Update....sigh
Well, yesterday my wife and I ran the wiring and antena cable through the mast.
What a task. There were many unforseen pitfalls, which I'll list here for future idiots dumb enough to try this!!!
When running new cable task number one is to remove the through bolts that hold the upper and lower shrouds. These bolts go through the mast and get in the way. I didn't do this at first....dumb.
I also had to remove one of the spreaders. The bolts are 2" long on either side and obstruct the interior of the mast.
I couldn't think of a good material to use to creat foam 'bow ties' so I bought a bunch of noodles from the dollar store. The kind that kids use in the pool. I cut them up in 18" sections and tied them to the cableing.
Unfortunately my first attempt failed because of the through bolts. In addition, the interior of the mast is full of bolt and screw ends from all the winches, tracks, cleats, etc. They shread the noodles. Sadly I had to take the entire thing back out.
I finally did get the cable all the way to the mast head after a good 2 hours (told my wife it would be a 15 minute job).
In addition to the 3 wire to the mast head with the antena cable I had to run an additional 3 wire to the spreaders for a steaming light and spreader light. I got too clever here...
I pigtailed 2 grounding wires to the original ground wire in the 3 way cable. I stripped the 3 way back about 3 feet. I now had 4 wires, white with a ground and green with a ground. All the splices were double crimped, heatshrunk, reheat shrunk, taped together and nice and solid. Since I had to pull this wire through 2 different holes, I attached a fishing line to the white and green wires, leaving the grounds alone (no stress on them).
Well things worked to plan and both wires came through. Sadly, I must of pulled the ground pigtails loose. USELESS!!!! ....dumber.
I'll have to run another 2 wire to serve as grounds for mid mast. Sigh.
The good news?
I wired the new tri-color/ancor LED light and it works! I have pictures on my phone which I'll post later. I left the wiring for the light outside, heat shrunk and self sealing electric taped. I'll tie it to the mast head with an eye strap.
Since I gave up on the noodle idea, my original dilema remained. How to secure 40' of cable inside the mast so that there is no tension on the lights, antenas, etc.
I slipped a piece of 1/2" ID reinforced water hose over the 3 way wire. I forced this into the hole on the mast head for chaffe protection. I then used a SS hose clamp over the top of the hose with the wire inside. Much like a metal conduit connector in a junction boxes.
It seems to me that this will hold the entire cable system in place.
So mistakes aside and one more fishing job ahead, the mast just might be ready to go back up!
Thanks for all the help, and good luck to the next guy planning to rewire the mast.
Chris
