut on the end of my fish tape with some 200lb mono line.



Next, I shove the fish tape into the opening just left of the bolt rope track. I laid out the fish tape on the floor and straightened it as much as I could. I got the approximate length to get to the new hole. It went in easily. Then, I went fishing for the nut with my pen magnet. I had to pull the fish tape back about 18 inches to get the end above the hole before I could catch the nut. Took about three iterations.

Once I caught the nut, I discovered that my eyeballs need calibrating. The nut wouldn’t come up through the hole.

So, after I stopped laughing at my stupidity, I grabbed some thin wire and did surgery through the hole; attaching a wire loop through the nut and attaching my string to the wire loop.



Then, I pulled the fish tape out and voila; the pull string was in.



Thanks for all of the input guys! Always good hear what others have tried when you aren’t feeling a project.

My goal is to keep my mods as reversible as possible, maintaining original flotation, etc. So, I tend to overcomplicate or stall when it looks like I need to get out the big hammer.

[Russ]

Magnet and bolt. Now that's clever. I would not have thought of that idea. Very clever. If I recall, I tried to hook the string with another stiff wire. However, since the hole is so small, I couldn't see what I was grabbing. I gave up and just ran the wire all the way down.

It be honest, I didn't have good wire on hand for the anchor light, so I probably used some janky lamp cord or whatever I had laying around. I hope I didn't just jinx my setup.

Stain relief? Nope. I didn't do that either. Probably should have, but it's a short mast. I've yet to hear clanking of wires inside. And I have several (Coax Antenna, Anchor light, Celluar extender wire).

I think pushing past the sail track is method I used to fishtape past the foam. There is a small gap in there. I think Roger just stuffed foam into there best he could. There is some gap.

It's interesting you mounted your light base on the SIDE of the mast. Mine doesn't have a nice bracket like that and I screwed it into the mast cap.


So I'm a big fan of convenience and having a permanent anchor light is an easy switch to flip. One night we were sitting in the cockpit anchored in a remote cove when we heard a boat approaching. The were headed right for us. My anchor light was on. They didn't see it because, I assume, it was high up and they weren't looking or thought it was a star. I grabbed flashlight and lit up out boat and I heard "There is a boat there".

My dad always had this lantern style anchor light because he felt mast lights look like stars. He would hang the lantern off the boom or some low place. I'm thinking that experience was affirming. In the future I may keep the mast top anchor light and some other low light that people might find easier to spot.

[Russ]

Jimmy, what is this cable?

Looks like a topping lift. Also looks pretty beefy. I have similar with just a hunk of line.


Mine




Yea, I also removed all the reefing lines. I've submitted to the fact that if I have to reef, the Admiral won't be happy. So it's Iron Genny time.

[Jimmyt]

It’s my topping lift. I guess they beefed it up for my boom furler.

I have a white light at the mast arch also for the reason you discussed. Some jack a$$ on a jet ski won’t be looking 30 feet up.

[Jimmyt]

Pulling the marine 14/2 went quickly. Had the Admiral feed the wire at the top of the mast wile I pulled the string from the steaming light hole.

Attaching the pull string.







Tie a knot and use heat shrink tube over the connection to ease pulling.


With a little finessing, the wire was coaxed out through the new hole.