Re-Working the mast ??'s

[Bill]

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody



willie@clnk.com

[Lee H. Hodsdon]

Bill,

Last winter I was pondering the mast head wire dilema as well. When I removed the teak cover just forward of the mast to check the wires and I recall seeing the following:

1. With a wire snake, or a stiff piece of wire I think you can get from this access hole to either side of the cabin above the ash ceiling (sp?) and then easily aft to the breaker panel. I think the originals are bedded and would not move.

2. My radio antenna is run to the top of the mast, and follows this same route. I am not familiar of the size designation of the wire, but I'm guessing the diameter to be ~5/16".

3. Please let me know what halyard plate you are planning to use. I installed turning blocks on the mast, at its base for the halyards, and I can see the advantage of a plate for additional control lines. I'd like to run both reefing lines and the cunningham aft to the cockpit as well, and with the turning blocks on the mast I can see where things could get a little crowded.

Finally, I have access to a digital camera and if I can remember I'll take it home tonight, take photos of what I have, (and photos of my dodger that I promised to someone long, long ago!) and send them to you.

Sincerely,

Lee

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com

[Duncan Maio]

Hi to all


on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires.

Bill:

My CD27 wiring harness has only three wires running to the mast - bow light, anchor light, and a common ground. No reason you can't do the same (the mast has a 4-conductor cable; I worked the splice at the connector at the base of the mast).

Remedy has a through-deck compression fitting for the power cable, with a round 4-pin connector at the bottom of the mast, and a deck-mounted coax connector for the antenna.

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

dmaio@att.net

[john churchill]

i assume that it is like my cd26 (same rig exactly) with a steaming light, a foredeck light and a ground. i have the same problem and solved it with a hanging type anchor light. my wires lead thru the deck via a unsightly glob of silicone. i can't believe this was the factory's way to do it. does anyone know what was original equipment?

[Bill]

The is the exact same rig that my boat has. To include the silicone! I found that to be quite unacceptable as well, but believe that my boat is as it came from the factory with no upgrades etc... at all.
I too may well go to the anchor lamp!!!


Bill

i assume that it is like my cd26 (same rig exactly) with a steaming light, a foredeck light and a ground. i have the same problem and solved it with a hanging type anchor light. my wires lead thru the deck via a unsightly glob of silicone. i can't believe this was the factory's way to do it. does anyone know what was original equipment?

willie@clnk.com

[Bill]

Thanks for the response Lee.

And yes it was I, who was promised the dodger photos. PLEASE DO SEND THEM BUT NOT TO THIS ADDRESS!!!! USE williams@health.state.ok.us My computer at the house is an antique and probably will lock up tring to upload the pics.

I agree that the orginial (sp) wiring is glassed to the liner or coach top. I think it is required by ABYC (if that is the correct abbreviation). I think the good old standby oil lamp is going to be used instead of rewiring the entire mast.

My antenna coax on my Catalina 27 (which I installed) was RG-8U (about 1/2" in dia). That is what West Marine recommended for the lenght of run (about 60'). Hidden in the little "compartment" in front of the mast compression post is a small coil of RG-58U that runs back to the breaker panel where there is another coil (6' maybe). I asked the previous owner if he had installed it and he said no. And since he supposedily the orginial owner I dont know where it came from except the factory (or he lying. That brings up another interesting question. What size coax should one use. If Cape Dory installed RE-58U and it will do the job, it is one heck of alot cheaper that RG-8U!!!!!!!! I'll Check that out with the CCDOA. Thanks again,

Bill
S/V Rhapsody



willie@clnk.com

[D. Van Winkle]

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

Bill,
The previous owner of my 25D added an anchor light by mounting a flat piece of stanless to the rear of the mast head as a platform for the light. Wire was dropped down the mast to an exit hole on the stbd side at the base. To turn the light on at night, I run a wire from a cigarette lighter type outlet near the breaker panel in the cabin. Currently connection is made by simply twisting the wires together at the mast. A better way would be to add a type of plug or socket there for a more permanent look. When not in use the "extension wire" with
male cigarette lighter plug is coiled up and kept in the tub behind the companionway ladder. Hanging lights are often used but are not strickly legal. Most catalog discriptions hedge and don't really call them anchor lights. I also find the cigarette lighter outlet to be perfect to plug in my Garman 45XL handheld GPS, my Loran and searhlight as needed. I highly recommend one or more of these outlets.

