Favourite method of getting wires through deck at foot of mast

NOHOH

NOHOH

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Five wires of differing diameters come down the mainmast and need to go through the deck somehow..... The existing arrangement has frequently not always been completely watertight ...but I now have the opportunity to re-think and renew. There is always the option of terminating in plugs and sockets...but I would be reluctant to do that in the case of the wind instrument cable and the vhf cable. Do any of you out there have a favourite solution to this problem that has never let them down?
 
My favourite is plugs and sockets.

No problems whatsoever with either the VHF aerial or the lighting wiring or with plugs and sockets for other equipment. I don't have a wind thing so cannot comment specifically on that.

I have a standard type plug for the VHF and Dri-plugs for everything else.

http://driplug.com/products.htm

.
 
Is the mast deck-stepped or keel-stepped? If it's keel stepped, our arrangement is to run the wires down into the cabin inside the mast. A loop of wire hangs down inside the mast to shed any drips), then they come up to an exit hole, and only inside the cabin are there any connections. These have no need to be waterproof of course. When the mast is lifted out we disconnect inside the cabin and drop the wires inside the mast, with a tracer string tied to them to retrieve them when needed. No deck glands, no deck sockets and no wires on deck at the mast entry.
 
NOHOH said:
Five wires of differing diameters come down the mainmast and need to go through the deck somehow..... The existing arrangement has frequently not always been completely watertight ...but I now have the opportunity to re-think and renew. There is always the option of terminating in plugs and sockets...but I would be reluctant to do that in the case of the wind instrument cable and the vhf cable. Do any of you out there have a favourite solution to this problem that has never let them down?
Click to expand...
Both my Benes used choc box connectors in a damp proof box inside the hull space. Radar, lights etc, the vhf I used a vhf connector and unsoldered the plug to get the cable thru the deck.
Stu
 
We used to have plugs and sockets but I got fed up with having to wiggle them to get the masthead lights to work. So here is what I do now.

We have good quality thru-deck glands. Don't try to get two wires though one gland or you get a figure of 8 section shape that the gland won't grip completely and it leaks. Solder all the lighting and instrument wires and solder on good quality UHF connector for VHF coax and use a barrel connector. Unsolder the whole lot and remove to un-step the mast. Don't try to pull the wires out of the glands, but remove the outer compression ring and leave the rubber bung in place.

(There was choc strip when we got the boat but I prefer soldered joints)


We are fortunate in having a false deck-head "ceiling" that gives us about 30mm in which to hide the joints.
 
My answer to cable entry.

Deck stepped mast, Just forward of the mast I fixed to the deck a teak block about 8 ins across by 3 ins fore and aft and 2 inches deep. I made a teak hat to fit over the top and come down about 1 in over the sides.
The cables out of the mast are taken right down to the deck and run a few inches on the surface of the deck and then enter the aft of the teak block in an upward sloping grove cut to fit then. Due to the size of the block and it's proximity to the mast you cannot step on the wires, instead your foot might rest on the hat over the block.
The wires are then taken down a hole in the block. The grove is filled with a sealant. The hat is then screwed down with a little sealant bead.
Below on the deck head on the side of the bulkhead which supports the mast I have a small teak box inside which are the connections of all the various cables. All in the dry.
It has worked very well now for 20 years. The top hat does however need to be revarnished every few years. Look nice with its two large screws in cups.
 
BabaYaga said:
http://www.elvabro.com/marin3.html
Click to expand...

Does anyone know where one of these can be sourced in UK? The UK link to Westonemarine on the Elvabro site doesn't seem to work and a search didn't help.

Also, is there not a risk of water ingress around the cable entry? Although due to the raised design inside I guess the risk of water through the deck is small?
 
I used to use deck sockets but the annual struggle to remove corrosion every spring drove me mad. Through deck glands with a split rubber diaghram compressed onto the cable allow a reasonable sized plug to pass through the deck but are expensive and space consuming if you need 5 of them. I now use a swan neck sealed with amalgamating tape - works well.
 
Wow Roger, I think that's the best swan neck fitting I've ever seen!

For deck glands take a look at Index Marine's site; they have plastic and alloy glands (preferred) and they have designs that allow you to pull the cable back through the gland complete with connectors in place for when you drop the mast. I prefer glands, with the joint inside the boat, rather than plugs but, with proper maintenance, deck plugs can be OK.
 
mast wiring

tillergirl said:
Swanneck. Gave up on plugs years ago and have been dry ever since.
Click to expand...

I also use a swan neck but mine is made using a length of cycle inner tube which is Jubilee-clipped to the remains of a deck fitting. The natural curve if the inner tube plus its flexibility and general floppiness serve to keep water out.
 
gasdave said:
Does anyone know where one of these can be sourced in UK? The UK link to Westonemarine on the Elvabro site doesn't seem to work and a search didn't help.

Also, is there not a risk of water ingress around the cable entry? Although due to the raised design inside I guess the risk of water through the deck is small?
Click to expand...

I have never experienced any water ingress, but then my mast stands on the coach roof. Might be different if placed on the deck itself.
Construction is much like a dorade box, plus seals where the cables enter.
Dont know about a UK distributor, but can be ordered from here:

http://www.svb.de/index.php?sid=7e7fd7b782eb91dcc4b7c56a7cfabb6a&cl=details&cnid=12954&anid=339
 
Thanks for all the interesting replies, ....I looked at the ELVABRO and really liked it...pity the UK distributor has (apparently)gone bust......but found that the cost would be about 100 euros to order from Germany. I liked gordonmillingtons home made wooden version of what is more or less the same thing.... I might end up doing that.... but I think for now I am going to try and source a swan neck for a reasonable price and in a reasonable time.....these things don`t seem to be extensively stocked on the shelves in chandlers
 
NOHOH said:
I think for now I am going to try and source a swan neck for a reasonable price and in a reasonable time.....these things don`t seem to be extensively stocked on the shelves in chandlers
Click to expand...

Mine has a variation on the swan-neck idea, which I think is a bit nifty. A U-shaped stainless tube is pushed through a grommet in the mast wall and inverted. Inside the mast, the cables loop down (for drips), then up through the tube.

Outside the mast, the tube is pointing downwards and has a thick rubber hose connected to a stainless flange attached to the deck, through which the cables pass to their connectors below deck. The hose is secured with Jubilee clips.

Being keel-stepped, the mast has a rubber dam inside and a drain hole in the mast wall, both of which are just below the cable swan neck.

It doesn't leak, doesn't foul lines, and cables are fully ptotected.

Although it was a standard Dehler fitting, I'm sure a local engineer could make one up for you cheaper than ordering from Germany. Tube is about 1" i/d and fits a 'standard' size hose (which I've just replaced after 16 years).

I hope this is useful.
 
gasdave said:
Does anyone know where one of these can be sourced in UK?
Click to expand...

I'm now answering my own question, having contacted Elvabro directly. They have put me in touch with a supplier in Sweden (OK, not UK!) who sells these for 478 SEK - that works out about £44 + delivery. I think this is similar to some swan necks. One advantage, depending on where the deck entry is, is that it might be less likely to snag foresail sheets, etc.

Link is http://www.hjertmans.se/
 
I use this type of gland
http://marinestore.co.uk/md430610.html

I have 3 cables passing through one gland: the rubber gland is bought as a solid, you drill a hole for each of the cable which are less than half the diameter of the cable, force the cable through with ample vaseline (after having first slid the outer ring along the three cables, don't ask). All connections are made inside. Never leaked. Ever.
 
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