Mast Removal

[Charlie]

It has become necessary to remove the mast. What kind of electrical and coax connections are there inside the mast at the base if any? After I pull out the halyards can I have the mast lifted and just unscrew or disconnect connections or is all of the electrical wiring and coax going up the mast continuous back to the electrical panel, radio and wind direction instrument?

 

[Clyde Lichtenwalner]

Connectors

There are connectors at the mast step for all cables and wires going up the mast. Be careful that the conduit that carries these cables from the cabin up through the mast step is well sealed against leaks. Water leaked in this area can wet wood components supporting the mast step in the overhead beam above the compression post in the main cabin. There has been plenty written about that problem in this forum, so you want to take the simple steps to avoid it.

 

[Bill Cunningham]

Leave a Halyard lead line!

You mentioned pulling out the halyardsbefore removing the mast...be sure toleave a messenger line so you can pullnew haylards after the mast is re-installed.

 

[Allan Hadad]

H34 Mast Wiring

You will probably find that the connectors are very corroded as is the copper stranded wire up the mast (and in the whole boat for that matter). It would be the perfect time to replace all the mast wiring with the tin plated marine grade stuff. I made mine long enough that it goes all the way below decks and is re-connected there. I put a terminal strip in the settee where the holding tank is. You can expose the wire run inside the boat by removing the head door jamb. Make all your electrical wires long enough to form a drip loop under the mast and put it into a piece of PVC pipe stuck in the hole on the deck (sealed into place) and long enough to route down to the settee. About 8 extra feet should do it. Re-route the coax from the radio over there too and use the appropriate PL-259 connector and you will be all set. See my posting on the Photo Forum for some pictures. Hopefully you won't have to do the extensive repair I did, but some of the pictures may be helpful.Allan"Alchemie"SF Bay

 

[Steve Dion]

preventative maintenance

Charlie:As preventative medicine, you should consider epoxy on the crossmembers when you step the mast. This will help prevent the problem that Allan mentioned. Also be sure to seal the tube and caulk the wire run before restepping. And listen to the rest of these posts. We had to replace our compression post ($3000+). If we would have had to oppurtunity to do what you are doing before the damange occured we could have saved this money.