Re-running wires to mast

[Lee Scott]

I've just replaced the starboard chainplate bulkhead in my new '87 C-27. (And I did a mighty fine job, if I do say so myself!) The Git-rot treatment I tried first to try and save the original bulkhead ended up looking like sh#t with all the little holes I had to drill. On the positive side, it did strengthen the bulkhead enough so that I was able to get it out in one piece and use it as the template for the new bulkhead.Anyway, in order to remove the bulkhead, I had to first remove the compression post, which would not come out until I undid the wiring connection at the mast step and pulled the wires back through the post into the bilge. Then the post came out without a problem. I used a couple of 5' screw jacks to raise the cabin top up enough to provide clearance.Now that I've got it all back together, I need to get the wires back up the compression post from the bilge to the mast step. I've discovered that pushing a wire is a lot harder than pulling one!Anybody have any neat tricks for getting this done? In case I need to remove the compression post again, I've decided not to screw the bulkhead back in place yet. I'll wait until I've got the wires back in first.

 

[Lee Scott]

I've just replaced the starboard chainplate bulkhead in my new '87 C-27. (And I did a mighty fine job, if I do say so myself!) The Git-rot treatment I tried first to try and save the original bulkhead ended up looking like sh#t with all the little holes I had to drill. On the positive side, it did strengthen the bulkhead enough so that I was able to get it out in one piece and use it as the template for the new bulkhead.Anyway, in order to remove the bulkhead, I had to first remove the compression post, which would not come out until I undid the wiring connection at the mast step and pulled the wires back through the post into the bilge. Then the post came out without a problem. I used a couple of 5' screw jacks to raise the cabin top up enough to provide clearance.Now that I've got it all back together, I need to get the wires back up the compression post from the bilge to the mast step. I've discovered that pushing a wire is a lot harder than pulling one!Anybody have any neat tricks for getting this done? In case I need to remove the compression post again, I've decided not to screw the bulkhead back in place yet. I'll wait until I've got the wires back in first.

 

[joe friedman]

send in the messenger

make a snake out of a flexible solid wire and either push it down from the top or shove up from the bottom. use this as a messenger and then attach the wires by wrapping them around the messenger with electrician's tape. pull/push them through depending on which way you arrived. try using a heavy gauge wire scavenged from a length of household AC cable - 12- or 10-gauge might do the trick.

 

[joe friedman]

send in the messenger

make a snake out of a flexible solid wire and either push it down from the top or shove up from the bottom. use this as a messenger and then attach the wires by wrapping them around the messenger with electrician's tape. pull/push them through depending on which way you arrived. try using a heavy gauge wire scavenged from a length of household AC cable - 12- or 10-gauge might do the trick.

 

[Lee Scott]

Success!

Joe, thanks for the tip. I got the wires fished back up the compression post, but it was definitely a two-person job. My wife down in the bilge pushing the snake wire up, and me up on the deck with a small wire bent into a tiny hook to stick down the hole and guide the wire up and out.Now that I've done it, it was easy!

 

[Lee Scott]

Success!

Joe, thanks for the tip. I got the wires fished back up the compression post, but it was definitely a two-person job. My wife down in the bilge pushing the snake wire up, and me up on the deck with a small wire bent into a tiny hook to stick down the hole and guide the wire up and out.Now that I've done it, it was easy!