Deck glands or sockets?

[Tintin]

I have read various threads in praise of the Buccaneer range of deck plugs and sockets, and also some where "use a gland and join below" is the theme.

Like many I have inherited a veritable mess at the base of the mast comprising of a few of those silver / brass connectors, a buccaneer, and several glands, and as I am refitting the new boat I am thinking about tidying it up (and have a few extras to add - radar & TV)

But I cannot decide which way to go. I can see the sense of using glands and joining below (but with chock block or proper connectors?) and have been impressed with the rectangular index DR1 gland for several cables on a previous boat. I can also see the convenience of deck sockets and plugs when unstepping the mast, but the potential fragility (I have young kids) and hoping not to have to unstep mast or several years after this refit make me question this as sensible.

The gland option also appears cheaper.

So what do you / did you do when you last fitted cables through your coachroof?

 

[Gwylan]

I have read various threads in praise of the Buccaneer range of deck plugs and sockets, and also some where "use a gland and join below" is the theme.

Like many I have inherited a veritable mess at the base of the mast comprising of a few of those silver / brass connectors, a buccaneer, and several glands, and as I am refitting the new boat I am thinking about tidying it up (and have a few extras to add - radar & TV)

But I cannot decide which way to go. I can see the sense of using glands and joining below (but with chock block or proper connectors?) and have been impressed with the rectangular index DR1 gland for several cables on a previous boat. I can also see the convenience of deck sockets and plugs when unstepping the mast, but the potential fragility (I have young kids) and hoping not to have to unstep mast or several years after this refit make me question this as sensible.

The gland option also appears cheaper.

So what do you / did you do when you last fitted cables through your coachroof?

If you go for the below deck option I would recommend these - just found them and they seem to be as near perfect as it gets. Easy to use, reliable and simpler than the chocolate block route.

WAGO LEVER TERMINAL CONNECTOR - google it and see what turns up. I bought a mixed pack on ebay - best deal on the boxes seems to be Screwfix.

 

[pvb]

I prefer a swan-neck or a lower-profile similar-principle device like the Cableport - http://www.saltyjohn.co.uk/cableport_boat_product.htm

 

[Alpha22]

+1 for Wago

 

[prv]

Another vote for Salty John's Cableport. All joints below deck, will take any (sane) number of cables, and new ones are trivial to add if required. Once fitted, opening it is a matter of two nuts and lift the lid off, revealing a large orifice which will take any kind of plug, even the big chunky right-angled one from Raymarine analogue radomes. It wouldn't be proof against complete submersion, but we've had solid green water across the deck in F7-over-tide and it didn't leak a drop. Robust? Well, I weigh over 19 stone and have no worries standing on the thing. The cables come out flat against the deck so unlikely to be caught and yanked, and in any case they're cable-tied to dedicated lugs inside the Cableport so you wouldn't be straining any connectors. It looks good too.

I'm a fan

Pete