Has anyone had to replace a switch on the breaker panel. The switch for my steaming light appears to be bad. Anyone know a replacement source?

Dan VanWinkle CD25D #69 Bali Ha'i



vanwinkled@pt.cyanamid.com

[Bill]

Dan

I too have a cigarette lighter plug mounted just under the breaker panel. I have thought of just such a rig as you described but have yet to decide.

Thanks for your comments

Bill

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

Bill,
The previous owner of my 25D added an anchor light by mounting a flat piece of stanless to the rear of the mast head as a platform for the light. Wire was dropped down the mast to an exit hole on the stbd side at the base. To turn the light on at night, I run a wire from a cigarette lighter type outlet near the breaker panel in the cabin. Currently connection is made by simply twisting the wires together at the mast. A better way would be to add a type of plug or socket there for a more permanent look. When not in use the "extension wire" with
male cigarette lighter plug is coiled up and kept in the tub behind the companionway ladder. Hanging lights are often used but are not strickly legal. Most catalog discriptions hedge and don't really call them anchor lights. I also find the cigarette lighter outlet to be perfect to plug in my Garman 45XL handheld GPS, my Loran and searhlight as needed. I highly recommend one or more of these outlets.

Has anyone had to replace a switch on the breaker panel. The switch for my steaming light appears to be bad. Anyone know a replacement source?

Dan VanWinkle CD25D #69 Bali Ha'i

willie@clnk.com

[Dan VanWinkle]

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

Bill,

The former owner of my 25D added an anchor light by mounting a flat piece of stainless extending out over the back of the mast head. He mounted the anchor light to this and ran the wires down the inside of the mast. They exit at the base on the stbd side. I activate the light by running a wires from a cigarette lighter type plug near the breaker panel in the cabin. Have been just twisting wires together at the mast to make the connection but a plug of some kind would be better. The cord with male part of cigarette plug is just coiled and kept in the tub behind the companionway ladder. I also use this outlet to run my Garmin 45XL handheld GPS, loran and spotlight.

Has anyone had to replace an switch on the breaker panel? The one for my steaming light seems to be bad. Wondering if there is a source for these. DVW CD25D #69 Bali Ha'i



vanwinkled@pt.cyanamid.com

[Russ Campbell]

Bill, West Marine sells several varieties of watertite elecrtical connectors including one from Aqua Signal for going through the deck.
I have seen these in use and they are nice ( no glob of silicone or sikaflex ) but they are expensive ( $26 ).
I have always favored my anchor light on top of my mast. You can always run a wire down the mast and out at the base into your new plug. Then all you need do is throw a switch on your panel. One of these days I'll get around to designing a photo cell to turn it off at dawn. Good Luck
Russ

Dan

I too have a cigarette lighter plug mounted just under the breaker panel. I have thought of just such a rig as you described but have yet to decide.

Thanks for your comments

Bill

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

Bill,
The previous owner of my 25D added an anchor light by mounting a flat piece of stanless to the rear of the mast head as a platform for the light. Wire was dropped down the mast to an exit hole on the stbd side at the base. To turn the light on at night, I run a wire from a cigarette lighter type outlet near the breaker panel in the cabin. Currently connection is made by simply twisting the wires together at the mast. A better way would be to add a type of plug or socket there for a more permanent look. When not in use the "extension wire" with
male cigarette lighter plug is coiled up and kept in the tub behind the companionway ladder. Hanging lights are often used but are not strickly legal. Most catalog discriptions hedge and don't really call them anchor lights. I also find the cigarette lighter outlet to be perfect to plug in my Garman 45XL handheld GPS, my Loran and searhlight as needed. I highly recommend one or more of these outlets.

Has anyone had to replace a switch on the breaker panel. The switch for my steaming light appears to be bad. Anyone know a replacement source?

Dan VanWinkle CD25D #69 Bali Ha'i

camroll@together.net

[Bruce Barber]

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

Bill,

I did this on my 25D last year. I saw no way to follow the original wire path above the headliner (or even to remove the old wires,) so I ran new wiring from a new overhead terminal block a



bbarber38@aol.com

[Lee H. Hodsdon]

OUCH!

