Greetings,
When I pulled the mast at the end of the season, I had to cut my coax and mast wiring because it was all a continuous run. There is a beat-up bronze deck gland for the coax and two others - one a small round white plastic gland and the other a 20 year old male/female plug.
I'd like to replace them all with one, more elegant fitting?
Any leads on a durable, thru deck fitting? I have an older looking sailboat and am trying to use old-school fittings whenever replacing stuff. Any ideas in brass or bronze that would keep below dry?
Here is one site that has something different. But I'm not sure it wouldn't leak.
http://marinestore.co.uk/Merchant2/merc ... eck-glands
Thanks in advance.
Marshall
Mast Wiring Deck Gland
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Marshall Wright
- Rough Carpentry Apprentice
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 12:22 pm
- Boat Name: s/v Sunset
- Boat Type: Pacific Seacraft 25T
- Location: Annapolis, MD
Marshall,
I also looked for such a fitting and finally decided the simplest and cheapest solution was a 1" stanchion base. The coaxial plug will fit through the opening if fed through first, and the rest of the wires will easily fit in the remaining space. Consider staggering the wire lengths a little so that the coaxial plug and other terminal fittings don't all fall within the same span of wiring, having the coax as the longest for example will allow everything to fit with minimal interference. This will help when removing and reinstalling.
With everything in place, fill the remaining space with silicone being sure to get between and around all the wires, essentially creating a silicone plug with the wiring encased in it. I have found I can remove the plug and wiring intact when removing the mast, and a little silicone on the plug in the spring is all it needs to be water tight. I usually wrap the stanchion and wiring plug with tape just to provide a neater appearance. I used a 45 degree angled base on the side of the mast to lead the wiring out, and have considered using a short length of hose to cover everything, but haven't yet. All connections are kept below and there are no breaks in any wiring runs in the mast. I'm not sure if it meets the elegance factor but it's worked well.
Chris
I also looked for such a fitting and finally decided the simplest and cheapest solution was a 1" stanchion base. The coaxial plug will fit through the opening if fed through first, and the rest of the wires will easily fit in the remaining space. Consider staggering the wire lengths a little so that the coaxial plug and other terminal fittings don't all fall within the same span of wiring, having the coax as the longest for example will allow everything to fit with minimal interference. This will help when removing and reinstalling.
With everything in place, fill the remaining space with silicone being sure to get between and around all the wires, essentially creating a silicone plug with the wiring encased in it. I have found I can remove the plug and wiring intact when removing the mast, and a little silicone on the plug in the spring is all it needs to be water tight. I usually wrap the stanchion and wiring plug with tape just to provide a neater appearance. I used a 45 degree angled base on the side of the mast to lead the wiring out, and have considered using a short length of hose to cover everything, but haven't yet. All connections are kept below and there are no breaks in any wiring runs in the mast. I'm not sure if it meets the elegance factor but it's worked well.
Chris
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Ric in Richmond
- Boat Obsession Medal Finalist
- Posts: 518
- Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:26 am
- Boat Name: Andiamo
- Boat Type: Alberg 35
- Location: Richmond VA
Go to the website in my sig below. click may 2007 scroll down to third picture.
Ignore the small child playing "King of the world!" and focus on the hose at the mast.
Ignore the small child playing "King of the world!" and focus on the hose at the mast.
Last edited by Ric in Richmond on Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:53 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Ric Bergstrom
http://andiamoadventures.blogspot.com/
Archived old blog:
http://andiamo35.blogspot.com/
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http://andiamoadventures.blogspot.com/
Archived old blog:
http://andiamo35.blogspot.com/
~~~~~([\~~~([\~~([\~~~~~~([\~~([\~~~~~~
~~~~~~([\~~~~~~~([\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marshall
You have probably seen this previously, but this http://www.plasticclassicforum.com/view ... ast+wiring post shows the method that I used.
You have probably seen this previously, but this http://www.plasticclassicforum.com/view ... ast+wiring post shows the method that I used.