Mast wiring

bubba · Post by **bubba** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:56 pm

I just picked up 2- 10 ft 3/4 dia pieces of the electrial conduit for less than $5.00

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:59 pm

bubba wrote:I looked all over this site for this mast drilling info THANKS for listing it.
I am thinking that I will cut the teeth in the expanded end of of the Electrical pvc pipe so the middle section goes thru easier, am I correct in my thinking?

NO, NO, NO!
The expanded end slips over the skinny end so that when drilling and then adding the second extension it goes inside so as not to create a lip in the way. Teeth in the skinny end!
Russ, better to ask a stupid question than make a stupid mistake like bubba is a about to do.

bubba · Post by **bubba** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:58 pm

Thanks Terry for your input I haven't done the job yet. I probably knew better so I asked a stupid question so I dont make a stupid mistake.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:15 am

Terry wrote: NO, NO, NO!
The expanded end slips over the skinny end so that when drilling and then adding the second extension it goes inside so as not to create a lip in the way. Teeth in the skinny end! ...

Sure sounds like a contradiction to me.

But whadda' I know ... X-boater.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:54 am

May sound like a contradiction and perhaps I did not word it right but it is still skinny end in first with teeth on it. The flared end flares gradually and then the blunt edge that joins the next piece faces aft so that it is smooth going in and not a blunt edge as it would be in reverse. It sounds like the flared end would make it goe tight but really because it flares gradually it pushes in quite readily and the next section is smaller diameter so does not get hung up anywhere, the flared section has cleared the way for it. That was my experience anyway.

Post by **Russ** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:38 am

Okay,
Great success. I went and bought the electrical conduit PVC. I think it was $3 bucks. Got all my stuff ready and set off to do some drilling.

I opened the cap on the top of the mast to find the pesky Styrofoam stuffed in there.

So I got to thinking about something I read about a "channel" in the mast.
I took a lag bolt and screwed it into the foam and pulled out a "brick" of foam from the mast. This exposed more foam but gave me some room to work. It appears they stuffed blocks of this foam into the end of the mast.
I saw what looked like a gap close to the main sail track.

I figured I have nothing to lose by trying, so I took my 50' fish tape and shoved it down there. To my amazement it kept going and going until I heard a thump (of it hitting the mast step cap). After removing the mast step I was smiling to see the end of my fish tape.

I then attached my RG8X that came with my antenna and a piece of strong string to the fish tape and with a little coaxing through the Styrofoam, it pulled right past and out the top.

I have officially drilled my first hole in my boat and mounted the antenna on top of the mast. The cable pulled through like a dream.

That bolt on the left side of the mast in the photo is Roger's new trailer light attachment point. There is a tail light wired to the trailer that attaches high on the mast. Nice to have that extra light, but I'm using to mount my windex bracket as well.
Note the string pulled through for future wire pulls.

Now my son has 2 10' poles to play with.

I could take them back, but for $3 bucks, he's got hours of entertainment ahead of him.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:39 am

Russ,
Try to avoid any kinks or 90 degree turns in the VHF cable, try to mount the antenna so that the cable runs in as straight a line from the fitting as possible. I don't know exactly the rationale for this but only that I read it on various sites that discuss installation with FAQ so I decided it must be prudent advice and followed it. I won't have any sharp turns and will keep the length minimal. I believe I can get it down to 41 feet total from mast top to radio. I found some white velcro backed clips at Rona hardware to stick onto the deck when routing the cable, they will work fine.

c130king · Post by **c130king** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:49 am

Russ,

Great pics. When you took off the cap, what is is made of? I cracked my cap when I accidently backed the boat (with mast horizontal) too far and the end of my mast hit the shingled roof of my house. Fortunately I didn't "bend" anything.

I put some duct tape over the crack (too keep rain out) and haven't thought twice about it. But now that you have removed yours I might remove mine, and see about creating a new one out of something.

Thanks,
Jim

Post by **Russ** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:53 am

c130king wrote:Russ,

Great pics. When you took off the cap, what is is made of? I cracked my cap when I accidently backed the boat (with mast horizontal) too far and the end of my mast hit the shingled roof of my house. Fortunately I didn't "bend" anything.

I put some duct tape over the crack (too keep rain out) and haven't thought twice about it. But now that you have removed yours I might remove mine, and see about creating a new one out of something.

