When I bought my Typhoon Weekender, it had the remnants of nav lights, but the sockets, wiring and switch board were old. I am in the process of replacing it and rather than having wires exposed in the cabin I am trying to snake it between the liner and the hull or deck. I have been able to do this with the port and starboard lights and have run the wires to the port side settee where the switch panel will be installed just aft of the porta pot location. I haven't done the stern light but it looks to be fairly simple, the problem is the mast head light and the cabin light. The cabin light, which is probably not standard, is half way between the mast step location and the companionway. I want to install a deck plug for the steaming/anchor light and had planned to put it above the channel in the liner that runs athwartship below the mast step. This may have been one of the changes made in the Typhoon in the mid 70's to try to correct the cabin indenting problem. It appears to be solid directly below the mast but is hollow from there to the sides of the boat. My problem is getting into this channel. Has anyone tried it from the chainplate inspection hole areas and has anyone run a wire from the cabin light to this channel. My concern is that where this channel meets the side of the boat, that the space will be too small to work a wire through. Any ideas, experiences or suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you.
John
broakmar@alltel.net
Typhoon wiring
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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john
Re: Typhoon wiring
been there - done that! john, i used an electrician's fish to sort this out. i put my panel on the starboard side below the starboard portlight. i worked the fish up between the headliner and the underside of top of the cabin. it is very tight at the corner where the two meet, but if you work the fish you will find an opening. when you work the fish around it makes enough noise that it is pretty easy to tell where it is located. i put my cabinlight offcenter to the starboard side so there would be less of a tendency to bump the old noggin, this has worked out well.
for the exterior plug, i worked the fish up the staroard side in front of the mast step support brace and then worked it back along the starboard side to the panel. the gap between the headliner and the underside of the cabin in front of the maststep is very small because there is plywood there for added strength. once you think you've got the fish to the location you want for the exterior plug drill your hole from the top outside of the cabin. you should be able to then work the fish to the hole. my advice would be to attach both your wires at this time to the fish and pull them through at the same time because it could be difficult to get the fish in the same exact location twice unless you enjoy a challenge loaded with aggravation. my exterior plug is about 8 to 10" in front of the mast step. since i only use my nav lights a dozen or so times a year, i leave the steaming light unplugged except when i am going to need it. i use a Davis anchor light for anchoring. this plugs into the same exterior plug and hangs from the headstay supported by either the jib or spinnaker halyard.
the stern light is a piece of cake. i mounted mine on the starboard side 6" from the backstay. i used a teak winch pad to elevate the light a bit for more visibility. i kept it in the gelcoat area rather than on the teak wood at the very aft end.
good luck. you will reap the rewards when you take that first full moon night sail!!
sloopjohnl@aol.com
for the exterior plug, i worked the fish up the staroard side in front of the mast step support brace and then worked it back along the starboard side to the panel. the gap between the headliner and the underside of the cabin in front of the maststep is very small because there is plywood there for added strength. once you think you've got the fish to the location you want for the exterior plug drill your hole from the top outside of the cabin. you should be able to then work the fish to the hole. my advice would be to attach both your wires at this time to the fish and pull them through at the same time because it could be difficult to get the fish in the same exact location twice unless you enjoy a challenge loaded with aggravation. my exterior plug is about 8 to 10" in front of the mast step. since i only use my nav lights a dozen or so times a year, i leave the steaming light unplugged except when i am going to need it. i use a Davis anchor light for anchoring. this plugs into the same exterior plug and hangs from the headstay supported by either the jib or spinnaker halyard.
the stern light is a piece of cake. i mounted mine on the starboard side 6" from the backstay. i used a teak winch pad to elevate the light a bit for more visibility. i kept it in the gelcoat area rather than on the teak wood at the very aft end.
good luck. you will reap the rewards when you take that first full moon night sail!!
sloopjohnl@aol.com