Through hulls cable wire etc.

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:38 am

Just starting to take a look at the winter projects, I will have to install an antenna this year, run cable through mast and then out! since i do not want to make swiss cheese out of the mast I am looking for suggestions on the best way to accomplish this. Any photos of instillations etc would be helpfull thanks guys!

NYCSAILOR · Post by **NYCSAILOR** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:50 pm

I just did that this season..

1) do it wiht the mast horizontal
2) drill a exit hole ( 7/8th ?) at head and foot of mast.
3) get a 30' "fish" wire from hrdware store
4) run the fish wire from the top hole down to the foot of the mast.
5) feed your fish wire out the open FOOT of the mast ( not your bottom hole)
6) Attach your fish wire to your antenna wire with thin wire and tape -- something that will be smooth and not bind but will take a lot of pull to it--- spray the whole taped area with silicone spray
7) pull the fish out the top ( this was surprisingly easy)

now fish your antenna wire out through the bottom hole
9) using silicone caulk fasten in rubber grommets into both holes
10) properly splice both ends with fittings...

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:47 pm

thank you, im a bit confused though, how and where did you make the cable connection through the hull ? is there a splice with male and female connection in the cable outside of the mast ? inside ? do you have any pics? thanks

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:13 pm

For EE's mastlight I used this, look for Perko "Watertight Deck Connections" here

http://ecatalog.westmarine.com/full.asp ... odId=13554

And the antenna feed thu is here

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... 10001/9652

clair hofmann · Post by **clair hofmann** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:32 pm

Don't forget to attach 6 - 8" wire ties every foot or so as you feed the cable into the mast. Leave the tails long to center the cable and prevent internal cable slap when moored.
Clair

Mario G · Post by **Mario G** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:46 am

clair hofmann wrote:Don't forget to attach 6 - 8" wire ties every foot or so as you feed the cable into the mast. Leave the tails long to center the cable and prevent internal cable slap when moored.
Clair

Wish someone would have done that on mine when the wires were ran,,,lol (Just another winter project)

thepartydog · Post by **thepartydog** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:48 am

Another method for pulling wire is to attach a walmart bag to your pull string, insert the bag in one end of the mast/conduit, and use a shop vac at the other end to pull the parchute (walmart bag) thru the mast/conduit. Works great when there are multiple turns, or the conduit is too long for fish line.

mariner · Post by **mariner** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:16 pm

Thank you! Does it matter where you drill the holes in the mast? Should they be above each other or sde by side? I will have power for mast head steaming , anchor and deck lights and the coax? Can some one send some photos of their installations? Thank you!