Mast wiring Oday 302

[Mackaroni]

I plan on rewiring my entire mast this winter while it is unstepped and resting on the saw horses. However, before I start running new wire through the mast, I am trying to figure out how to terminate it inside the boat.

The current wiring ran from the mast, was connected via butt connectors (where it had obviously been disconnected before), and ran through the tube on the deck, down the pedestal tube, into the bilge where the previous owner terminated it to a wiring block. From there it goes to the panel.

1. What was the original configuration? Did it originally run from the mast all the way to the panel?

2. The tube where the wires passed through was sealed using some kind of caulk, which was a hot mess. Is there something made to go over this tube where water cannot get in, or am I supposed to use sealant again?

I am looking for recommendations of the best way to rewire this so it is professional yet gives me the option to drop the mast again in the future should I need it. I am also not a fan of the butt connectors and/or the coax connectors at the mast step, nor am I a huge fan of the connections in the bilge.

You'll have the excuse the filth on the photo as I took it as soon as the mast was off the deck.

Thanks

Mack

 

[Apex]

Check McMaster for military spec or weatherproof low voltage dc connectors....

 

[the_alpine]

Hey Mack - mine were solid runs all the way to the panel. Not the best setup as you can imagine, the run up behind the icebox is a real pain to get wires through. I think a terminal block is a good call, but as you know our bilges are quite shallow. I epoxied a terminal block inside the starboard setee high up on the wall just below the seat.

I pulled my mast because the wiring conduit Oday used had come detached inside the mast making the most god awful racket. I ran new wire and pvc conduit riveted to the mast.

 

[Mackaroni]

I am going to move that terminal block to under the settee as well.....seems like as good a place as any and certainly better than the bilge.

When you ran your wires through the small pipe running through the deck, did you silicone it or does it have a rubber boot of some sort?

 

[the_alpine]

I left the pipe open. What I did do was create drip loops for all the wires outside of that pipe. Not sure if I should've filled it, but I was glad I didn't when I later added a wind instrument to the top of the mast, and then even later added spreader lights - all with the mast up. I do keep a messenger line in there.

 

[Mackaroni]

No water dripping in there from above?

 

[the_alpine]

No water that Ive ever noticed.

 

[Evan656]

Mine has connectors at the foot of the mast on deck. This way, when the mast comes down each fall and goes up each spring, it is a small matter to either unplug or plug in the connectors and move the mast in or out of the way.
The mast base plate includes the caulked in tube through which wiring, radio and instrument cords are/can be fished. The tube does not look as though it has ever been sealed or caulked over. I don't see why it should be as the tube is raised a couple of inches off deck and the mast plate includes drainage for any water that gets in the mast. Even if water managed to get in the tube on deck, this water would (or should) drop through the interior mast support down into the bilge.
The wiring runs from the connectors on deck down through the bilge area and then to the panel. No terminal block or other connectors between them.
If you are really concerned about water entry, you could tape or plug with removable putty. Cheers!

 

[Mackaroni]

Evan....you have an pictures?

 

[the_alpine]

Evan - Your connectors are inside the mast and unreachable with the mast up, or outside and reachable with the mast up?

 

[Evan656]

Yes, everything runs inside the mast and the connectors and wires are tucked up inside the mast and unreachable when the mast is up. When the mast is down, one side of the connection goes with the mast and the other side sits or hangs outside the down pipe in the middle of the mast step. The wires and a metal hook are taped together and the hook catches on the rim of the down pipe to stop the wires from dropping into the pipe. If the boat is uncovered, I put a bucket over the mast step, tape it down to keep rain etc out. I know that the mast has been rewired because what I have now looks like standard 4 prong wiring used for a car-trailer connection rather than for marine use. As far as wiring goes, my mast step is the same as yours Mack. Your wires are knotted together to create a stop and the down pipe looks like it is filled in. Your wires look like they have butt connections. Mine have 4 prong plug connections. And there are two other connectors, one for antennae and the other for an instrument the boat no longer has. No picture on hand. But can take some in a week or so.
My mast comes down every winter so I can check that there is no accumulation of debrie inside the mast step and that the little channel moulded into the mast step is clear and draining any water coming down the inside of the mast.