Question on Mast base/attachment

[Stuart]

Hey all,

In the process of refitting my CD-25 "Yankee Cowboy" I swore last summer that I was going to devise a better system for the mast light(s) wires and vhf coax wire that comes out of the mast base and goes into the mast on the bottom at the mast "insert".

My question is this: the two round "nuts" that are about 1/2' in length get in the way of my mast wires and crush them when I step the mast. Can I replace these heavy big nuts with smaller nylon lock-nuts and large washers?? Or is the load too heavy for these smaller nuts?

Any suggestions on routing mast/vhf wires for an easy corrosion free hook-up?

Any input welcomed.

Stuart



st1975@yahoo.com

[Jerry]

Any suggestions on routing mast/vhf wires for an easy corrosion free hook-up?

I don't know about the CD25 but on the CD30, I have a dorade very close to the mast base. I drilled a hole through the side of the dorade and routed all the mast wires out the side of the mast, through the side of the dorade and below decks where I make the connections. This way I keep all electrical connections out of the elements and corrosion free.

[Leo MacDonald]

Jerry,

Outstanding idea - I like it.
Understand the fittings made below in the head and not in the dorade box (??)

Fair Winds,
Leo



macdore@aol.com

[Warren Kaplan]

Any suggestions on routing mast/vhf wires for an easy corrosion free hook-up?

I don't know about the CD25 but on the CD30, I have a dorade very close to the mast base. I drilled a hole through the side of the dorade and routed all the mast wires out the side of the mast, through the side of the dorade and below decks where I make the connections. This way I keep all electrical connections out of the elements and corrosion free.

Jerry,
Not a bad idea at all! And exactly what I'm looking for since I'm replacing corroded electrical plugs to the mast wiring. One question as to the size of the hole in the dorade box. With the plugs down below inside the boat I would assume that when the mast is unstepped (for the winter) those plugs have to be totally removed from the wires going to the mast. If not, the plug would not fit through the hole in the dorade box you made for the wires...unless of course you drilled a hole a little larger than the diameter of the plug. Rather a large hole and I suspect not what you are talking about. Comments?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27



Setsail728@aol.com

[Bill]

Hello Stuart

I cannot answer your question about the "nuts" you mentioned and if I understand you correctly your wiring goes through the mast base and cabin top. On board Rhapsody the wiring exited the mast on the port side about 4 inches up and through the cabin top in a drilled hole that was siliconed (sp). It was a pain to keep the wiring pluged in and so I decided to re-do every thing.

Check out the link below. Now all connections are in the cabin and at least to me it looks much cleaner.

Hope this helps.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody



cd25d@rhapsodysails.com

[Greg Phillips]

Stuart, A few years ago I bought a new fitting for my mast from Dwyer Mast Company. It was the aluminum piece that is between the mast and the hinged step. I wondered about the function of the round nuts also and surmised that they provided some load bearing of the rig compression. You might contact Dwyer in N. Branford,CT for a better answer than this one. If they have one please post it. My CD25 is currently out of the water also and one of my projects is to eliminate the the wiring route from the mast step base. I'll probably do something similar to Bill's work. Good luck!! Greg Phillips CD25 Linda Lou



2mileyc@digitalexp.com

[Stuart]

Hello Stuart

I cannot answer your question about the "nuts" you mentioned and if I understand you correctly your wiring goes through the mast base and cabin top. On board Rhapsody the wiring exited the mast on the port side about 4 inches up and through the cabin top in a drilled hole that was siliconed (sp). It was a pain to keep the wiring pluged in and so I decided to re-do every thing.

Check out the link below. Now all connections are in the cabin and at least to me it looks much cleaner.

Hope this helps.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

Bill,
Thanks for the link...that is a good idea for an alternate path for the wires.

Since I don't have dorades on the boat I can't use Jerry's idea, though dorades would be a nice addition to the boat for cruising in Maine this summer.

Thanks to all who gave input. I appreciate it!

Stuart
S/V Yankee Cowboy
Camden, Maine



st1975@yahoo.com

[Kurt]

I saw similar solution on another boat...the owner installed a small thru-hull fitting with the male portion sticking up through the cabin top near the mast. He placed a hose over the fitting and ran the other end of the hose into the side of the mast..sealing it with appropriate caulk. When the mast was taken down he simply disconnected the wires from a terminal block inside the cabin and pulled the hose and wires out through the thru-hull fitting. VERY NEAT LOOKING ARRANGEMENT!



kjlgpw@aol.com

[Bill]

disconnects the wires from a terminal block inside the cabin

I was going to use a terminal block, but there was not enough room. Since I added the donut I might try again.

BIll



cd25d@rhapsodysails.com

[Jerry]

Jerry,

Outstanding idea - I like it.
Understand the fittings made below in the head and not in the dorade box (??)

Fair Winds,
Leo

Correct! I made a teak box with a removable panel that hangs on the wall of the head. All connections are inside the box for a nice clean application.

[Jerry]

Any suggestions on routing mast/vhf wires for an easy corrosion free hook-up?

I don't know about the CD25 but on the CD30, I have a dorade very close to the mast base. I drilled a hole through the side of the dorade and routed all the mast wires out the side of the mast, through the side of the dorade and below decks where I make the connections. This way I keep all electrical connections out of the elements and corrosion free.

Jerry,
Not a bad idea at all! And exactly what I'm looking for since I'm replacing corroded electrical plugs to the mast wiring. One question as to the size of the hole in the dorade box. With the plugs down below inside the boat I would assume that when the mast is unstepped (for the winter) those plugs have to be totally removed from the wires going to the mast. If not, the plug would not fit through the hole in the dorade box you made for the wires...unless of course you drilled a hole a little larger than the diameter of the plug. Rather a large hole and I suspect not what you are talking about. Comments?

Warren Kaplan
Sine Qua Non
CD27

Warren,
The size and number of holes you need to drill through the dorade depend on your wires. In my case, I needed 2 one inch diameter holes to accomodate the radar cable, VHF with plug, anemometer, and all the lights. This sounds like a lot but because the holes face the mast they are not very noticeable. The holes should be drilled up off the deck, near the top of the box to minimize any water entering the box. However, any water that does get into the box just runs back out the weep holes at the bottom of the dorade rather than down into the boat.

When I unstep the mast for the winter, I undo the connections in the head, remove the plexiglass top of the dorade, and pull the wires out.

I've had this set up for 6 years and I've been completely satisfied with it. In addition to solving the corrosion problem, this set up enabled me to seal up the holes through the coach top where the wires used to enter the boat. This solved some leak problems that had been driving me crazy.

Jerry

[Ed Haley]

I like the idea since I will be stepping/unstepping my mast several times a season when I transit canals.

Where the 1 inch holes pass through the dorade box, I wonder if a shroud tube cap would work to seal the hole and keep it fairly water tight. The hole through the plastic cap could me made the same size as the wire. The cap can be easily placed on the wire and removed since it has a radial slit from the outside to the center hole. What do you use at this wire-dorade interface?



eghaleyNOSPAM@twcny.rr.com