Rewiring mast conduit or not?

[CYQK]

Getting ready to rewire mast and there is no conduit in there now
Would you put conduit in if so how do you secure it to the inside?
Thks
Gary

 

[The Shadow Knows]

Gary,
My boat is a 1980 vintage & all cabling/wiring ran loos-footed down my mast.
What first perturbed me was trying to sleep at anchor while listening to the
clang-clanging cable banging sounds.

On a haulout several years ago, I had the yard insert a vertical tube to encompass these.
I now never here those clang-clang noises.

Work smart & knot hard pal...........

 

[Ned Ludd]

I rewired my mast this past winter while the boat was out, I used blue Carlon brand low voltage conduit. In my spring commissioning frenzy I neglected to slip pipe insulation over the conduit now I have 1 clang instead of multiple . A friend recommended removing the conduit this winter and putting plastic wire ties all around it so it looks like a fuzzy caterpillar.
Learn from my mistake...

 

[CloudDiver]

I wish I didn't have to install conduit, but I will because I know I will end up with clang if I don't. For my small boat/mast, with internal halyards, 3/4 inch PVC just seems too big. I got some 1/2 inch fiberglass tube that wasn't cheap, but also wasn't super expensive. My dilemma is the same, how to secure it to the inside of the mast. Screws or rivets will just intrude the limited space inside the tube and add a potential snag risk. I am looking for a smarter way of doing this the does not involve a bunch of fasteners or rivets (I don't like putting more holes in the mast than absolutely needed, even if very small).
If I come up with a solution that works I will be glad to share.
At least with a large Benny you have a much larger mast internal area to work with. Down side is you have to un-step and yard store the mast to run everything, while pretty much taking everything apart to do so. Your wire bundle inside the conduit, signal and power, is also much more than what I will have. All I have is 3 hots, 1 ground, and the VHF coax.

 

[CloudDiver]

For a larger mast (and maybe this will work on smaller masts) try these cable ties to secure the conduit;
https://www.mcmaster.com/#zip-ties/=185kyhm
(edit: the hole diameter for this tie mount is .63", that sound like 9/16 to me. I wouldn't do that on a small mast. I will try to find a similar product that has a smaller hole to drill)
The limitation with these is that you will only be able to get a few in at the top and bottom of the mast, assuming you have a removable masthead. To secure the conduit so that is stays put, does not sway or slap; hopefully you can get away with just 2 or three at the bottom and top. If there are large enough openings elsewhere in the mast, like near sets of spreaders, you may be able to get more in at various points in the mast.
For the conduit, I would use actual electrical conduit rather than residential plumbing type PVC. These have a greater range of sizes you can choose and get something that isn't huge but just big enough to snake your wire loom through.
https://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-electrical-conduit/=185kyz6

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

setup the wires as a lashed together cable, and enclose that in pool noodles, tied to the bundle with cable tiers. Then pull the whole mess up inside.

 

[CloudDiver]

setup the wires as a lashed together cable, and enclose that in pool noodles, tied to the bundle with cable tiers. Then pull the whole mess up inside.

This is a good idea and I tried this myself... just doesn't work well with internal halyards. I have 6 brand new pool noodles for sale!
But yes, it works well if you have the space and doesn't interfere with anything. The size of the O.P.'s mast section may have enough space for this even with internal halyards, its worth a look.

 

[CloudDiver]

Here is an interesting photo; You'll notice the inside of the extrusion forms a T-shape on the back of the sail track. By cutting a slice up the PVC it just grabs around the extrusion and you can just slide sections of pipe up the mast without fasteners.

 

[Karyon]

Last year I rewired my mast, I too shoved some foam pipe insulation down the mast, made it nice and qui.et

 

[CloudDiver]

This is probably what is done most often, pop rivets into PVC tube. As much as I hate having to go this way this might be it for my 24 foot mast. The rivets, as you can see in the pic, aren't too intrusive. I would probably only use two 8 foot sections and they wont be connected, that way the break will be around where my steaming/deck flood light is located and the wire can exit the tube there.

 

[Gunni]

When that friction fit to the internal extrusion fails the conduit will drop and slice your wiring. Been there. Rivet the conduit.

 

[jssailem]

If you have running rigging in the mast then thin walled PVC conduit would be recommended to keep electrical lines separate from wet halyards.
Attach the conduit to the the inside of the mast away from the fairlead of the halyards and not in line with the sail tracks. Conduit is attached with aluminum rivets. My conduit has a break where the steaming light lead radar lead exits the mast. Further the induct stops a foot short of the mast top. VHF Coax is lead out the side of the mast sealed with mastic and caulking. The wires for the mast head light are lead up through the mast head and again sealed with mastic tape and caulking.
Easiest job when the mast is down.

 

[CYQK]

Looks like it is conduit and rivets
thks guys