The "stringy-doodle" out of the bottom of my mast...

[dennisp]

After the previous owner telling me that he had considered adding a Raymarine wind indicator last summer, but that he had been dissuaded by the yard's estimate of $1000 cost with the need to both pull the boat and unstep the mast in order to add the rotavecta speed and direction transducer and install the wiring...I started looking around and thinking. (Dangerous, I know.) The masts in the yard for new Hunters not yet commissioned all have multiple nylon strings going through the masts and they are tied off at the masts' top and bottom - I assume they are for pulling through whatever electronics, lighting and instruments eventually get installed on the top of the mast. My boat has such a string now coming out of the bottom of the mast where the current wires exist. Do I assume that, with a bosun's chair, if I go up the mast I should find the top of this string...and that installation of an ST-40 wind indicator should only be a matter of attaching the upper rotavecta transducer unit, snaking the wire up using the existing nylon string (and sending a replacement string up with the wiring), and then running cabin/cockpit wiring, mounting the indicator, and making power and Seatalk connections to the current instruments. Boat is only a few years old, so need to rewire a mast or change lighting seems premature. $1000 for item and installation by my yard seems expensive when I can get the ST-40 for well under $300. Anybody done this? Comments?

 

[Alan]

dennisp

You don't say which mast you have, however, mine has a PVC tube attached to the inside to carry all the electrical wiring. This keeps the wiring clear of the halyards that run unobstructed through the mast. I would be willing to bet yours is the same. The messenger line you speak of is for running new halyards and control lines not wiring. I would suggest you take the mast down and remove the masthead plate to expose the internals of the mast. If you find a tube for carrying the wiring you can run a messenger through it by using a small piece of fabric and compressed air to blow it through. Then pull the wiring with that messenger.

 

[dennisp]

Messenger cords for halyards...

Thanks, Alan, it's a Hunter 306 and it has in mast furling, so only active halyards are extras for the headsail (but I've no spinnaker). I understand that there is a pvc sleeve that the electrical and electronics wiring goes through and redoing this is why the yard wants so much to pull and de-step the mast to give me an apparent wind indicator. (Yes, I know for a $1000 or so I could go the Tick-tack route...) Thanks for enlightening me.

 

[seadaddler]

Can Be Done

First of what boat model will help out a lot here.Yes on my boat I have one messenger line going up the mast for a spinnaker halyard and coming out side of mast,but I also saw a messenger line coming out bottom ofmast with other wires and could be for running wires up top.I added a ST60 wind machine and radar to my 290 and did have the mast unstepped$150.00 each way and I did the install all equipment myself.I had a hunter 2001-290 and contacted selden and gave a lot of info over the phone and booklets how to install,I needed a top plate at the mast head and neededa very large rivet gun which I was lucky my marina let me borrow.You will need to drill two holes at top and use these really larger than hand rivet gun,it was way too much to do the radar up the mast more drilling and mounting so I unstepped but have see it done with bosun's chair,when I was youngerbut bad back said no.Do some research before and see what parts are needed for your boat.Nick

 

[Fred Ficarra7897]

Where ya at Dennis?

Assuming the yard will let you do your own work, I'll help if you're close! Honest. And yes, the mast has to come down.

 

[seadaddler]

Did I Mention That mine Was 290

My boat was a 2001 290 same as a 306 but no inmast.No plastic tube in mine just along sides of the mast trackthat the wires go up and down the mast.Try calling selden and ask for info on yours they were very helpful.Nick

 

[PHitchcox]

Done it but....

I have a Hunter 290 and was able to install a wind ST 60, including the transducer at the top of the mast with the mast up. I'm not sure I'd recommend it.First of all, I have ATN's Topclimber. This at least allowed me the freedom to ascend and descend the mast without help. It also allowed me to stand over the top of the mast, which is useful when trying to drill the requisite holes for the transducer.Second, unless you're lucky, you will have to climb the mast several times. Once the transducer is in place, you'll need to attach one of the nylon strings at the top of the mast to the transducer cable and start the process of sending the wire down the mast. I didn't see any pvc tube, but I have an earlier version of your 306. The inmast version has a separate section in the mast for wiring.This is the step where you may wish you had taken the mast down. I had to climb back up several times, after pulling as much as I could at the bottom, then return to the top to help feed more wire. [Obviously, a buddy would have been helpful.] But it can be done. Once the wire appears at the base of the mast, then it can be fed below. I had to remove ceiling panels to feed the wire to the instruments over the entrance. Power and seatalk were at least directly available from nearby depth and speed instruments.Its unfortunate you're being quoted so much. I hate to go against Fred, so I'll agree that the mast should come down (unless you're really into doing it yourself). Be careful and I'll try to answer any other questions.Paul

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Dennis, as mentioned in previous posts...

most boat masts have plastic conduit for all electrical wiring so that it won't tangle with halyards. Our boat has fish strings for running new halyards; in our case for a new spinnaker halyard. We still have one that can be used for the stay sail if we decide to install one.Terry