Wire Through the Deck Question

[Ward H]

I have the VHF antennae cable and a pair of 14G wires coming up through the deck at the mast. Both have deck mounted pieces to seal where they come through but both have begun to leak a drop or two of water when it rains.
I have found deck mounted wire seals for the round cable but not for the new flat duplex DC cable I plan to run.

Any suggestions?

One idea I had was to pull the wires, pot the holes with epoxy, drill new holes, counter sink, pass the wire through, wrap some butyl tape around it, then pull it back into the hole to pull the butyl in to seal it. Then maybe a stainless washer on top to dress it a bit. For the amount of movement it would get the butyl would probably hold the washer.

???

 

[tommays]

I had no problem using a Bluesea cable clam and a bit of work to oval the hole

 

[emergpa1]

I have the VHF antennae cable and a pair of 14G wires coming up through the deck at the mast. Both have deck mounted pieces to seal where they come through but both have begun to leak a drop or two of water when it rains.
I have found deck mounted wire seals for the round cable but not for the new flat duplex DC cable I plan to run.

Any suggestions?

One idea I had was to pull the wires, pot the holes with epoxy, drill new holes, counter sink, pass the wire through, wrap some butyl tape around it, then pull it back into the hole to pull the butyl in to seal it. Then maybe a stainless washer on top to dress it a bit. For the amount of movement it would get the butyl would probably hold the washer.

???

You will be lowering your mast at times right? Then you have to have a plug that will connect / disconnect. You strip the wires andconnect to one side of the plug strip the wires inside the cabin to connect to the inside part of the plug. Plugs come options for 2, 3 or more wires. If you're only running two such as a red and black and get the plug that handles two wires. They are very easy to use and once you buy it and get it in your hand you will instantly see how they work. These are the parts you need for that. I used them on my own ODay26.

 

[svchickadee]

Always put a drip loop in your wire/cable so water will run down the wire/cable and drip off before reaching the thru deck fitting. Also, if you use a rubber bung fitting, put it in the freezer until it is frozen and then it can be drilled easily.

 

[Ward H]

emergpa1,
Actually I don't plan on dropping the mast. Might have to but I did it once and that was enough. For small things I use the marina's cherry picker.
So, once I had the wires through the deck I figured I could just use adhesive lined butt connectors. I have enough slack in the mast and in the cabin that if I do need to cut the connectors to lower the mast I can put new ones on.
Your suggestion does look like an option as well as Tommays. I had asked Defender about those cable clams and they said it would not work on flat cable. I see Tommays has proved them wrong.
I like the idea of freezing the rubber bung before drilling.

Are adhesive lined butt connectors UV resistant?

 

[Ken Cross]

UV

emergpa1,
Actually I don't plan on dropping the mast. Might have to but I did it once and that was enough. For small things I use the marina's cherry picker.
So, once I had the wires through the deck I figured I could just use adhesive lined butt connectors. I have enough slack in the mast and in the cabin that if I do need to cut the connectors to lower the mast I can put new ones on.
Your suggestion does look like an option as well as Tommays. I had asked Defender about those cable clams and they said it would not work on flat cable. I see Tommays has proved them wrong.
I like the idea of freezing the rubber bung before drilling.

Are adhesive lined butt connectors UV resistant?

I'd put black heat shrink over them. The black color will keep the UV from getting to the butt splice.