Hunter 410 Mast Wiring

[stackwalker]

Hey All,

Having the standing rigging replaced in 2 days. The rigger told me to have the boom off, vang, sails down, etc... but also to have the mast wiring disconnected. I took off the plate up at the mast step and there are no connectors. There's a connector block for 3 wires in the cabin underneath the mast step but there are 5 wires in total. I'm assuming we've got radar unit, deck lights, anchor light, steaming light and VHF antenna.

How do I disconnect these to take the mast down?

 

[jssailem]

Depends on how your mast was set up. In my boat I set it up so you disconnect the electrical wires at the wire block at the base of the mast in the cabin. The Radar and VHF need to be lead back from the NAV station to the mast base.

On some boats when you raise the mast all the wire connections are dangling just inside the mast base.

Check your boat manual. There maybe a wiring diagram in the manual appendix.

 

[Terry Cox]

How do I disconnect these to take the mast down?

Different model boat, but all our mast wires connect inside the mast at the base with a drip loop. You can see them on ours when you lift the mast up a few inches.

 

[stackwalker]

I don’t think the mast has ever been down on this boat. It’s barely been used and most things are original. If there are no connection points I’m assuming I have to cut them and create connections when the mast goes back on?

 

[jssailem]

Yes that is the normal practice.

Is your rigger helping with the mast removal?

Is the mast deck stepped or keel stepped?

 

[jssailem]

From interior images on the web, the post in the cabin center appears to be a compression post. This would suggest the mast is deck stepped.

You’ll want to coil all your running rigging at the mast base, when they lift the mast up a foot or so, you are likely to find the electrical wires have been stuffed inside with room to unplug or cut the wires as needed.