Mast wiring work while it's up?

[mcaswell]

I have some mast wiring work I'd like to do. Specifically, I want to install an LED anchor light... the one my boat has now is a bit wacky, being a combination anchor light and steaming light (front bulb lights up for steaming, both light up for anchor), and I've been unable to find LEDs that will fit this fixture.

But this complicates things. If I replace this fixture with a normal LED anchor light, I lose my steaming light. So, my thought was to install a new steaming light in the more traditional mid-mast position, along with some spreader lights (or a combination steaming/deck light).

Sorry if this is a dumb question... but is it possible to run a couple of wires halfway up the mast while the mast is stepped, or is it crazy to even consider trying this? There's an access panel at the compression post, and inside I can see the wires for the vhf, wind, and lights going up through the deck.

--Michael

 

[KD3PC]

It is definitely possible, not easy unless you have good help and the right tools. If you are paying someone, it will be $$$, as it will be labor intensive.

How comfortable are you with seat time at 40' and such.

Spreaders may not be as easy, unless they will be right beside the mast and angled out..as that ole seat will get sore hiking out....

It will be nigh impossible to push the wires up the mast, even tough if all your halyards are internal, you may be able to fish it one way or the other....as an electrician we always pull "up"...just in case it gets away from you..(PM me for how 800' of 4 phases 250CM looks in an equipment hole, when it falls from 10 stories down the conduit)

Good luck

 

[mcaswell]

I could do the masthead work, but admittedly it would be a big chore... I struggled to just replace the wind transducer (just the transducer, not the mount) a few weeks ago! But there at the top I would just be replacing the anchor light fixture, using the existing wiring (capping off the extra wire that provides the steaming light functionality, of course).

The more extensive work (drilling, running wires) would be down halfway... if spreader lights are too complicated, I'd be happy with just a combo steaming/deck light.

My halyards are indeed internal, and also I should mention I have an in-mast furling main. I thought I saw somewhere a diagram of the mast cross-section, showing "conduits" for the halyards and wiring, but I can't seem to find it anywhere (may not have even been for my boat... I think it was just something I came across online, and I only have a vague memory of it). Anyway, I'll call US Spars to see if they have such a diagram for my mast.

I do have a bit of experience fishing wires throughout the boat, and did install some wiring (wind & vhf) at the top of the mast on our old boat, but the mast was down at the time.

--Michael