mast wiring

[TravisJ]

Hello All,

The wires that go to the connector from the mast pedestal, up into the mast on my Chrysler 22 have broken, right where they go into the pedestal on the deck. There is no slack at all on the wires, and inside the cabin they exit at the base of the pole under the mast. How do I get that pole down in the cabin (safely) so I can run some new wire? Do I just need to lift the mast up, and remove the wooden blocks at the top and bottom then it will slide out?

Thanks!
Travis

[Alanhod]

[TravisJ]

Thanks Allen,

I'll try and get some pictures to better explain. I have a pigtail coming out of the mast, and I also have a pigtail coming out of a little hole in the front of mast pedestal. No connector, just a little hole that had some sealant. And that's where the break in the wire is. I don't see the wires again until they exit out of the bottom of the pole in the cabin.

I saw that connector you mentioned in a catalog and was afraid I was going to have to go that route. Like you, I have a hard time with the idea of putting another hole in the boat. lol.

[J. Austin]

Wow Travis, thats a great looking 76'. Definately share pics, I have a matching 76' and love to see others. Sounds like Allen has you covered on the mast-thing, as usual. He is a great resource.

[Alanhod]

Ah yes, my boat is a 1976 C-22 as well, an excellent vintage, my personal favorite. Not too dry (It leaks a little), not too sweet (Needs a little work), just right!

Though I admit having dreams of a C-26 with no particular vintage in mind.

Thanks
Alan

Here's a pre refit photo of my boat with the pigtail and plugs in question infront of the mast just behind the front hatch. Also note the coax plug/post about 6 inches to the right of the pigtail thats pluged into the deck. Note these are photo's before I fixed up my boat, it looks much better now. The pigtail is pluged in and it runs under the white and red line/rope coming from the mast sitting on the deck. Click to enlarge or you wont see it.

[Banshi]

I think you will find you do not have to remove the pole, but you will need to remove the light and the wood at the top and possibly the bottom of the pole. At least on mine that was all that was needed.

[mariner]

i have the same issue, i have some sort of crazy plug and this year im adding an antenna. So here is my question, has anyone drilled through the mast mounting plate and tried to keep all the wires internal?I'm looking for the best possible solution.

[Banshi]

Since the mast is made to go up and down frequently I don't think internal is really feasible all the way. At the deck you will need to come through the deck near the mast base, they make a watertight coax through deck fitting that will do this.

[mariner]

Im only stepping my mast once a year, I just hate to see all of the holes and exposed wiring, makes me sick! Annemarie is in storage right now and i cannot even remember what the mast plate looks like but now that i think about it i think the mast bottom plate is solid aluminum and there would be no good way to make this happen.... i'm going to have to look into it, no pun intended. but right now my wife has me doing other home improvements and construction projects! A quick question does anyone have a good recommendation for a fuse/switch panel? i know that there are tons out there but im not sure which ones are good quality vs. cheap cr__p!

[Capt. Bondo]

As I have both steped my mast and drilled a hole in the boat in the last week.
Drilling..Think it through, buy all your parts first, measure twice, drill once with good sharp bit or hole saw.
I don't think you could run your wiring through the base of the mast without it getting pinched or pulled when the mast is steped.
Since the forward hatch is very close to the mast step, it's protection for the wiring and plugs.