H34 Mast Rewiring

[WasabiRush]

For those whom have rewired your mast, what wire did you use (i.e. multiple 16/2, etc.)? I have the anchor light, which I will be replacing with a two-wire marine beam tri-color. I also have a steaming/deck light combo. What cable are you using for your VHF antenna? Mine has been replaced by a PO with what I think is RG-8. However, the connector fell off when I touched it and I don't think there is enough slack to make the connection when re-stepping. It looks like the wiring is run in a channel behind the mast track. Is that normal?

Also, I don't see a manufacturer marking on this mast. Which brand did Hunter use in 1986? My boom is a Kenyon.

Thanks much.

 

[jssailem]

• what wire did you use (i.e. multiple 16/2, etc.)?
• I have the anchor light, which I will be replacing with a two-wire marine beam tri-color.
• I also have a steaming/deck light combo.
• What cable are you using for your VHF antenna? It looks like the wiring is run in a channel behind the mast track. Is that normal?

• I used 14/3 wire to serve LED lights. This gave me 2 hots and a common ground for the Try Color and an Anchor Light at the top. That way each is switchable.
• Same for the streaming/deck light combo. You could use a 16/3 but 14/3 means less voltage drop.
• I used a low Loss VHF cable. LMR-400. It has the advantages of Low Loss and flexibility. It is excellent. Look for a Ham Radio shop to buy it at a favorable price.
• Yes running the wires in a channal or track along the front of the mast is normal. If no track then often thin wall pvc pipe is used to provide a channel for the wires. They use rivets to secure the PVC pipe to the mast.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

The wire size for your lights is a function of power draw and cable length. We don’t know what light rating consumption you plan to use. The internet is full of wire sizing charts you can use to determine the proper size.

Similarly, there are lots of coax loss calculators online to compare what coax type you prefer. RG8 is not generally a good choice as you will see using the loss calculator. And don’t replace the coax and then use crappy PL259 connectors. Buy from reputable sources as they are not all alike.

 

[WasabiRush]

• I used 14/3 wire to serve LED lights. This gave me 2 hots and a common ground for the Try Color and an Anchor Light at the top. That way each is switchable.
• Same for the streaming/deck light combo. You could use a 16/3 but 14/3 means less voltage drop.
• I used a low Loss VHF cable. LMR-400. It has the advantages of Low Loss and flexibility. It is excellent. Look for a Ham Radio shop to buy it at a favorable price.
• Yes running the wires in a channal or track along the front of the mast is normal. If no track then often thin wall pvc pipe is used to provide a channel for the wires. They use rivets to secure the PVC pipe to the mast.

Thanks.

My wires are in a track on the back side of the mast.

 

[WasabiRush]

The wire size for your lights is a function of power draw and cable length. We don’t know what light rating consumption you plan to use. The internet is full of wire sizing charts you can use to determine the proper size.

Similarly, there are lots of coax loss calculators online to compare what coax type you prefer. RG8 is not generally a good choice as you will see using the loss calculator. And don’t replace the coax and then use crappy PL259 connectors. Buy from reputable sources as they are not all alike.

I know electricity and how to use the internet. I asked for what others have done.

What coax connectors should I use if not PL259?

 

[jssailem]

There are several manufactures of PL259 connectors. That is the normal item. Not all Chinese manufactures are the same. Again, seek out a HAM radio store and talk with experts about them. I found a store in Portland and they were extremely helpful. They showed me the difference in the materials used for different builds of the same product. They are not expensive. Just not sure I would buy the cheapest from Amazon. You won't know it till you install them and they corrode away at the top of the mast.

Be sure to get 50 OHM connectors.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I know electricity and how to use the internet. I asked for what others have done.

What coax connectors should I use if not PL259?

sorry my answer was unacceptable - my point was that it’s better to choose the correct size wires rather than simply choosing what others might be using. Given that we have no clue what size lights you have, there is no definitive answer.
John just described what PL259 connectors are preferable although since you “know electricity”, N-type connectors can be a good alternative too.

 

[WasabiRush]

sorry my answer was unacceptable - my point was that it’s better to choose the correct size wires rather than simply choosing what others might be using. Given that we have no clue what size lights you have, there is no definitive answer.
John just described what PL259 connectors are preferable although since you “know electricity”, N-type connectors can be a good alternative too.

My question was "for those whom rewired your mast what wire did you use." There was no right or wrong answer, unless you didn't rewire your mast. I didn't ask what wire I should use.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

My question was "for those whom rewired your mast what wire did you use." There was no right or wrong answer, unless you didn't rewire your mast. I didn't ask what wire I should use.

You’re absolutely correct. Excuse my attempt to be helpful; be assured it won’t happen again.

 

[kloudie1]

My mast on the 1985 model H-34 is a Kenyon BF 5386.. They may have used different ones during the run..

 

[WasabiRush]

My mast on the 1985 model H-34 is a Kenyon BF 5386.. They may have used different ones during the run..

Thanks much!

 

[Dalliance]

I re-wired my Kenyon mast on my ‘82 H30 in 2021 and switched all the lights (anchor, windex & steaming) to LED. The electrical wiring runs in a raceway on the back side of the mast at the sail track. The raceway is closed by flat sections that, in theory, should slide out for easy access. Mine did not because they were long since painted over and after 41 years were likely seized together anyway. I used the old wires to pull through messenger lines. There‘s a horizontal tube from the raceway to the steaming light on the front of the mast that’s a bit tricky pulling wire through. My raceway was not large enough to hold anything more than the power supply wires. This may all be somewhat moot, as your boat was made four years later and is a different model, but I believe if you have a Kenyon boom, the mast is likely also Kenyon.

My VHF coax and wind instrument wires had to hang outside the raceway with the wind transducer wire taped to the heavier coax cable about every 30 inches. Time will tell if attaching those two wires was wise. It made sense to me because the transducer wire seemed too delicate to just hang free in forty feet of mast. With the heavier coax and my thick walled mast, I never hear wires bouncing around inside the mast.

To answer your question about wire sizes, I used 2-wire 14AWG and RG213 VHF coax cable with Shakespeare PL-259-G soldered connectors. Based on load alone, LED lights allow use of much smaller wire, but I think ABYC wiring standards say 16AWG is the minimum.

 

[WasabiRush]

Great info Dalliance. Thanks.