easMast Wiring...There has to be a better way

Marc14857

Marc14857

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Jun 5, 2004
485
Hunter 44 Mystic, Ct
The pictures below shows my mast to boat wiring on my Hunter 44 AC as delivered by the factory back in 2005. Effectively I have a black dual terminal strip for the anchor, steaming, deck lights and the wind instrument, and a second terminal strip for the Raymarine radar and of course the VHF antenna connection. Once all the connections are made everything gets "STUFFED" in the overhead near the compression post with fingers crossed that no wires pull or ground out. This is a real PITA especially working with the thin wires and the shields. My mast does come down anualy.

I've been planning on coming up with a new design that perhaps incorporated 2 amphenol connectors or something similar though I am not sure if I could get a connector that accommodates the different size wires.
I'm sure someone has already solved this issue and would appreciate any thoughts or ideas,

Thanks
Marc
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LeslieTroyer

LeslieTroyer

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May 20, 2016
3,015
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
Get some weatherpak connectors. I like them so much more than the mess you have.

Les
 
E

EV21

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Apr 29, 2016
94
Macgregor 21 Venture Delaware ...
Hard to imagine that's the way a professional boat builder would deliver a vessel. Would be curious as to Maine Sail's take on this "installation". Seen much better looking installs by car-stereo installers. Is this kind of stuff appropriate for a marine application?
 
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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
i've become a huge fan of the wrapping method for bundling cables to like lengths. each cable in the bundle serves as a strain release for the cable next to it.

i'll personally be using a covered terminal block along these lines https://www.grainger.com/product/6Y...8597!&ef_id=WsPd9wAABUmH6t5w:20180426191916:s in order to mount said terminals to the bulkhead (or near it) so that i have immediate access to test any thing that would be going up the mast. This combined with the n2k connector mounted, and a lightning arrestor mounted in the same area will provide a clean and stable wiring environment that i could then put some lexan over or some such. I think i'll be hiding all of it in the back of the locker in the head area of my pearson. I'm considering that any wire that passes through the locker area will actually be joined by the terminal block, not just the mast, to ensure that i can easily service things on the boat.

In your shoes, i'd have tore all that out and replaced it. cable truly isn't that expensive and there's a great deal of peace of mind to be gained i think... not just in regards to fires or such but knowing things will work when you need them to.
 
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tipsyravensailing

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Apr 25, 2017
195
pearson 26 holland mi
in regards to the amphenol connectors i worked with them regularly when i was back at the engineering firm

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you absolutely can order connectors with many different pin sizes. i thought about them for my boat but from my work experience knew i would get sticker shock :)
 
LeslieTroyer

LeslieTroyer

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May 20, 2016
3,015
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
tipsyravensailing said:
in regards to the amphenol connectors i worked with them regularly when i was back at the engineering firm

View attachment 149439

you absolutely can order connectors with many different pin sizes. i thought about them for my boat but from my work experience knew i would get sticker shock :)
Click to expand
Those things are super expensive and the crimp tool is even more so. A few flat 4-5 pin weatherpak will clean it right up, the inexpensive crimpers produce better crimps than cheap crimpers for the ring terminals.

Les
 
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jeepbluetj

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Jan 18, 2016
782
Catalina 387 Dana Point
Les is right. Weatherpak is easy, inexpensive, and quite suitable for use on a boat. MLX would work too, but I'd rather use Weatherpak. Use one connector for each bundle.

I'd use shielded RF connectors for the coax's tho.
 
LeslieTroyer

LeslieTroyer

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May 20, 2016
3,015
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
jeepbluetj said:
Les is right. Weatherpak is easy, inexpensive, and quite suitable for use on a boat. MLX would work too, but I'd rather use Weatherpak. Use one connector for each bundle.

I'd use shielded RF connectors for the coax's tho.
Click to expand
Thanks Jeep. If the wire count gets high I like to use two and alternate the male/female ends.
This keeps cost down and for me easier to keep all the wires straight.
Les
 
Marc14857

Marc14857

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Jun 5, 2004
485
Hunter 44 Mystic, Ct
I'm not familiar with weatherpack connectors, but see them on Amazon. Specifically for the radar cable, there are 8 very fine I'm guessing 24 gauge wires, three 16-18 gauge wires, a thin wire shield and a mesh shield. Do I have to use different plugs for the different wire gauges? How do I deal with the shields?
Thanks Again
Marc
 
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