Wiring for new steaming light

[chrisclin]

My boat has been equipped since new with a Tricolour and anchor light at the masthead and a single bicolour red/green light at the bow. The idea is that when motoring, you have the bicolour and anchor light on. Although this satisfies the rules, I am not happy with the idea that the stern light is 25 feet up in the air.
While I was in Florida last month, I visited a branch of West Marine and discovered that most chandlery was the same figure or less in dollars as we are used to paying in pounds. So, I bought a stern light and a combined steaming and deck light after a discussion that consisted of me telling the guy that Collision Regulations were international and he didn't need to google to check what the UK rules were!

I have now come home and am faced with the challenge of getting a wire up the mast to spreader level. I have removed the bottom of the mast and peered in. The mast has a one inch circular conduit starting from the bottom and running (I assume) to the top.
Do I try to drill in to the conduit at spreader level and try to get something like an old shroud up the conduit to hook the wire to? If so, how do I make sure I've drilled into the conduit? I have a dread of ending up with the mast like a collander.
Is there a danger of drilling through the existing VHF aerial and masthead cables? If so, how do I avoid it?
Are there any other tips?
All help gratefully received.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I, for one, would never risk drilling anywhere I can't see, or don't know what's where.

I would suggest taking all wires out of the conduit and mast, then drill through the mast into the conduit.

Good luck.

 

[cimo]

My boat has been equipped since new with a Tricolour and anchor light at the masthead and a single bicolour red/green light at the bow. The idea is that when motoring, you have the bicolour and anchor light on. Although this satisfies the rules, I am not happy with the idea that the stern light is 25 feet up in the air.
While I was in Florida last month, I visited a branch of West Marine and discovered that most chandlery was the same figure or less in dollars as we are used to paying in pounds. So, I bought a stern light and a combined steaming and deck light after a discussion that consisted of me telling the guy that Collision Regulations were international and he didn't need to google to check what the UK rules were!

I have now come home and am faced with the challenge of getting a wire up the mast to spreader level. I have removed the bottom of the mast and peered in. The mast has a one inch circular conduit starting from the bottom and running (I assume) to the top.
Do I try to drill in to the conduit at spreader level and try to get something like an old shroud up the conduit to hook the wire to? If so, how do I make sure I've drilled into the conduit? I have a dread of ending up with the mast like a collander.
Is there a danger of drilling through the existing VHF aerial and masthead cables? If so, how do I avoid it?
Are there any other tips?
All help gratefully received.

You can mouse the existing cables and withdraw them from the conduit to just past the spreaders. Drill the hole for the new fitting and extract a loop of the mousing line out through the hole. Attach the new cable to the mousing line loop. feed back into the conduit and pull all cables back into place together. (thats how a spark would do it anyhow). Two pairs of hands would make things smooth. evening time beers would taste great after that.

 

[Daydream believer]

t after a discussion that consisted of me telling the guy that Collision Regulations were international and he didn't need to google to check what the UK rules were!

I would not complain about that - at least the bloke was trying !!!

 

[A1Sailor]

I ran a cable inside the conduit to the top, then back down to above the spreaders outside it; inside the mast, obviously. The extra few metres of cable didn't seem to matter, and it didn't foul any of the halyards in the subsequent ~15 years I had the boat.

 

[chrisclin]

I ran a cable inside the conduit to the top, then back down to above the spreaders outside it; inside the mast, obviously. The extra few metres of cable didn't seem to matter, and it didn't foul any of the halyards in the subsequent ~15 years I had the boat.

I may be being stupid, but how is running the wire down outside the conduit for half the mast any better than running it up to the spreaders outside the conduit?
These suggestions are very helpful. Thanks so much.

 

[chrisclin]

I would not complain about that - at least the bloke was trying !!!

No complaints about the service - it was the thought that different countries had different rules on lights that amused me. Mind you, he was aware of the differences in buoyage so I suppose it made sense.

 

[A1Sailor]

I may be being stupid, but how is running the wire down outside the conduit for half the mast any better than running it up to the spreaders outside the conduit?
These suggestions are very helpful. Thanks so much.

