wiring for a foredeck light

[jtm]

Regarding the H28.5- Is it possible to do a mast up rewiring of the steaming light. I would like to upgrade the old single purpose Aqua Signal to a combo steaming light/foredeck light and was wondering if it were possible to splice the new "3" wire to the old 2 wire at the mid mast location and pull the 3 wire thru(I understand that there are wire "channels" in the mast) ???Or is it that there's some interconnect where the mast meets the cabin top and its not possible without dismasting. I'd appreciate the input

 

[Bill Roosa]

anything is possible

All you really need is one more wire to power the foredeck light. You can use the existing ground. The new fixture will, no doubt, have three connectors one of them being a ground.
Do you have access to the wires either at the mast base (door?) or under the mast in the cabin?

 

[jtm]

I believe there presently are 2 wires in the mast steaming light housing- so I'd need a 3 wire (shared ground) and add a foredeck light on/off switch at the panel. Access to mast wires is only via a mouse hole at bottom of cabin support stantion in bilge area (one grounded to my keel bolt) and another harness (with short corrogated plastic conduit covering) exits just above cabin sole on forward side - I wish there was some "formal" access "plate". I don't think I want to try use the aluminum mast as the "stand in" ground wire.