In Mast Wiring

[thaeni]

I have a 1992 33.5 Hunter. My steaming light went out and when I went
up to change the bulb the wiring came off and fell out of reach. By the way there was very little slack in the wiring. I called the yard and they went up
and couldn't find the wires and said the mast had to come down in order
to run new wires. I find this hard to believe this is the only way to fix it.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Ian McGain]

Two ways to do this, both need an opening at the bottom of your mast.
Quick way- tie a large nail to a string and drop down mast. Use magnet stick to pull to opening and retrieve. Attach wire and pull back up. Make sure you coat wire with wire slip which is very inexpensive.
Second way- buy a fifty foot wire fish from the big box stores. Find the conduct pipe and run the fish wire down and try to pull out at the botom. This is if you can not unhook a wire in the mast to attach the pulling sting to.
Remember, if the wire does not go in a conduet you will get mast slap when the boat rocks. The way to avoid this and not jam you in the mast halyards, to to use large cable tie every five feet or so when you pull the steaming light wire back up.

Good Luck

Ian
s/v Meant to Be

 

[Alan]

Unfortunately it probably is. If the wires have broken off inside the mast you don't really have an option. If they've simply slipped inside you could try fishing them out with a bent wire.