Pop rivets in the mast

[Mike Thompson]

My CD28 has a clanging mast and am considering putting
the electrical wires inside a PVC conduit rivetted
inside the mast. I would follow the procedure described
in "This Old Boat" by Don Casey.

a) Has anyone done this?
b) How much should the rivets protrude into the conduit
and will the electrical wire chafe against them?
c) What size rivets to buy? 5/32 diameter?
d) If the thickness of the mast plus conduit wall is
(say) 3/8 inch should I then buy a "5/32 x 3/8" rivet?
e) Should the rivets be aluminum?

Mike
"Haven"



tmike@ma.ultranet.com

[Bob Marsh]

If you dont have halyards in the mast you might try a suggestion I got from an electrical guy at my marina. Wrap the wires with three long plastic electrical ties placed together every couple of feet and leave the tails sticking out 120 degrees apart. When you pull the wires back into the mast the tails act as spacers and prevent the wires from moving.

I did it on my C22 and it worked great.

My CD28 has a clanging mast and am considering putting
the electrical wires inside a PVC conduit rivetted
inside the mast. I would follow the procedure described
in "This Old Boat" by Don Casey.

a) Has anyone done this?
b) How much should the rivets protrude into the conduit
and will the electrical wire chafe against them?
c) What size rivets to buy? 5/32 diameter?
d) If the thickness of the mast plus conduit wall is
(say) 3/8 inch should I then buy a "5/32 x 3/8" rivet?
e) Should the rivets be aluminum?

Mike
"Haven"

bbbob@gte.net

[Jack Schuhmacher]

My CD28 has a clanging mast and am considering putting
the electrical wires inside a PVC conduit rivetted
inside the mast. I would follow the procedure described
in "This Old Boat" by Don Casey.

I just rewired my mast on my 28 also. Instead of drilling holes in the mast I bought the internal slides from Rig Rite, I double zip tied the slides to the new coax and electrical wires every 3 feet. I also used heat srink tubing to hold the coax and wire toghether and to prevent chafe . Heat srink is available at elecrical supply houses for about $1.50 for 4 foot lengths, they also have better grommits than the marine stores.



jschuh@wt.net

[Bob Luby]

I did it on my 25D and it worked fine. I don't know exactly what Casey's procedure was, but mine worked.

Procedure- get enough PVC pipe in sections that are as long as possible i.e 2x12 ft not 3x8 ft. I used 3/4 " PVC. Don't glue it yet. Position the mast so that the long axis of the cross section is vertical, front side of mast down. (IMPORTANT)

Drive the pipes through the mast. they will naturally rest against the front. You will drive past, and push out, the styrofoam blocks
CD used to position the wires.

When the pipes are through, position masthead end of pipe about 6 inches from the end of the mast. Tamp the pipes together ( remember you have a joint in the middle.) Mark the spot where the steaming /deck light wires will come out. Mark where the lower end of the pipe will be cut off - 4 in from the end of the mast.

Take the whole thing from the mast, make the cuts in the pipe I've mentioned.. Drill holes ( for the rivets )in the mast every 8 inches, or whatever Casey says, along the line that runs along the front of the mast. Run your messenger lines through the pipes. Make sure to run one through the hole for the steaming/deck light.

put the pipes together, and push them through the mast, glue the joint, and position the deck light cutout. Now drill holes in the pvc pipe through the pre-existing holes in the mast and put in the pop rivets. Drill your first hole in the pipe nearest one end, and install a rivet as a test. Then look at the resulting attachment. If you don't like it, drill out the rivet and use another size

Pull your wires through, ( run a few extra, and /or a messenger line ) and you're done.

Lead the wires out the side above the pipe end so you have a drip loop, and you're done.



Rluby@aol.com

[sloopjohnl]

works great every time! if you have lots of wire or heavy wire consider using up to five wire ties for even more rigidity (sp?). why drill all those holes in the mast when this is so cheap and easy.

[sloopjohnl]

works great every time! if you have lots of wire or heavy wire consider using up to five wire ties for even more rigidity (sp?). why drill all those holes in the mast when this is so cheap and easy.

[Jack Schuhmacher]

Afther thinking about this for a few days I have come up with this possible solution. While I was working on my mast, a couple was working on the mast of thier Tayana 42 and I noticed the layout of the inside of thier mast and I think it would work for CD owners. Due to the layout of the internal slides in CD masts one could take electical conduit (about 1/2 as thin as sced.40 pvc and comes in 20 ft. sections) and cut it lengthwise to split it. At this point you could pry it apart enough to run an edge down each slide in the mast. Due to the shape of the track and the pvc section fasteners would not be needed and it would be very secure. See link for mast cross section.
Jack




jschuh@wt.net