Mystery Mast Cable

[Dave 71]

In prepping for my mast to be stepped, I've been looking at cables going up the mast.

I've identified power supplies to anchor and deck lights via terminal blocks, so easy enough. VHF cable has a connector.

There are 2 instrument cables which are redundant and coiled in the space above the headlining, labelled ' 12V to radar' and 'helm pod instruments' (I assume this was for a wind sensor), both radar and an old Raymarine wind instrument being removed before my ownership.

Both of the radar and helm pod cables emerge from a conduit inside the boat, with power cables using a different cable way. There is a third, unlabeled, cable that emerges from the same conduit as the old radar and helm pod instrument cables and runs out to the mast. This one doesn't have a connector so will need to be cut.

Any thoughts on what it might be? Probably impossible to answer, I know. Would the radar have had a signal cable as well as 12V or would it have used the 'helm pod' cable? There's nothing else electrical up there.

I guess I'll find out if anything stops working when I cut it but thought I'd check for suggestions first. I've not managed to find the other end of the conduit and see what it connects to.

 

[Boathook]

Wind sensor cable is around 5 cores for the speed and direction and is normally fairly small in diameter. Radar signal cable is much bigger in diameter and on my boat carries the power as well.

 

[coopec]

Is this relevant?
Mast base wiring connections

 

[Neeves]

Older radar cables were chunky and had the flexibility of a game fishing rod I understand they are less cumbersome now. You may have had deck lights, attached under the spreaders (since removed) but there might be holes in the spreader for attachment.

Jonathan

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

In prepping for my mast to be stepped, I've been looking at cables going up the mast.

I've identified power supplies to anchor and deck lights via terminal blocks, so easy enough. VHF cable has a connector.

There are 2 instrument cables which are redundant and coiled in the space above the headlining, labelled ' 12V to radar' and 'helm pod instruments' (I assume this was for a wind sensor), both radar and an old Raymarine wind instrument being removed before my ownership.

Both of the radar and helm pod cables emerge from a conduit inside the boat, with power cables using a different cable way. There is a third, unlabeled, cable that emerges from the same conduit as the old radar and helm pod instrument cables and runs out to the mast. This one doesn't have a connector so will need to be cut.

Any thoughts on what it might be? Probably impossible to answer, I know. Would the radar have had a signal cable as well as 12V or would it have used the 'helm pod' cable? There's nothing else electrical up there.

I guess I'll find out if anything stops working when I cut it but thought I'd check for suggestions first. I've not managed to find the other end of the conduit and see what it connects to.

You mention anchor and deck lights, but no mention of a steaming light or masthead nav lights. Perhaps, if you don't currently have these, they might have been formerly fitted and subsequently removed?