I am wondering if anyone has run or dropped a new cable down the inside of a 1983 Hunter 31 mast? I am contemplating purchasing an ST60 Plus Wind System and need to know if the mast will need to be stepped to install? To remove would be a BPITA and cost more BOAT BUCKS! Suggestions or comments welcome! Thanks, Greg W.
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So, do you know the other owers or have you
had the mast unstepped before? Boat owners have a tendancy to get nuts sometime. If the P.O. decided that the wires in the mast made too much noise, they may have used spray foam or as in my case, packing peanuts... Getting through that was a pain butt, but getting through spray foam would be worse. The other thought is your boat is an 83, is it time to rewire? If you think it is, drop the mast and do it all at once. I asume that you are going to have others do this... If you can rond up a few mutually need friends that can share labor... have them help you drop the mast and reciprocate in helping them. just a thought r.w.landau
had the mast unstepped before? Boat owners have a tendancy to get nuts sometime. If the P.O. decided that the wires in the mast made too much noise, they may have used spray foam or as in my case, packing peanuts... Getting through that was a pain butt, but getting through spray foam would be worse. The other thought is your boat is an 83, is it time to rewire? If you think it is, drop the mast and do it all at once. I asume that you are going to have others do this... If you can rond up a few mutually need friends that can share labor... have them help you drop the mast and reciprocate in helping them. just a thought r.w.landau
Climb Mast
I have been advised that it may not be possible to drop any cable or line if the existing lines don't come out the side of the mast at the bottom so I am trying to find a 1983 Hunter 31 owner who has dropped line or cables from top of mast and if so with what kind of success! Greg W
I have been advised that it may not be possible to drop any cable or line if the existing lines don't come out the side of the mast at the bottom so I am trying to find a 1983 Hunter 31 owner who has dropped line or cables from top of mast and if so with what kind of success! Greg W
Doubt that you will get it fished down the c.p.
Greg: I doubt that you would be able to get it fished down the compression post. The older 31's did not have an inspection plate on the bottom of the mast. This would make it easier to fish the line down through the post. There is also a tube where the wire is suppose to be threaded, but that may not be necessary. If you do not run them in the tube they may rub on the halyards and eventually wear on the cable too. I would suggest that you bite the bullet and have the mast removed. Be sure that you replace all of the sheaves in the mast head if you decide to take it down. I think it will be a lot easier to mount the wind transducer too if the mast is on the ground.
Greg: I doubt that you would be able to get it fished down the compression post. The older 31's did not have an inspection plate on the bottom of the mast. This would make it easier to fish the line down through the post. There is also a tube where the wire is suppose to be threaded, but that may not be necessary. If you do not run them in the tube they may rub on the halyards and eventually wear on the cable too. I would suggest that you bite the bullet and have the mast removed. Be sure that you replace all of the sheaves in the mast head if you decide to take it down. I think it will be a lot easier to mount the wind transducer too if the mast is on the ground.
Tag line ...
If a pro stepped the mast, there should be a tag line in the conduit to pull a wire through. If there is no tag line and you have another wire (anchor light? VHF cable?) going to the masthead, you can use the other wire to pull a tag line UP through the mast. Attach the tag line to the instrument harness and the harness you removed. Attach a second tag line (to leave inside the mast for next time) and pull both harnesses and the new tag line back down through the mast. Possible problems: The anchor light harness has the connector inside the mast rather than inside the mast. Pulling up on the harness will only unplug the light.
The mast harness is sealed at the mast step with silicone or caulking and you won't be able to move the wires at all. The mast harness comes out of a stand pipe inside the mast and makes a loop (for water to drip off of) before it goes up the conduit. If the mast has not been pulled for inspection in the last 5 years, it is time to pull it and inspect all the rigging, tangs, wiring, spreader mounts, etc. You might as well pull it, clean it, look at all the hardware and wiring while it it easy to get to and have no worries until the next 5 year inspection.
If a pro stepped the mast, there should be a tag line in the conduit to pull a wire through. If there is no tag line and you have another wire (anchor light? VHF cable?) going to the masthead, you can use the other wire to pull a tag line UP through the mast. Attach the tag line to the instrument harness and the harness you removed. Attach a second tag line (to leave inside the mast for next time) and pull both harnesses and the new tag line back down through the mast. Possible problems: The anchor light harness has the connector inside the mast rather than inside the mast. Pulling up on the harness will only unplug the light.
The mast harness is sealed at the mast step with silicone or caulking and you won't be able to move the wires at all. The mast harness comes out of a stand pipe inside the mast and makes a loop (for water to drip off of) before it goes up the conduit. If the mast has not been pulled for inspection in the last 5 years, it is time to pull it and inspect all the rigging, tangs, wiring, spreader mounts, etc. You might as well pull it, clean it, look at all the hardware and wiring while it it easy to get to and have no worries until the next 5 year inspection.on my 34
the existing masthead wire was put through the pvc pipe and drilled throuh the pipe near the top of the pipe!! so i used the existing 4 conducter and used the mast as the ground, st 60 works fine. good luck mike
the existing masthead wire was put through the pvc pipe and drilled throuh the pipe near the top of the pipe!! so i used the existing 4 conducter and used the mast as the ground, st 60 works fine. good luck mike
Judging from the Age...
...of your boat, it just may be worthwhile investing the bucks and have the mast pulled if it hasn't been before. That would make the job a lot easier and a chance to inspect all the other mast appendages/components/rigging. I did just that this season to my boat. I am going to install the other half (the mast bird) of my wind indicator. When the mast was pulled, all was sound and complete, but all the other appendages such as the anchor light, steaming/deck light, VHF antenna were in a sunburned state and all must be changed/replaced. All the wiring was still intact. Ebay offerred the best deals on new products to be replaced. My boat is an '88 Legend 37.
...of your boat, it just may be worthwhile investing the bucks and have the mast pulled if it hasn't been before. That would make the job a lot easier and a chance to inspect all the other mast appendages/components/rigging. I did just that this season to my boat. I am going to install the other half (the mast bird) of my wind indicator. When the mast was pulled, all was sound and complete, but all the other appendages such as the anchor light, steaming/deck light, VHF antenna were in a sunburned state and all must be changed/replaced. All the wiring was still intact. Ebay offerred the best deals on new products to be replaced. My boat is an '88 Legend 37.
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