Perhaps not, but the cable I ran down from the top was a bit lighter than the one to the masthead. Also, I used a common return (-ve) for both lights, since they would never be on at the same time. I only had a tri-colour and a steaming light. You have a deck illumination light as well.

EDIT: I fitted the steaming light above the block for the uphaul for the spinnaker pole, and it made sense for the wiring to be above all that, particularly the "pole-up" halyard, inside the mast.

 

[blackbeard]

I am considering separate steaming light and stern light, rather than a single masthead all round white, just as the OP is. However, for a vessel less than 12 metres LOA, the steaming light does not need to be very high (at least 1 metre above side lights (a term which I assume includes the pulpit bicolour)), although a bit higher than this would seem to be a good idea. In this case, then, it appears to me that having the electrical cable external to the mast seems a reasonable approach (especially since I could then fit the steaming light without having to take the mast down!). Does this sound OK? and how would you fix an external cable?

The general intention would be that the steaming and stern lights would be used inshore (for the benefit of watchkeepers on nearby vessels who are not staring up into the sky), and the masthead all-round-white would be used offshore (where it could be seen from a greater distance, wouldn't get lost in wave troughs and and wouldn't be confused with shore lights).

 

[chrisclin]

I did consider this, although I am a bit concerned about how far up the unit needed to be to avoid being bashed by the jib. Also, the Pilot has a self tacking jib which means the jib-sheet exits from the mast quite high up. That is an issue that A1sailor's solution addresses.
SWMBO suggested using sealant to attach the wire.
I'm still swithering.

 

[William_H]

If you go for outside the mast wiring I have had some success (inside the cabin) with fibreglass insulated tubing (AKA spagetti). This can be glued to any surface and the wire passed inside the tube. No it would not look pretty but OK if it is only a short way up the mast. good luck olewill

 

[Jaguar 25]

Your quote "My boat has been equipped since new with a Tricolour and anchor light at the masthead and a single bicolour red/green light at the bow. The idea is that when motoring, you have the bicolour and anchor light on. Although this satisfies the rules"

No it doesn't. A steaming light should only be visible through an arc of 225 degrees looking forward. This applies equally to inshore and offshore motoring or motor-sailing.

 

[lpdsn]

No it doesn't. A steaming light should only be visible through an arc of 225 degrees looking forward. This applies equally to inshore and offshore motoring or motor-sailing.

The anchor light acts as a combined steaming light and stern light. Not an ideal arrangement, but one that does exist on some models of sub-30 foot boats and permissible <12m.

 

[A1Sailor]

Yes it does.

A masthead all round white and a red/green or bicolour below it is acceptable for a small boat (less than 12m?) under power. When sailing a masthead tri-colour, or a bi-colour and stern light are appropriate.

 

[alan_d]

Your quote "My boat has been equipped since new with a Tricolour and anchor light at the masthead and a single bicolour red/green light at the bow. The idea is that when motoring, you have the bicolour and anchor light on. Although this satisfies the rules"

No it doesn't. A steaming light should only be visible through an arc of 225 degrees looking forward. This applies equally to inshore and offshore motoring or motor-sailing.

Oh yes it does. Rule 23 (c) (i)

A power-driven vessel of less than 12 metres in length may in lieu of the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule [*] exhibit an all-round white light and sidelights;

*masthead light(s), sternlight and sidelights

 

[Jaguar 25]

Oh yes it does. Rule 23 (c) (i) *masthead light(s), sternlight and sidelights

I stand corrected, thanks.

 

[Wandering Star]

I stand corrected, thanks.

me too, I was unaware too!

 

[A1Sailor]

My current boat had only a masthead tricolour when I bought it. I have replaced it with one of the LED combi lights from NASA Marine. It uses the existing 2-core cable, and by reversing the polarity you switch between red/green/white and all round white. There is a switch to reverse the polarity. Together with a bi-colour on the pulpit it meets the regs, but I don't do much night sailing/motoring. I use a head torch for deck illumination!