Through-deck cable glands

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JimC

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I'm determined to have no more to do with waterproof (?) plugs & sockets for carrying mast cables through the deck, yet I need to keep the ability to disconnect when lowering the mast. I have 3 x 2 core lighting cables, 1 x vhf coax and 1 x 6 core overall screened for wind indicator. I'm considering using waterproof glands with plug breaks in the dry inside the boat. Anyone any experience of doing this or any products to reccommend? Thanks
 
I gave up with all types of 'waterproof' plugs including glands and now have a ss swanneck and a neat wooden box inside on the deckhead where the connectors are concealed. It's been dry ever since.
 
I noticed a photo of a class American yacht some time ago. All the mast wiring exited the mast near deck level and went up into a swan neck arrangement and thence down below decks. I have never seen one of these things for sale so I guess you would have to have one made up in stainless tube, with a flange for screwing to the deck. It looked a very good and simple solution to me.
 
I have no plugs/sockets outside except for a socket for the Tillerpilot inside the cockpit. Cables for mast lights, vhf aerial, gps aerial all go through Index Marine cable glands which give no trouble.
 
Yes, something like that works...

...until you get a green one over the deck. Then you're ripping down headlinings in desperation to stop the water ingress. I am about to replace one of those with a rectangular gland block from Index Marine like the "Multigate Cable Gland" or the "D Series" shown here:- Index Marine

Steve Cronin
 
Re: Yes, something like that works...

I totally agree with you Steve.

I just posted the picture as someone had said there was none available.

After carefully considering the potential problems did not get one for myself.
From what you are saying I seem to have done the right thing.

I have three cable ducts on the mast (Sparcraft F305 keel stepped)
At deck level there is a dam inside the mast a through tube 6" above deck level and a drain hole just above the dam.

All the wires exit through a hailyard slot about 6" below the deck and plug into a series of connectors.

There is a moulded rubber deck collar which bolts between two alloy castings to seal the mast at the deck.

At the aft end I use one of the Index bolt together things you quoted for the GPS, Navtex and Weatherfax aerial leads.

Also got a very well protected socket for the tiller pilot.

Still to sort out how to pass the SSB 'Hot' wire to the backstay.
I may well use a bolt together glass feed through insulator.

It's great being retired so I now work on the boat every day.

Cheers

Iain
 
SSB...

...assuming a standard "ham" transceiver (Yaesu or Icom?) then I agree that your solution is best provided that the glass feedthrough is sited out of harm's way. How about one of those paxolin ones with the loading coil removed, from an army jeep?

Steve Cronin
 
Re: SSB...

Steve

It is the getting it out of harms way and away from the other coax leads that is the problem.

Still to finish the trimming on the back cabin, not reached that stage yet. I think the ATU will be beside the cockpit drains and rudder tube, right at the back. I need to get a longer coupling lead which fortunately are still available.

I think I have a glass fed through insulator somewhere but we downsized house about 3 years ago and most stuff is still in tens of boxes so I might find it one day. The alternative is the boat jumble at Irvine.

In the loft I still have an old battery eliminator with 120volts DC/ 2v DC acumulator charging outputs and some old wave wound coils and much more stuff which I must get rid off.

The rig is a TS50 with remote ATU. It works well on the 5RV in the garden. It is now installed in the boat at the chart table. but ATU not yet fitted. Call sign is GM3YND.

Cheers

Iain
 
[ QUOTE ]
I gave up with all types of 'waterproof' plugs including glands and now have a ss swanneck and a neat wooden box inside on the deckhead where the connectors are concealed. It's been dry ever since.

[/ QUOTE ]

I made my own swan neck out of a section of mountain bike inner tube which I Jubilee-clipped to the old deck fitting having first removed the seal from that fitting. This leaves a big enough hole to run all the cables through with electrical connections being down below in the dry. The advantage of the inner tube is that it has a built-in curve and also is flimsy enough to collapse around the cables. I intended to fasten it to the mast but that hasn't proved to be necessary - it just sits there in a suitable shape.
 
Re: SSB...

Difficult to envisage without seeing the design of the stern cabin but I still think that a paxolin lead-thru from a Royal Signals landrover could be marinised. Although the paxolin is not such a good dielectric as glass, it still should be relatively low loss.

BTW, is the boat a ketch, in which case, do you intend to turn the triatic or a mizzen backstay into the antenna?

73s


Steve Cronin
 
Re: SSB...

No it's just a cutter, although I should be saling a ketch for a couple of weeks next month. Don't know whether to go the Crinnan / Caledonian Canals or to try the Forth and Clyde.
The trouble is that If I go the shorter route I have the triatic stay to deal with at both ends.

My only connection with the Royal Signals was when I was an Arny Cadet in my school days. I imagine a tufnol insulator would be fine at HF.

Iain
 
an alternative to a swan neck

I have a flattish swan neck equivalent that I bought in Sweden . Details were available from www.elvabro.com
It consists of a flat plate that fits to the deck with a short collar going upwards. This is covered by a shallow dished plate fitted (convex side up) over the collar and plate. Cables enter from the deck at either end of the dish through recesses sealed with sponge rubber.
The design is reasonably watertight and compact. Total hieght is about an inch and you can stand on it if necessary.
 
Re: an alternative to a swan neck

I must admit, having a keel stepped mast, this is no longer a problem for me. The swan neck is more of a big boat solution and perhaps a little vulnerable to being booted an snagged. Your's looks and excellent alternative.
 
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