I'm thinking of adding a windex to my 1986 h34 I bought this past winter. I haven't been aloft yet, is there a spot for one? will I need to drill any holes? Any tips that might help? I'm hoping to do it in one trip up the mast. thanks John.
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Adding a Windex
I just got through mounting a wind rota system on the masthead of my 84' 34 but the mast was down at the time. I have a windex that mounts to an aluminum platform extending aft that is mounted with screws tapped into the masthead. You will need to drill and tap screws for mounting this plate but there is one thing to keep in mind. Both the anchor light and the windex platform mounting screws that were tapped into my masthead threaded through it and were causing the center plate which seperates the halyard blocks inside the masthead to push to one side. This caused the halyard blocks on one side to seize up and made raising the halyards on that side very difficult. When you go to drill and thread the screws into the mast head make sure you offset them to one side to avoid doing this. I don't think you can see this center plate without removing the masthead which you can't do with the mast up for obvious reasons. Disclaimer: I'm not sure if I have the original masthead for this boat. The previous owners had some work done to it and I had to make more modifications to it than I had expected leaving me to wonder if it is original equipment. Good luck
I just got through mounting a wind rota system on the masthead of my 84' 34 but the mast was down at the time. I have a windex that mounts to an aluminum platform extending aft that is mounted with screws tapped into the masthead. You will need to drill and tap screws for mounting this plate but there is one thing to keep in mind. Both the anchor light and the windex platform mounting screws that were tapped into my masthead threaded through it and were causing the center plate which seperates the halyard blocks inside the masthead to push to one side. This caused the halyard blocks on one side to seize up and made raising the halyards on that side very difficult. When you go to drill and thread the screws into the mast head make sure you offset them to one side to avoid doing this. I don't think you can see this center plate without removing the masthead which you can't do with the mast up for obvious reasons. Disclaimer: I'm not sure if I have the original masthead for this boat. The previous owners had some work done to it and I had to make more modifications to it than I had expected leaving me to wonder if it is original equipment. Good luck
Keep in mind . . .
if you have a mast head mounted radio anntenna, that you may need to position your windex so as to avoid potential interference. I don't claim to be any kind of expert. I was told by a ham operator friend that I should mount the windex about 18" (1/2 wave-lenght?) from the antenna. You might want to check with your local experts on this point. Jim Kolstoe
if you have a mast head mounted radio anntenna, that you may need to position your windex so as to avoid potential interference. I don't claim to be any kind of expert. I was told by a ham operator friend that I should mount the windex about 18" (1/2 wave-lenght?) from the antenna. You might want to check with your local experts on this point. Jim Kolstoe
Anti Sieze Compound
When mounting the Windex, if you drill and tap for screws I'd recommend using an anti-sieze compound of which there a a couple on the market. West maine sells one called Anti-Seze by Permatex and there is another one I just bought last week called something like Lanoline, recommended by Forespar for lubing their plastic seacocks which I understand is also very good on metals. The mast head is made of aluminum so in lieu of drilling and taping (aluminum requires a different taping oil than steel or the metal will gall up on the tap and possibly break it), consider thru drilling and using Nylac nuts or nuts with Loc-tite, or both. Even if nuts are used I'd recommend an anti-sieze compound to help prevent galvanic action between the steel and aluminum. The next trick is getting the wires evenly lined up with the way you like to sail close-hauled; probably will require another trip or two up the mast.
When mounting the Windex, if you drill and tap for screws I'd recommend using an anti-sieze compound of which there a a couple on the market. West maine sells one called Anti-Seze by Permatex and there is another one I just bought last week called something like Lanoline, recommended by Forespar for lubing their plastic seacocks which I understand is also very good on metals. The mast head is made of aluminum so in lieu of drilling and taping (aluminum requires a different taping oil than steel or the metal will gall up on the tap and possibly break it), consider thru drilling and using Nylac nuts or nuts with Loc-tite, or both. Even if nuts are used I'd recommend an anti-sieze compound to help prevent galvanic action between the steel and aluminum. The next trick is getting the wires evenly lined up with the way you like to sail close-hauled; probably will require another trip or two up the mast.
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