Catalina 320 is deck-stepped but you will need to fish the cable through the deck and down the compression post. Catalina supplies a thin messenger line that you may find in the bilge just aft of the compression post base. I suspect that sending a new cable down the mast all the way thru the compression post while the mast is standing may be a job for somebody experienced in commissioning a Catalina. I agree that the way it is done may not be consistent because instruments are typically installed by the dealer/commissioning agent. I recall reading a letter from Catalina (that the previous owner left) in response to a question from the owner and Catalina was complaining that the goop that was found to prevent water draining into the compression post was NOT in accordance with Catalina's preferred installation techniques.
There was no messenger line penetrating through the deck. But since the wires were sealed in goop at the deck penetration, I decided to leave well enough alone because I didn't have the time to deal with addressing the wiring mess and all systems were working as it was. Obviously, all my wires and cables were connected inside the mast above the deck; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to separate the mast from the boat!
Even though my Raymarine wind instrument was working at the time, I started having problems after the mast was stepped going into my second season. So then I decided to replace the Raymarine instruments with B&G. I did go with the wireless because I wasn't taking the mast down again and the cable appeared to be a problem. I had good performance for a season but the next spring the blue tooth antennae wouldn't pair with the transducer. At first, B&G suggested that the battery was dead. I thought it unlikely, especially since our winter was very mild. After a new battery failed to help, we determined that the transducer had failed. I received a replacement transducer via warranty and all was well for the remainder of the season. It was recommended that I remove the battery for the winter but our marina frowns on climbing the mast myself (I'm not going to anyway) so I just left it up there again this winter. Hopefully it works in the spring. Some say that the battery should last at least 3 to 5 years others say the battery won't last thru a winter. B&G seems to say that there is no consistency.
It's more romantic to say that the wind can be read by the feel across your face and of course you can sail just fine without a wind instrument, but I'll admit that I'm one of those sailors that just finds the wind instrument to be a source of joy and comfort and I just don't like to sail without it. I would recommend a wireless instrument but I'm one of those fellows who just deals with the frustration when they don't work as promised. I can't say that I regret going with the wireless model.
If your boat is 20 years old, I absolutely recommend that you replace standing rigging, no matter what the survey says. I'd bet that the survey has all kinds of qualifying statements about the rigging because a full inspection wasn't done. A full inspection would be a significant add-on in cost. My apologies if you did have the rigging inspected as a specialty item. If you do decide to replace the standing rigging, make sure you install the transducer cable at that time.
There was no messenger line penetrating through the deck. But since the wires were sealed in goop at the deck penetration, I decided to leave well enough alone because I didn't have the time to deal with addressing the wiring mess and all systems were working as it was. Obviously, all my wires and cables were connected inside the mast above the deck; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to separate the mast from the boat!
Even though my Raymarine wind instrument was working at the time, I started having problems after the mast was stepped going into my second season. So then I decided to replace the Raymarine instruments with B&G. I did go with the wireless because I wasn't taking the mast down again and the cable appeared to be a problem. I had good performance for a season but the next spring the blue tooth antennae wouldn't pair with the transducer. At first, B&G suggested that the battery was dead. I thought it unlikely, especially since our winter was very mild. After a new battery failed to help, we determined that the transducer had failed. I received a replacement transducer via warranty and all was well for the remainder of the season. It was recommended that I remove the battery for the winter but our marina frowns on climbing the mast myself (I'm not going to anyway) so I just left it up there again this winter. Hopefully it works in the spring. Some say that the battery should last at least 3 to 5 years others say the battery won't last thru a winter. B&G seems to say that there is no consistency.
It's more romantic to say that the wind can be read by the feel across your face and of course you can sail just fine without a wind instrument, but I'll admit that I'm one of those sailors that just finds the wind instrument to be a source of joy and comfort and I just don't like to sail without it. I would recommend a wireless instrument but I'm one of those fellows who just deals with the frustration when they don't work as promised. I can't say that I regret going with the wireless model.
If your boat is 20 years old, I absolutely recommend that you replace standing rigging, no matter what the survey says. I'd bet that the survey has all kinds of qualifying statements about the rigging because a full inspection wasn't done. A full inspection would be a significant add-on in cost. My apologies if you did have the rigging inspected as a specialty item. If you do decide to replace the standing rigging, make sure you install the transducer cable at that time.