Oh well, at least I identified one of my previous indescresions!

First, photos of dodger, winches and wiring are on the way.

The antenna wire on my 25D is Belden 8240, RG-58/U. I've had no problems with transmission or reception, but I can not comment on signal strength. In one of the photos you will see I could move the belden cable about 4 to 6 inches, bit I've not attempted to snake a wire yet.

Regarding the anchor light location, there is a school which promotes locating the anchor light 6 to 8 feet up the forestay. The reason is one of visibility. While a light at the top of the mast is certainly visible from a greater distance, it can be confused with a star, while a yellowish light just above the bow is obviously an anchor light. This certainly makes sense, makes the wiring much easier and we get to an oil or battery powered light. I know from experience the lower light is much more visible. Hopefully this will generate some discussion.

Sincerely,

Lee H. Hodsdon

Thanks for the response Lee.

And yes it was I, who was promised the dodger photos. PLEASE DO SEND THEM BUT NOT TO THIS ADDRESS!!!! USE williams@health.state.ok.us My computer at the house is an antique and probably will lock up tring to upload the pics.

I agree that the orginial (sp) wiring is glassed to the liner or coach top. I think it is required by ABYC (if that is the correct abbreviation). I think the good old standby oil lamp is going to be used instead of rewiring the entire mast.

My antenna coax on my Catalina 27 (which I installed) was RG-8U (about 1/2" in dia). That is what West Marine recommended for the lenght of run (about 60'). Hidden in the little "compartment" in front of the mast compression post is a small coil of RG-58U that runs back to the breaker panel where there is another coil (6' maybe). I asked the previous owner if he had installed it and he said no. And since he supposedily the orginial owner I dont know where it came from except the factory (or he lying. That brings up another interesting question. What size coax should one use. If Cape Dory installed RE-58U and it will do the job, it is one heck of alot cheaper that RG-8U!!!!!!!! I'll Check that out with the CCDOA. Thanks again,

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com

[Jim Parmentier]

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

Bill,

While you are replacing the wiring, and once you are done with your work, you might consider sliding a this tube of foam insulation over the wires. It will eliminate the incessant clanking of the wiring and aid greatly in your sleep habits. Such insulation is available in 8 or 10' lengths at Home Depot.

Jim




Jellicoe@aol.com

[Bill]

Jim

I installed 1 1/2" pvc pipe the length of the mast on my old C27. All wires, coax, and a haul line for future installations was run through the pvc. It worked great and was not that hard to do!

Bill

Bill,

While you are replacing the wiring, and once you are done with your work, you might consider sliding a this tube of foam insulation over the wires. It will eliminate the incessant clanking of the wiring and aid greatly in your sleep habits. Such insulation is available in 8 or 10' lengths at Home Depot.

Jim

cd25d@yahoo.com

[Jon Larson]

A friend of mine with a CD25D lashed the wiring in his mast to sail slides bought to fit the slot on the inside of the mast and then slid the wiring on the sail slides up into the slot and into the mast.

Jon Larson

Hi to all

Sometime before Thanksgiving, I hope to lower my mast and do some re-working of the wiring, add a masthead antenna, add an masthead anchor light, and add a halyard plate below the mast shoe.

I have re-wired and added antenna before and know how I want to do that part, but on the 25D there is no anchor light and thus the wiring harness in the mast has only three wires. How can I conceal (sp) the wiring in the cabin? Can the new four strand harness be pulled between the liner and the coach top? Also, how on earth can I conceal (sp) the antenna coax (RG-8U I think, the big stuff)? Does anyone have any suggestions regarding what type of deck fitting to use to pass the wiring harness and coax below decks?

Thanks in advance and fair winds and following seas.

Bill
S/V Rhapsody

Bill,

While you are replacing the wiring, and once you are done with your work, you might consider sliding a this tube of foam insulation over the wires. It will eliminate the incessant clanking of the wiring and aid greatly in your sleep habits. Such insulation is available in 8 or 10' lengths at Home Depot.

Jim

jon9@ix.netcom.com