Deck Electrical Connection

[Mariner69]

I have a minimal boat with no electrics. I hope to fit a LED tri-sector at the mast truck whilst the mast is down in the yard. Can anyone recommend a deck electrical joint which will allow me to separate both ends when the mast is lowered. It has to be very watertight since the yacht is a Hunter 19 with minimal freeboard. Any advice/recommendations most welcome.

 

[Skyva_2]

Most deck connectors will leak over time. Best to use a deck gland and make the cable joint below decks.

see also http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?Number=2146218

and lots of similar threads.

 

[vyv_cox]

Skysail is about 30 minutes ahead of me but I will say exactly the same thing. IMHO the Dri-plug is the only deck connection that comes anywhere near being watertight while not costing a fortune. But it is nowhere near as watertight as a deck gland and a strip of chocolate block below decks.

I have four cables in my mast. Each one passes through a separate small gland close to the mast foot, and from there into the heads, where all the connections are made. When taking the mast down it takes about 10 minutes to disconnect them and a bit longer to reconnect them when it goes back up. It might be better to use a swan neck for the job but I have the glands and they have been sealing well for the past 12 years.

 

[rogerdog]

Agree with bot above - best way is to make the connections below deck - all the deck plugs etc I have had have all needed at some time to be pulled apart cleaned regularly and in most cases replaced more then one - run cable intact through gland and than connect below decks - just remember to include a "drip loop" before the connector in case a little water follows down the outside of cable

 

[john_morris_uk]

I agree - and even then you should use a marine grade chocolate block below decks. They are available in neat little boxes with grommets for the cables to pass into and out of the box try:


something like these?

 

[Mariner69]

Gentlemen, one and all, thank you fopr your prompt and useful responses.

I shall go with the idea of either a gland or swan neck and make the connections inside.

Thank you again for your help.

 

[Poignard]

I agree with Skysail, and others. I have my mast unstepped each winter and it doesn't take long to disconnect the 3 cables. I use glands from Index Marine and they are very good.