deck sockets

[Kukri]

I have had good experience with the Bulgin types.

This may seem like overkill, but a Bulgin in line plug and an Index Marine cable gland which passes the plug makes everything easy and quick.

I will always recommend an in line plug and socket to a deck mounted one. Damp and salt are much less likely to accumulate.

 

[thinwater]

I've given up on them and switched to SAE 2-pin and 4-pin for most uses. A few dollars in the US and easy to find anywhere that sells car or motorcycle parts. They last well if greased every year. I find proprietary, non-standard connectors annoying. These are what I used for mast lights, tiller pilot, cabin, and cockpit power.

 

[Refueler]

I'm having a love-hate relationship with my N Type VHF antenna deck connection ... It has the rubber boot ... its cleaned each time mast gets stepped ... but occasionally I have to clean it again ...

Its designed / sold specifically for this job ... GRRRRR !!

I use the VHF Self-Test before trips to check antenna .... if it shows fail - up on deck ... disconnect, clean, reconnect ... test again ... and 99.9% of time it then passes ok.

One day - I will change it ....

 

[dgadee]

I replaced about four individual through deck fittings with a single stainless thing that I thought was called a Cableport... I might be mistaken by it's name and I can only find an old night time photo showing it on deck with the top removed.

View attachment 143488

I know there's still one or two wires remaining on the starboard side which I might do the same with one day.

The advantage is that plugs stay on and pass through the central hole, wires protrude horizontally and unwieldy crew can stand on it with no issues at all.

Looks like this one at SVB..

View attachment 143489

Me too. On two boats. Costs a fortune but works.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

My previous boat (Dragonfly) came with Binder 693 deck socket and cable plug from new. 20 years later they were still working. They aren't cheap but are better made and longer lasting than the chandlery Dri-plug type connectors. The contacts' maximum rating is less but that's hardly an issue with LED lighting.

99-4221-00-04 | binder 693 Cable Mount Connector, 4 Contacts, Plug | RS
09-4224-00-04 | binder 693 Panel Mount Connector, 4 Contacts, Socket | RS

They do a similar 7 contact version as well.

 

[habeer]

When I rewired my mast four years ago, I used 'Delphi' (now called Aptiv) connectors - these are used a lot under the hood of automobiles.
Water seals on the connector body, and wire entry (backside). I have two exposed to weather on my spreader lights, and one multi conductor inside the mast.

My experience doesn't extend to frequent connect/disconnect (not in my application), but annually I disconnect the spreader lights to paint the top of the spreaders - and the insides look like they did on day one.

 

[Plum]

I have had good experience with the Bulgin types.

This may seem like overkill, but a Bulgin in line plug and an Index Marine cable gland which passes the plug makes everything easy and quick.

I will always recommend an in line plug and socket to a deck mounted one. Damp and salt are much less likely to accumulate.

Bulgin make a lot of different types, would you please help me by providing a link to the specific design you are recommending. Thanks

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Plum]

I've always used the so called AAA type. But I've always had problems. They don't leak a lot, but the pins (on the plugs) corrode and the sockets too, and they then loose connections, so losing instruments, or lights or whatever they connect.
What is a suggested better type for boat deck use?

I fitted this swank-neck 10 years ago as a temporary solution on the aft deck and its been perfect! Has never leaked although it is in a place where it will not get walked on. A bronze skin fitting and a piece of flexible hose that i already had. Not pretty but works.


www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Kukri]

Bulgin make a lot of different types, would you please help me by providing a link to the specific design you are recommending. Thanks

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Sorry! I just meant their ordinary “Buccaneer” range, which many chandlers carry.

 

[Kukri]

For 29 years I owned a gaff cutter with a solid wooden mast, so the VHF, tricolour and steaming light cables had to run up the shrouds as did the sidelight cables which meant they had to come through the covering boards at the deck edge. I found that putting the Buccaneer inline plugs and sockets two feet up the shrouds did the trick - never a problem after that.

 

[Martin_J]

It would be nice to find a UK supplier for the Elvabro Cableport... but there's a clear picture online showing that it could take up to a 49mm diameter plug through it..



I did however only make a hole through the deck sized for my current largest plugs (and epoxy sealed the sides of the hole to prevent water ingress into the deck core).

 

[Martin_J]

Idle browsing did lead me to a cool solution on the Jeanneau owners forum..

Leaves a very clear deck with no trip hazard at all..

 

[Martin_J]

And Selden really do sell it as a solution and detail it in their "Running cables" guide.

http://www.seldenmast.com/files/1378899465/595-966-E.pdf