Howard, That's a neat solution. I have managed to get the mast up with the cable intact, but the mast had to be dead level side-to-side and aligned fore-and-aft so that the cutouts in the mast base are right over the cable. What did you do about the original hole in the cabin top over the compression post? Epoxy? And how do you lead the cable inside the cabin from the cabin overhead to the switch panel? Thanks, Rick M17 #633 Lynne L On Tuesday, June 24, 2014, Howard Audsley <haudsley@tranquility.net> wrote:
Rick:
This is the masthead electrical deck fitting on my boat:
http://www.westmarine.com/perko--watertight-deck-connections--P009_275_007_0...
The deck half is found adjacent to the base of the mast. A hole was drilled through the deck (which I enlarged and backfilled with thickened epoxy to seal it from any water that gets past the rubber gasket that seals it..........very important if you don't want rotten balsa core in your deck). The mast half protrudes from a hole drilled in the side of the mast, about 4 inches or so up from the bottom. When lowering the mast, you simply unplug the thing and cap the deck fitting. There isn't anything to short, bind or worry about. The only issue I've had is the fitting contacts may corrode a bit if the mast is down for extended times. A quick scuff of the contacts and all is well.
On Jun 13, 2014, at 7:30 AM, Rick Davies wrote:
Recently I rebedded the mast tabernacle on my M17. I caulked heavily around the electrical cable coming up through the compression post so that it emerged vertical, held by the caulking. When I raised the mast, however, the cable got caught under the mast lip and shorted out the masthead lights. I lowered and raised the mast again, placing the cable where I thought this wouldn't happen, but was unable to get the mast up without pinching the cable. Never had this problem before, and I wondered if it's something to do locking the cable in a vertical position. Has anyone encountered this problem, and if so, what's the solution?
If I need to replace the cable, can I pull it down through the compression post from below? The cable for the cabin lights is in there too, so it doesn't look too easy. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L