C25, Wire down the mast?

[Ted M]

I need to install a mast light. The mast has a coax cable to the top for the antenna & a wire about 1/2 way up for the mast light.My problem is the "foam" or whatever is in the mast. The existing wires are between the front of the mast and the "foam." Suggestions on getting a wire down the mast? I've read about putting pvc conduit down the mast. Would this be a problem with the "foam?" Given the "foam" would I still need to pop rivet the pvc into place?

 

[ken]

mast wiring

Ted................................I did this last year............ rewired my VHF antenna, rewired the mast light (very top of the mast) and the steaming light(halfway up the mast). I took a long piece of PVC to knock all the crap that someone had put into the centre of the mast (all kinds of stuff came out). Foam was in there too.......... installed to prevent the wires from slapping against the mast and making noise. Try to get all the crap out and then run your new wire assemblies........... I did not leave any PVC in the mast........ not necessary............... just run your new wires and enjoy!!! Hope this helpskenbernard@earthlink.net

 

[Aldo]

Stop the Slap

Ted: I wouldn't put a PVC pipe inside my mast because of the weight, but you have to do something so that the wires don't bang around inside the mast, when the boat rocks from side to side. If you ever plan on sleeping in your boat, or you think anyone else in your marina might want to sleep in their boat, you must address the problem of the wires banging the inside of the mast. What I did was make "X"s out of plastic, like a soda bottle or milk jug. They had a hole in the middle where the wires went. I then used wire ties to hold the wires on them every few feet. I then pulled the assembly into the mast. On a C-22, there is an aluminum spacer between the spreaders. This makes it a little tricker. If I remember correctly, I pulled the assembly with the plastic "X"s down from the top of the mast, then pushed some of the "X"s up from the bottom with a pipe. This is a very light weight solution to the wire slapping problem. If you have any questions, just reply, and I'll send you some sketches or photos to better explain what I am talking about. Aldo

 

[D. Doyle]

PVC recommended

I disagree with the two previous gentlemen although I must admit that Aldo's solution was ingenious.The main reason to put the wires in conduit is to protect them from chafing. 1/2" schedule 40 conduit weighs only a few lbs. per 10' stick and that weight is spread out from the bottom to the top of the mast. Therefore the added weight to the top of the mast is negligable. In addition, should you ever need to replace or add more wire, the conduit will help make it easier. I recommend fastening the conduit with pop rivets every 4'. I found it easier than it sounds.Regarding the foam in your mast, my mast had never had any wires ran in it prior to my installation and did not have any type of foam inside.