New masthead wind sensor installation

[mrplastic]

My Beneteau 331 is fitted with a B&G wind instrument, the masthead sensor is kaput and needs replacing. I have a complete new clipper system to replace it and am wondering the best way to do this. Assuming that I can get up the mast I imagine that the connection systems are completely different so I will need to install the new cable. As one end is fired with a connection plug ( new cable) and the other is bare wires I am thinking I can cut the plug off of the existing cable, join it to the end of the new cable and pull it down from the access panel in the saloon using the existing cable. Is this workable or am I being naive? Getting the new cable from there to the cockpit is the easy part!

Any and all advice most welcome!

 

[prv]

Is this a deck- or keel-stepped mast, and how does the cable get from the mast into the saloon?

Your plan is sound for getting the cable down the mast, but unless it's a keel-stepped mast with an opening in the side below decks, you're unlikely to be able to pull through from the "access panel", wherever that is. You need to be pulling at the point where it emerges from the mast.

Also be aware that many people report problems with the NASA Clipper wind sensor - mostly the cups falling off.

Pete

 

[[70521]]

Also be aware that many people report problems with the NASA Clipper wind sensor - mostly the cups falling off.

Mine survived the winter

 

[yoda]

I would use the old cable to pull through either 1 or 2 mice from the bottom to the top. Then use one to pull the new cable down the mast and keep the second as a spare mouse. Just need to be careful that you can pull the joints through the orifices both top and bottom.

Yoda

 

[KAL]

Just make sure you don't spare the gaffer tape when you wrap the cables together - wrap them REALLY well as you may need to do some (gentle) persuasion when the join is inside the mast, if it gets caught on something. Good luck!

 

[Heckler]

My Beneteau 331 is fitted with a B&G wind instrument, the masthead sensor is kaput and needs replacing. I have a complete new clipper system to replace it and am wondering the best way to do this. Assuming that I can get up the mast I imagine that the connection systems are completely different so I will need to install the new cable. As one end is fired with a connection plug ( new cable) and the other is bare wires I am thinking I can cut the plug off of the existing cable, join it to the end of the new cable and pull it down from the access panel in the saloon using the existing cable. Is this workable or am I being naive? Getting the new cable from there to the cockpit is the easy part!

Any and all advice most welcome!

And I know someone who will buy the old unit off you if you pull the cable out carefully!
Stu

 

[G12]

You're replacing B&G with NASA?! You'll miss the B&G, NASA are a huge step down. Can't you just get your B&G masthead unit repaired?

 

[Javelin]

Your plan works for me though I would be tempted to run a length of whipping twine down as well as a backup mouse.
The issue will be getting sufficient height to detach the B&G and drill and attach the Nasa as you can bet the holes will be in different places.
Take 5 minutes to tie your tools to a line to your chair so if you drop them they wont kill anyone or worse damage your deck.

My B&G masthead unit has lost a couple of its direction sectors but I'll get this fixed rather than fit a Nasa product.

We had three boats sitting next to each other on the hard over the winter fitted with the nasa anemometer - One lost its cups and the others were ok.

As an aside we lost three hawk wind direction indicators and I lost half my hawk and I think we lost a raymarine anemometer, just the stalk remained.
We thought we'd lost another but the owner had sensibly taken it off before the storms hit.

 

[mrplastic]

Hmmm, thanks for the comments. You have given me something to think about! I didn't really consider getting the existing unit repaired, its as old as the boat (2001) so I just assumed it would be obsolete. It would make sense though so I shall follow that through first. I know that the Clipper range is cheap but didn't think it was nasty! If the masthead unit cannot be repaired is the clipper really that poor an option? I don't want to pinch the last degree of wind, I just want direction and speed (true and apparent) which this provides....

 

[prv]

Just make sure you don't spare the gaffer tape when you wrap the cables together - wrap them REALLY well as you may need to do some (gentle) persuasion when the join is inside the mast, if it gets caught on something. Good luck!

Trouble is, if you cocoon the joint in gaffer tape, you will make it bulkier and hence more likely to get stuck.

I would strip a couple of inches of the ends of the two cables, knot the inner cores together, then wrap the cores and knot in PVC tape so that it's no wider than the outer insulation. Then one wrap each end overlapping the outer, so the whole thing is only thicker than the cable by one thickness of PVC.

Pete

 

[Heckler]

Trouble is, if you cocoon the joint in gaffer tape, you will make it bulkier and hence more likely to get stuck.

I would strip a couple of inches of the ends of the two cables, knot the inner cores together, then wrap the cores and knot in PVC tape so that it's no wider than the outer insulation. Then one wrap each end overlapping the outer, so the whole thing is only thicker than the cable by one thickness of PVC.

Pete

A trick I was taught by a rigger, get some rope, like a ski line rope, the outside braid is like a chinese finger trap. So get a piece of the outer braid. Join the old cable to the new cable by twisting wires together with the chinese finger trap braid on one end then slide it over the joint and pull it back so it grips the two cables. Then put a bit of electric tape on the ends of the finger trap to hold it in place. The more ypu pull the more it grips!
Stu