Mounting an Anchor Light on top of the mast

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Ward H

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,833
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
While my O'day 25 mast is down for other work, I will be mounting an anchor light on the top. The yard suggested I drill a hole near the top in the side of the mast and another one at the bottom for the wire exit. They said if drilling the top I might damage the halyards. There are three holes in the top, two have screws in them.
Are those screws holding something inside or for mounting a light?
What about pulling the head so I have a straight shot for running the wire snake and using the existing holes for mounting and the wire?

Any suggestions on how to do this?
 
Brian S

Brian S

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Nov 9, 2012
2,500
Oday 192 Lake Nockamixon
I've been hearing that folks have been hoisting LED lanterns by the main halyard to use as an anchor light. (I know the 4 LED "tap lights" I put in the cabin are BRIGHT.) Or the Bebi Owl http://www.bebi-electronics.com/owl.html I figure that it might be more noticeable only 1/3 of the way up the mast to the average power boater who would be likely to see my anchor light.

But if you want a dedicated masthead light, well, sorry I don't have info for you :(

Brian
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
I installed a dedicated anchor light on the top of the mast on my O'Day 25. It was a pain to do so. The top has a mast cap. It is easy to remove but when you mount the light it is crowded when you go to put the mast cap back on. I think I would have been better served to mount it on the side so that the light still went above the top. Before I drilled anywhere, I would remove the mast cap to see where I was drilling.
 
Ward H

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,833
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
Brian, I considered that. I would have taken that route if I were not dropping the mast for other reasons. New standing rigging and a deck organizer under the tabernacle were the main reasons to drop the mast.

Dave, that answers my question pretty well.
Sounds like I should plan on pulling the end cap, drill a side exit hole in the mast, run up the snake to pull the wire and pass the end out the exit hole. Then drill and tap the mast cap for a bracket that holds the light off to the side.

Thanks for the help.
 
Brian S

Brian S

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Nov 9, 2012
2,500
Oday 192 Lake Nockamixon
Ward, I heard of a nifty idea to stop cable slap inside the mast. Put zip ties on the wire, and rotate them. Leave the tails long, and when you pull the wire in, the zip ties push the wire to the middle. Or, wait. Maybe you could put them all in a line, and then they would push the wire to the side up against the mast. Or something.

Brian
 
geehaw

geehaw

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May 15, 2010
231
O-day 25 shoal keel Valdez
I just did mine last fall. I drilled through the mast head and ran the wires through that. I did remove the mast head to do so. I found plenty of room to do this along the sheaves.It did require me to mount it off center. I didn't need a large hole for the wires as the wires from the lights are pretty small. For the life of me I can't remember how I supported the harness coming up the mast. I think I drilled through the mast and used a bolt to attach a rubber covered wire support. Greg
 
Joe11688

Joe11688

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Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
I would remove the mast head and the mast plug and hinge plate at the bottom of the mast. I'm assuming that you have external halyards.

Inside my mast near the top, they had installed a small eye strap which the duplex cable is attached to. They just ran the duplex through the eye strap, bent it over and taped it to itself while leaving enough conductor wires to reach the mast head light. The cable then goes down and out through a hole with a grommet and all the slack is taken out of the duplex so that it doesn't slap the inside of the mast and it's pulled through the grommet.
I taped my Coaxial cable to the duplex and it too exits another hole through the side of the mast down near the hinge plates.

My old mast plug was held in place with machine screws going through the sides of the mast. I used Lock-Tite on the threads to keep them from backing out.
 
Ward H

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,833
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
Joe,
Thanks for explaining that. If there is not an eye strap I will add one to hold the cable. Didn't really like the idea of tying a knot to support the wire. Taking the cap and plug will make things a lot easier.
 
daleyellin

daleyellin

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Feb 19, 2013
66
Oday 222 Grants Pass, Oregon
I just completed the install of a masthead anchor light on my 222. I had/made an output hole at the base of the mast. I removed the masthead fitting and "fished" a line up to top of the mast and pulled it out of a newly drilled hole near head of the mast. I also pulled a masthead antenna wire at the the same time. If you don't already have a masthead antenna, this might be a good opportunity to considering one.
 
Joe11688

Joe11688

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Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
Ward H said:
Joe,
Thanks for explaining that. If there is not an eye strap I will add one to hold the cable. Didn't really like the idea of tying a knot to support the wire. Taking the cap and plug will make things a lot easier.
Click to expand
The mast plug that was installed on my second mast was held in place with five machine screws going through the side of the mast instead of rivets. After I removed my mast plug to gain access to my wiring years ago, the screws would always loosen and back off. I added thread cement to the screws and cured this issue. I say this just in case you have a similar type of mast plug for the tabernacle on your boat.

As for the eye strap affair; one of my friends in WI was able to find a couple of dead-end wire baskets that fit over the duplex and keep it taught inside the mast, but I think that the tape will do the trick pretty fast and easy. http://images.search.yahoo.com/imag...18r6rk01&sigi=13dpk0nmm&sigb=12flr35bk&fr=sfp
 
Ward H

Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,833
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
Joe, the mast plug is held on the mast the same way. I am a bit worried I might snap the screws off when I try to back them out. Will use locktite when I put them back.

Great ideas. Now I know what to look for and have ideas on how to make whatever I find work.
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,509
Catalina 27 . St. Mary's Georgia
If the screws do not want to budge, I find a torch will help them to start turning. I use a torch head that you attach to the small camping bottles of propane. You buy the torch head for $10 or less at Home Depot or Lowes. I keep a torch head on the boat. I almost always have a small canister of propane in a locker and should I need to persuade something rusty, it is nice to have.
 
Joe11688

Joe11688

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Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
Ward H said:
Joe, the mast plug is held on the mast the same way. I am a bit worried I might snap the screws off when I try to back them out. Will use locktite when I put them back.

Great ideas. Now I know what to look for and have ideas on how to make whatever I find work.
Click to expand
Ward,
You won't need Lock-Tite on the mast head screws. I was talking about the mast plug screws needing the glue.

As Dave just mentioned, use some heat from a torch. Try soaking the screws with WD-40. You need to get them to move first. Then work the screws in and out until you can remove them. Try using an impact cordless electric drill like a Makita with a driver bit in the chuck and set the clutch light.
 
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