Running Cables In Mast - Need Some Advice

[webcraft]

Re: anchor light

I can see the point you are making . . . but I have never experienced any difficulty making out boats with masthead anchor lights.

- Nick

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[ShipsWoofy]

To stop mine banging, and this has worked I bought 6 x 1m lengths of pipe insulator, about 48p each I seem to remember. I have fed the bundles of wires through each at even spacings and tie wrapped top and bottom of the insulators to hold them in place.

This has been a good result for my 30ft mast. You may need more of less lengths depending upon your mast length.

Hope this helps

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<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk/P.html>Posting pictures tutor</A>

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: anchor light

I am like you Webcraft, I have never had any difficulty seeing anchor lights at the top of masts. In fact, we can see our own just by looking up through a hatch from inside the boat so I assume anyone on the water can see it too.

Perhaps it is because we look out for them. But there again, maybe it is just because we eat carrots or something (also cats can see in the dark /forums/images/icons/smile.gif).

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[Jack_the_Lad]

When rigging etc we always carried a short length of bicycle chain attached to a ball of twine plus a strong magnet.
Let gravity take the chain down the mast - the chain will also ride over a pulley at the masthead etc - and then the magnet will attract the bicycle chain to wherever you want to exit; even a side slot. Pull it out and then attach the twine to whatever you want to pull thru. JDT ! (JobDoneTick)

Jack






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[ffometeg]

I usually use thin rods that screw together in the same way as drain rods, but only a couple of mm thick, with a flexible end to avoid snagging . You can get these from electrical wholesalers such as QVS mail order , but please be very careful. I am based in Lincolnshire as a self employed electrician / electronics installer and fequently get calls from DIY disasters. It is easier for me to do a job from scratch than repair a cock up. Also check your guarantee ,a lot of companies will not cover an unqualified install

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[capricorn]

Thanks very much everyone, some really good advice all round, will approach the job with a little less trepidation now.

I jancy the idea of running the cables inside a length of conduit with the cable ties on the outside to minimise the clanking against mast. Will run a couple of spare cores in there in case one goes bad for any reason.

Good logic about not using combined tri/anchor light (I was horrified how much they cost anyhow). Hoisting a seperate light above foredeck means one less bulb to blow at the masthead and one less hole to drill in the deck if I use (eg) the streaming light plug to power it.

Would have loved to be there when the new owner of Halycon's old boat struck his/her mast and watched 100lts of polystyrene beads go everywhere.

Thanks everyone.

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[AndrewB]

One point that hasn't yet been made - too many power cables inside the mast may interfere with internal halyards if you aren't careful, specially loose or wrapped in foam. It may be your mast has an internal cable conduit, in which case use that. But an external conduit isn't much of a problem, I put one on my mast which works fine and doesn't get in the way at all, hardly noticeable. Otherwise I too would be tempted by Halcyon's idea.

Incidentally, the smallest 'mouse' is a shackle pin with a length of sail-maker's thread attached. I've used this on mast conduits and similar.

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[wagenaar]

I recall having read in PBO may years ago that an oil-lamp in stead of an electric anchor light has advantages. An electric light gives an even shine, while an oil-lamp fluctuates a bit, which causes it to be noticed better. The idea of an anchor-light is to be seen!! I used to put up the oil-lamp in the foretriangle, using a halyard and a rope to the pulpit to fix the position. To fix it even better one could use three ropes, one the halyard and the other two ropes, one to the foot of the mast and the other to the pulpit or to the forestay.

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[charles_reed]

You really do need to run the cables through a separate conduit in the mast, which most reputable mast manufacturers do fit.

It's easy enough - use one of the existing cables to feed a couple of messengers up the mast then use one for a new cable and the other to replace the one you've pulled out.

I know most fit their radome on the mast but IMHO it's a pretty naff place to put it.

Far better to have on a separate gallows or pole on the transom.

What you lose in range you gain in definition and you can gimbal it so that radar is of some value when you're liating.

You'll not find any of the round-world competition boats with a mast-mounted radome.

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