I did the pop-riveted conduit mast-wiring retrofit on BayBird when I bought her 12 years ago. The mast was down at the time, so I did all of the refits recommended for an "un-upgraded" 1976. This included replacing the spreader brackets (with those tricky internal compression tubes), replacing the chainplate eyebolts, and converting the masthead halyard sheaves for all-rope halyards (5/16 Sta-set X); and, rewiring the mast.
I ran messenger lines through 2 sections of conduit — one for above the spreaders one for below, attached the messengers to (proper color) new wires and pulled the wires through the length of the mast, and attached them to their respective light fixtures (also new). I've been quite pleased with the results. However, because BayBird has external halyards, I still use a couple of bungi cords looped around and hooked to the shrouds, to hold them away from the mast. I wish all my dockmates did the same. Fair Winds, Jim Calleran, C27 #2784, Trad, OB Mathews Yacht Club, VA 37°27.8'N/76°18.6'W --- On Mon, 12/29/08, Phil Agur <[email protected]> wrote: Michael, .... Current Catalinas have sections of gray PVC electrical conduit pop riveted inside the mast from the outside. It sound hard but it’s really not.
