REPLACING MAST WIRING

I added an AqualSignal combination tri-color and anchor light to the top of the mast along with a VHF antenna. I also replaced the spreader lights and bow light with an AquaSignal combination bowlight/deck light. I chose to run all wires through the deck under the mast for appearance sake and to reduce water leaking in through the deck .

Originally, the mast held only the spreader lights and the bow light. Incidentally, the spreader lights were wired in with lamp chord! To accommodate the 100 foot run from the battery to the masthead and back, I calculated I would need a minimum of 14 AWG wire for the power and 10 AWG for the common ground wire. I needed a total of four wires for the lights, using a four pronged waterproof connector at the mast base. I hooked up the common ground wire separately. I used RG8X VHF coax for the antenna with Shakespeare crimp-on connectors. Note that they don't make a single female connector to allow a simple connection at the juncture at the mast step. My options were to install a double female connector in-line at mast stepping time, or use two males and a separate double female connector. I chose the latter to make the process of stepping/unstepping easier.

The factory installed wiring (two wires for the bow light) ran through the inside of the cabin liner and could not be removed. I therefore had to run the wire on the outside of the liner and through the top of the compression post. I disassembled the compression post and carved out a small hole on one side. In between the compression pads lies the bulkhead for the outer wall of the head. I cut out a small portion of the plywood to accommodate the wiring and ran it up through the deck under the mast.

_{Before and after... note that I had a tough time getting the compression post pads in and out and I still have to go back and get the rest of the 101 cleaned up.}

Because there were no wires leading to the top of the mast, I used copper ground wire to lead a piece of string to the holes I drilled for the wire entry at the masthead. To keep all the mast wiring securely bundled together, it was necessary to tie-wrap it up before I installed it all. In addition to tie-wrapping the bundle every 12 inches, I used two large tie wraps every 18 inches and left the excess pieces of the wrap on to keep the wires from slapping against the inside mast wall.

As I had three holes in the mast for the wiring (Tricolor/Anchor, VHF, bow/deck light) I ran string through to all exit holes from the bottom, and pulled the whole bundle of wires up with the string at once. It took a little time and finesse but it finally went through.