Noisy Mast Cure

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Jun 21, 2009
119
Catalina 30 Mk 1, #3335 Midland, Ontario
I have a question. Can anyone tell me why using Pool Noodles to shove up inside the mast of my 30 Catalina to quiet the conduit and wires that clang about on the inside would be a bad idea? I can't. They shed water, don't allow mold growth, are rigid enough to shove in one pushing the other ahead of it, are plenty cheap and about the right diameter, might take two wide but they don't have to go up far, maybe half way. I think it's actually the cheapest and fastest solution. Am I wrong?
Thanks. Norm
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,520
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Might work but I'd worry about two things -
could trap condensation between the noodle(s) and mast and, more important, because they flex, they could wrap or twist in or among the lines causing them to bind at the worst time when trying to lower the sail
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Hi Piratenorm

I have a 1981 Catalina 30 and have the halyards on the outside of the mast so there's only wires on the inside. What I used is the 1/2 inch foam pipe insulation to cover the wire cable leading to the radar dish just above the spreaders. Since this is the first time in five years I've had the mast down I wanted to cure the noise issue. While looking inside the mast I also noticed most of the connections were done with screws instead of machine bolts. The foam insulation should protect the wire cable from all the sharp screws.
All U Get
 
Jan 6, 2010
1,520
Norm,

I have a 1980 cat. There wasn't alot of quality contol back then. The longer you have your boat, the more you will see & deal with. Ah, so it goes.

I had the same problem. Always that "ching, ching" sound. There are a myiad of ways to stop this. I had to have my mast pulled recently and had a wiring tube put in. not real expensive. Aluminum or PVC. They rivet it to the mast. Access hole at the spreader.

The newer boats have the wiring tubes, I tried foam etc. but too much slack throughout the length. Remember your running 40+ feet vertical, so all the effort of stuffing foam, when a tube will last forever plus your wiring is protected. especially if your halyards are internal like I did.

good luck,

CR
 
Mar 19, 2009
65
Catalina 30 Apollo Beach Florida
I had read in the Practical Sailor that if you take the real stiff zip ties and wrap the wires every few feet that it forces inside pressure to the mast and eliminates internal clanking of the wires. It sounds good in theory and would have no adverse effects on anything else inside the mast. I plan on replacing mast lighting and wires in the next couple of weeks I could let you know how it works.
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
I had read in the Practical Sailor that if you take the real stiff zip ties and wrap the wires every few feet that it forces inside pressure to the mast and eliminates internal clanking of the wires.
So you change the direction of the plastic ties while snugging them with the wire becoming centered inside the mast, I like that thought. It would be lighter but you would have to pull the wires to apply them the full length. :clap::clap:
All U Get
 
Jun 21, 2009
119
Catalina 30 Mk 1, #3335 Midland, Ontario
Thanks all. The wires are already inside a conduit. The conduit, as far as my Q beam light shines, is tight at the spreaders. It's from there down to the mast shoe that the conduit is unsupported and flops around. I wanted to try zip ties, I have extra large ones but worried that pulling them tight to stop gravity from working them down might pose itself a problem. The pool noodles will buffer the conduit enough and would be easy to get out. I'll try it and post the results. Thx.
Norm
 
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