Wires and cables in mast.

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Markrandles

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I looking to run a VHF cable and a Tri colour cable inside my mast. It has external halyards so that is a bonus. Do I need to run a plastic sleeve of some sort inside the mast to prevent the cables from slapping and wearing? I have heard about using cable ties around the cable leaving a long tail which stops it touching the mast. OR, could I get away with just running them inside the mast without any of the above? Thanks
 
You need to at least do the cable tie trick or the tap-tapping of the wires will drive you nuts. Put them in threes every few feet, radiating out like a Mercedes badge. The alternative is to fasten a plastic conduit inside the mast but because you don't have internal halyards you will probably get away with the cable ties.
 
It can lie against the mast wall and be pop riveted or screwed into place presumably using a few tricks of the trade to hold it in position, line the holes up etc. The other approach I've seen, is the conduit is split lengthways and grips onto a ridge inside the mast wall, OK if you have such a ridge.
 
I have recently done this, also internalising the halyards, all in seperate conduits. I 'fixed' the conduits with expanding foam in three places up the mast. However provision must be made to allow internal condensation to drain. It remains to be seen as to the success of the project - ask me next layup!
 
The normal method is to pop rivet the pipe to the inside wall. You drill two holes close together through the mast. Using a wire hook through one of the holes you hold the plastic pipe against the mast while you drill and rivet it. Remove the wire hook and then you can drill and rivet the first hole. You need to follow this procedure several times along the length of the mast. Bit of a pain, but do-able.
 
Lay out your cable on the ground and then lay alongside a messenger cable with extra length at both ends. Using a good quality insulating tape tape the messenger to the cable every foot or so. Pass the cable down the mast as you would normally and make the connections. Secure the messenger cable at the masthead and then secure the other end to a suitable point at the foot of the mast with a good tension on the messenger. Worked for me inside a 35ft mast.
 
Cables ties are the perfect solution, on my modest, empty 28' mast anyway.

A single coax cable was the bane of my life on those quiet nights at anchor when even the smallest movement would result in a sonorous clank. I rewired to add a 4-core cable (tri, deck and steaming lights) and used about a quid's worth of long cable ties.
 
I am doing this at present on my Westerly Pageant (mast ht approx 8.6 mtrs). Have looked at pevious posts, and the cable tie idea seems a good one; esp Saltyjohn's point about the Merc badge arrangement.
When I took my old wires out today (with attachments for pulling back the replacement wires), I found that whoever did it last time put sections of half inch pipe insulation around the wires at regular intervals along the internal run. I guess this was before cable ties.
My instinct is to replicate the pipe insulation idea with 'Mercedes badge' cable ties to keep the six inch pipe insulation sections in place above & below - belt & braces.

Nick
 
With the mast down I daubed the cable with the cheapest 'goo' I could find while pulling it through , then let it lie there for an hour. Quick, cheap and easy to do it has held for 20 years.
 
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