Feeding cable through mast

[Misterbreeze]

5 minute job. New VHF antenna cable to be threaded through mast while it's off the boat, just pull it through with the old cable. Nah. Old cable moves freely for 12 inches then snags. It feeds into a hole at the masthead together with the cable for the light and I suspect it may simply be wrapped around this and tightening as it's pulled but of course there's no way of seeing so before I dismantle the light and try pulling them both together does anyone one have any tips? Could it be fastened somewhere to prevent rattling? '80s Proctor mast.

 

[Graham376]

With the mast down, can't you get the cap off? Original cables may be tied together and fed down a conduit.

 

[Malish]

Hate to say it but anything is possible including the use of expanding foam in the mast... probably best hope that the masthead cables are tied together and 'just' have to be removed as a unit, repaired and replaced.

 

[steveinnice]

5 minute job. New VHF antenna cable to be threaded through mast while it's off the boat, just pull it through with the old cable. Nah. Old cable moves freely for 12 inches then snags. It feeds into a hole at the masthead together with the cable for the light and I suspect it may simply be wrapped around this and tightening as it's pulled but of course there's no way of seeing so before I dismantle the light and try pulling them both together does anyone one have any tips? Could it be fastened somewhere to prevent rattling? '80s Proctor mast.

Tie a bit of foam to a fishing line and suck it through with a vacuum cleaner. use that to pull new cable through that way you have no problems with bundled cables in the mast.

 

[Misterbreeze]

Thanks for the replies, some food for thought there. It will be a few days before I can get back to the boat but I'll let you know what happens.

 

[cid]

Hi have you tried turning the mast around ? this could dislodge or relocate the cable or tap or whack the mast around the spot you think its stuck. I presume the join between the old and new cable is as smooth as possible so that it is not it thats snagging .

 

[Misterbreeze]

Thanks cid, tried all of that but I've been on my own up to now so it's a bit of a struggle turning the mast. I'll go back mob-handed next time!

 

[chrishscorp]

Have you tried to thread it from the other end of the mast ?

You can also get a set of pulling rods that screw together to pull cables, silicone spray for easing things is also useful to have.

 

[Misterbreeze]

Yes, tried both ends with same result. I'm pretty sure the 2 masthead cables are either tangled or taped together as after the initial movement the other cable also attempts to move. In truth it's not a bad idea to replace both while I'm at it, just frustrating that what was expected to be a simple job is going to take a lot longer. Don't they always?

 

[IanCC]

I had same trouble. Turned out they were taped together every metre or so. Also if entry and exit holes to mast have not been files smooth it is tough going. I had to blather wires in 3M cable lubricant, then push in as much as i could, perhaps 2", then go to the other end and pull like hell to get the 2" to come through. And repeat and repeat and repeat.

 

[Misterbreeze]

Well, success and in the end a lot easier than expected. On returning to the mast the cable was much easier to move for no obvious reason, perhaps not so cold as last visit. and I was able to get 3/4 of it pulled through without disturbing the other cables. Faced with it sticking again I took the foot off (again, easier than expected) and found both aerial and light cables are run through a conduit which is not overly generous in diameter so a bit of tugging to and fro and it freed itself. There are a few rivets in the mast which may be securing the conduit and it could be these that the cable was catching on. Whatever, a happy ending.