Replacing anchor light wire & jackin compression post

[Dubo]

I need to snake a wire up the mast since my anchor light wires slipped into the mast and haven't come out since. I am hoping to snake a replacement wire up the mast through the comp post but am not totally sure if this is doable. I have exposed the wires currently in the comp post(removed one side of the post). Ideally, I would like to jack up the beam just enough to take pressure off the comp post so I can slide it out of the way in order to access the hole the wires are run through. The boat is on the hard.

Here are my questions:

1) do the wires have a connector tucked in the mast or are the wires one complete run? i would like to retrieve the loose wires if possible.

2) i have read several good post here regarding removing the compression post but they didn't mention if the the mast was un-stepped or the standing rigging loosened. Can I jack up the beam without touching the mast or rigging?

3) is jacking the post doable without causing damage else where?

Thanks for any info or tips!

D

 

[Jared1048]

My post is on jacks as we speak. I did slack all my standing rigging to ease the downward pressure of the mast.

The wires are not connected to plugs at the base of the mast from what I can tell. That spot does leak a lot though so I'd put some 4200 in there. It was raining when I was doing it so could see how much water was getting in. You could probably simulate it by pooring water into the side of the mast where the tangs get in. There is a hole there that water runs into.

 

[Dubo]

There is a hole there that water runs into.

Thanks for some incite. Is the water suppose to run in the hole like a drain? It sounds like you've made some good progress. Is the hole where the wires pass through caulked and can I get a snake through it?

My comp post seems solid with no rot or moisture though I hear the compression post is know for rot.

Dubo

 

[Jared1048]

Thanks for some incite. Is the water suppose to run in the hole like a drain? It sounds like you've made some good progress. Is the hole where the wires pass through caulked and can I get a snake through it?

My comp post seems solid with no rot or moisture though I hear the compression post is know for rot.

Dubo

The "hole" more like an opening is located where the cross connectors attach to the lower part of the mast (about knee height) and run up diagonally to the first set of spreaders (it’s a part of your standing rigging). There is not a lot of room, maybe enough for a jelly bean but on both sides of the fitting and on both port and starboard sides of the mast. Take a peak at your mast and it will make sense. Anything attached to your mast is potentially a leak source and this one is pretty obvious if your looking right at it

The water was leaking into the cabin from both following the wires and around a pvc fitting that surrounds the wires through the fiberglass. Maybe this is cauked on the top part of where the wires come into the cabin from the mast step but i cant see it. I'm looking up from inside the cabin and dont see anything really.