I had hoped to pull our mast soon, but with the mast crane out of service due to covid, it will have to wait. Some great info on this thread, so I will save it.
One option for thinner PVC is to use white (water) PVC, which you can get in a CL200 rating (at least in Canada) for light use; it is a bit thinner walled, and UV resistance is not an issue inside the mast. You could also seek out aluminum electrical conduit, which will be even thinner. Regarding sizing, I just installed two 3/4" conduits (grey electrical type) through the bilge for wiring, and was able to get the wiring for both Garmin and Standard horizon depth sounders through one conduit by staggering the connectors - two 7 pin DIN twist lock, and one RCA for the old SH unit. Once the connectors are through, there is plenty of space for smaller cables. Holding the conduit in place while drilling and riveting might be challenge also. Too bad the mast doesn't have a wire track like some of the newer ones. -- Shawn Wright shawngwri...@gmail.com S/V Callisto, 1974 C&C 35 https://www.facebook.com/SVCallisto On Tue, Apr 7, 2020 at 3:30 PM Nathan Post via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > All, > > As one of my boat projects this spring I am replacing the electrical > wiring in my mast. The mast is currently down (horizontal) so now is the > time to do it. I want to secure the wires in the mast, in particular to > reduce noise (when rocking at anchor). Wisper is a 1981 C&C 34 with a keel > stepped mast and 5 internal halyards in addition to the wires. The cables > are for wind instruments, masthead and steaming lights, VHF coax, and radar > (power and communication) so it will be a substantial bundle with a > separate drop at the spreader. The two approaches I am considering are: > > 1) Creating a bundle (wiring harness) of the cables and placing 3 large > cable ties on the bundle at perhaps 2 or 3 foot intervals with the tails > sticking out at 120 deg angles that will bend over and press against the > mast and keep the cables in the middle. I would use Panduit metal barb > outdoor zip ties which are robust, smooth edged, and long lasting. > > 2) Installing a PVC conduit (using rivets?) with a feeder line for the > cables and then running the cables through it. > > There is support of both methods in various forums online. Cable ties are > definitely the simpler method. The main advantages to the conduit that I > see is being able to run an additional wire through it at a later time > potentially with the mast up. Also I might be able to run cables from top > to bottom so that a large connector can remain preinstalled on the top (for > example for the radar unit) rather than needing to feed everything in to > the bottom at once and then fishing the ends out the various small holes in > the mast and reattaching connectors. The disadvantage is the effort > required to install it and the additional holes I would need to create in > the mast. I am also unsure how quiet either solution would be and the > relative chance of tangling or extra friction or wear on a halyard although > most info on-line seems to indicate that the conduit is the better choice > for that. > > With the conduit approach, I am also debating if two smaller conduits - > one to the spreader and one to the mast head - would make more sense than > having a hole in large conduit at the spreader location. > > Has anyone done either of these securing approaches? What are your > thoughts on the success? How much does it silence the cables? Is the > effort for the conduit worth it? > > Thanks, > Nathan Post > S/V Wisper > 1981 C&C 34 CB > Lynn MA, USA > _______________________________________________ > > Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each > and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - > use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray > >
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
