masthead light wiring

[Scott Rutherford]

This spring the major project was dealing with the electrical nightmare I inherited from the PO. After running some new wire and sorting out the rat's nest, everything works, except the masthead light. Two wires emerge from the cabin top (they are cutoff between there and the mast) but I can't figure out how those wires get back to the switch panel/battery. I've been using a multimeter to test for continuity between those wires and anything else I can find without success. Does anyone have a clue where I might at least be able to tap into them before I start drilling a hole in the cabin top? Thanks for the help.

 

[fastscot]

Possible help

Not knowing what year your boat is this may help. On my 1983 the wiring for the mast enters the deck and exits inside the space above the port bulkhead in between the two reinforced fiberglass channels that hold the bulkhead in place. The wire is recessed (fiberglassed/epoxied) in the channel, runs to port, then back along the hull to the area accessable via the port cockpit seat hatch. It seems the wiring is (fiberglassed/epoxied) in place to keep it from moving about. I am in the process of re-running that wire with a new larger size wire and decided to leave the old wire in place and ran a new one in parallel between the hull and the inner panel. I exited just forward of the bulkhead channel and then up to a new hole I made forward of the mast.This may help. CVP

 

[Steve]

I just replaced

this wire on my 1980 23'. The wire was broken where it exits the deck. While I was at it I removed and replaced the mast wire. I added an anchor light and installed a new 3 strand wire up the mast. I replaced the switch that serviced the bow light with a three way toggle and can now operate the anchor light or bow light at the panel. I added new wire inside the cabin and ran it underneath the port settee to the bow side of the port bulkhead. Exits near the porta potty and is secured and hidden behind the partition door. Drilled a new hole through the deck about an inch forward of port bulkhead channel and used the original deck hardware to finish it next to the tabernacle. Purchased a trailer harness at auto parts store to use as the coupler between the mast and deck. Probably about $50 total cost for the wire, coupler, switch and anchor light.

 

[chas1776]

New type of Mast Head Light

If you are replacing you mast head light the following is the latest in Mast head lights at www.ebay.com.1142 LED Tower Marine Anchor and Navigation Light Bulb Item number: 4641422404

 

[Scott]

thanks

Thanks for the help. I was hoping somebody new where to find those wires at the other end. At some point they must appear back near the swtich panel or battery underneath the cockpit. But I can't find them. Looks like the best solution is to drill a new hole and run new wiring.