Running cable down the inside of a mast

[Keiron]

I need to run a VHF aerial down a mast on a Hunter Duette. There isn't a mast top aerial currently fitted. I also need to run a cable for a steaming light above the deck on the front of the mast, again no light currently fitted. The mast is currently off the boat and on a mast rack. Is there any easy way of doing this? The mast section is pretty small so I doubt its going to be particularly easy. Is it a lot easier with the mast up using a weighed line? Any suggestions gratefully recieved.
Thanks Keiron

 

[pyrojames]

You are best off installing a conduit in the mast. Fit as small a conduit as you can comfortably get the cables through, but think about extras at a later date. Tricolour/anchor wire too?
Drill 2 holes beside each other, at each point want to fasten in the conduit, one for a rivet into the conduit, the other for a tool (bent pice of stiff wire) to pull the conduit into place. Install all wires in the conduit and then feed it in to the mast. You will need to fish out the steaming light wire at the right point, but you can lie the conduit in place alongside the mast first to make sure the holes line up. Pull the wires in the conduit out of the mast before you rivet the conduit in. When drilling the conduit for the rivets, make sure that the drill down in to the conduit and that the wires are lying away from the point of the drill coming through!

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

I use a small piece of ferrous metal such as a 3" nail tied to a light, fishing, line. With a magnet and some care, it is usually possible to draw the piece of metal down the mast with the line following it. You will then need to attach a heavier piece of line such that it is strong enough to pull the wire down the mast. It is a surprisingly heavy pull and it is greatly helped by having someone feed the cable in at the top. If you can remove the alloy foot at the bottom of the mast the job is again made easier. This will require drilling out the pop rivets and then replacing them. Use monel rivets which are available, among other places, from Selden. Don't forget to add rubber grommets to stop chafe at the entry and exit holes.
This, with some fiddling, has always worked for me.
Nicki

 

[seumask]

You may find that there is already a cable conduit in the mast, I took the foot of our Hunter delta mast and found one was there already. A clue might be gained from looking at any of the other cabeling in the mast. On ours the VHf and mast head lights both run up the conduit.

 

[MrCramp]

I use fence wire to feed down the mast and then use it to pull the electric wire/s through. You can easily do this with the mast horizontal. Local boatyard have used rigging wire in the past.

 

[Strathglass]

If you use a plastic conduit tube fitted inside the mast as has been sugested. There is an easy way to run a mousing line through the tube, even when it is in a mast rack.

Get a vacuum cleaner. The more powerful the better. Tie a light line to a rag feed it in one end of the pipe, connect the vacuum cleaner nozle to the other end and the rag and line will be pulled through the pipe.

I have succesfully used this method to put a mouse line in 25 metres of undergroung electrical conduct.

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

Genius.

 

[FAITIRA]

[ QUOTE ]
I use fence wire to feed down the mast and then use it to pull the electric wire/s through. You can easily do this with the mast horizontal. Local boatyard have used rigging wire in the past.

[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly how I have done it, it,s easy,
with the mast up I got the radar cable down after running a messenger down on a weighted string,
conduit on the outside is amaturish looking if it can be avoided. imho

 

[pyrojames]

Nice one. I like that! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[alan17]

If the mast is down and lying horizontal you need something fairly rigid but which will not damage any other cable already in the mast. I used a length of semi rigid plastic fuel tube. The type fitted on lorries etc. It is about 6 to 8 mm od. When the tube was through the length of the mast I fed the cable into the tube for a few inches taped it to the tube then pulled the tube through the length of the mast.

 

[rhumlady]

Old fashioned curtain wire does a good job. Can be used to hang curtains as well i'm told.

 

[graham]

To avoid the new cables banging against the side of the mast as you roll at anchor.One method is to attatch cable ties in groups of 3 sticking out at different angles ,about a metre apart around the new cables.

leave the long spare ends of the cable ties in place sticking out to hold the vhf coax off the sides of the mast.

 

[Dougie_the_Mate]

I trust you do not encounter the problems we did last winter when it was necessary to replace the aerial cable. A previous owner had filled the mast with cavity wall insulation. Getting the old cable out was hard enough - getting the new one in was desperate - the whole job took over eight hours - we had expected two at the most.

Good luck

 

[graham]

I remember a guy I kew with a McWester Wight had that problem.He ended up pouring solvents into the mast to try and melt it all out.Simple job turned into a bit of a nightmare. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Keiron]

Many thanks for all the suggestions thats a huge help. I'll maybe have a look at it this weekend.

Keiron

 

[smiala]

Hi,
as the mast is down,use one of the stays to gently push a string/crab line up to the top. I then used the tie wrap idea then to hold and stop the wire(s) from rattling, have fun.