Re: Cutting an access port at the mast base of a Hunter 31 ,
I just rewired my mast but had the advantage of having it off of the boat. This allowed me to see how everything was put together. The wiring on this mast, if it is a Kenyon has its own channel behind the slide track from the boom up and from the boom down there is a filler piece. If you pull the goose neck plate off you should be able to see the wires down to that point and if you remove the vang attachment you could carefully drill 2- 1 in holes side by side and connect them in this filler piece. Don't go fast or deep or you could damage the wires behind. I did this for future. This should allow you to pull the new wiring down to that point by using the old wire as a fish. I also cut an inspection hole in the side of the mast a couple of inches above the visible mast step. (the step extends almost 2 inches up into the mast base. I cut these 2 holes the same way, using a hole saw and a hacksaw blade(before I had the mast off). Rig Rite sells pre made inspection covers. This inspection hole should make it possible to bring the wire to the bottom of the mast. Getting the wire from here into the boat however is nearly impossible without removing the mast. If the old sensor wire from the bottom of the mast into the boat is still in decent shape, You could just splice it to the new wire at the bottom and re use it. Hope this helps