Thanks,
Jim

It looks like it's made of fiberglass and was pop riveted on.
The cap was pretty flimsy and when I pop riveted it back on, it cracked a little around the hole. Since it's on the side, I'm not too worried, however now that you mention it, I may apply a bit of silicone caulk on it.

--Russ

c130king · Post by **c130king** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:56 am

I didn't look at it that closely. Didn't realize it was pop riveted. I was hoping it was secured with screws.

I will just leave it duct taped. As my Dad says: "You can't see it from the road".

Don't want to full around with Pop Rivets. Knowing me I would probably hurt somebody...probably myself.

Thanks,
Jim

atzserv · Post by **atzserv** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:40 am

Russ,

It was a blessing to see the pictures you posted for the mast and the way the foam was set inside. I did mine this morning. I am guessing your 2008 model may be the difference and the fact you were able to get the fish all the way down seems like another marvel unless there is actually a channel between the other 2 foam inserts. I have 2006 and at first it looked like I might have a chance after I saw a little bit of clearance in the foam at the same locatiionas your pictures. No such luck. I did get the electrical pvc tubing and was able to work both pieces through all 3 sections of foam. I still need to prove I am through by sending the fish down the pipe though. Another thing that may help others is that I just cut the end of the pvc pipe at a sharp angle and it was enough to dig through the foam, I did need to pull back at each section and clear the foam building up inside but only once at each section. I just used the fish tape to pop it loose.

I took pictures to show but need to learn how to place them online. the first bit of foam was really really a mix of air and foam almost like little balls glued together. I thought I could just give the pvc a good shove and it would pop through. Again not the case after a couple inches in they seem to switch to the foam that is like the stuff you spray in a can. It was yellow in color not like the first foam I encountered, alot more dense. The angled cut in the pvc still cut through. I saved a core sample and took a pic to share also. Hope this helps those still worried about wiring in the mast.

Gary

Post by **Russ** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:35 am

Gary,

I bet they used to spray in that "yellow" foam stuff that filled the entire void of the mast. Like that stuff in the can the expands. If so, there wouldn't be any extra space and you would need to drill a hole.
Mine looks like they jammed "blocks" of white foam in there. I was lucky to get the fishtape to follow the track all the way down.

This site is such a great resource. I was prepared for the worst and luckily didn't face it.

To post pictures, get a hosting account at a site like photobucket.com. You can upload the pics and then copy/paste them into a post. Highlight the link and click the 'Img' button above to make it a photo.

You are in Manasquan? I used to live in Jackson, NJ and boated in Barnegat bay for years. We kept our boat in Toms River. Good times. With our Mac we are able to sail again here in Montana.

--Russ

atzserv · Post by **atzserv** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:20 pm

Russ,

This is a great saite for sharing anything related to the Mac for sure. I live in East Windsor and I will be going to Toms River to a new marina. They open May 15. It is the Ocean Gate Yacth Basin Marina on the south side right at the mouth going into the bay. Much better water for sailing.

I had to go too far to from my last location. I can have the sails up in minutes at this new location and that brings up another mod, lol. Solar collector to keep batteries charged!! It never ends but it is fun.

Gary

atzserv · Post by **atzserv** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:57 pm

This is my first attempt to post a pic. I used 3/4 elec pvc. These are the samples of the 2 types of foam I encountered in the mast while adding my anchor light.

The first is a piece of the loose foam at the very top of the mast after the cap is removed. The second is what I was able to remove from the first section, after that I just pulled back the pvc and ran the fish tape to clear it and continued on, I did try pulling the pvc to see if it would pull out after the first union went past the first section of foam, it was difficult so i will leave the pvc installed.

If i don't have enough room to run all furtur wires I will remove it by pulling back or adding one more length and pushing through.

tangentair · Post by **tangentair** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:16 am

Interesting - the second is the kind that you mix the two resins, pour quickly, and watch it foam up and harden - which can create a problem if the space is a tad to small to hold it all. It is my impression - which I state is as likely to be wrong as it is right - that this type of foam will absorb water. I guess I will have to do some research now.

on edit: I did and it appears that as long as it is not submerged for any lenght of time it is OK http://www.uscomposites.com/faq_foam.html

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Mast wiring

mast wiring

Location

foam examples on the 2006 Mac