Pulling new wires through bow pulpit tubing

[dpopken]

Bow running lights stopped working. Moisture had eaten up the wires right at the exit point on the bow pulpit to a SS plate for light mount. Wires go inside the tubing horizontally to stbd, then down a vertical tube to the anchor locker. A previous repair was done with yards of electrical tape, essentially binding up the wire as it entered the tubing. It broke off flush with the underside of the deck in the anchor locker. It might be possible to pull the old wires out from the exit point, but there is no way to attach a "mouse" to the other end.

Any brilliant ideas besides a battery operated led or external wiring zip tied the the pulpit?

[model 10]

How about making the light exit hole larger, say 1/2" then pull the under deck side out a bit, solder on some stiff wire then feed it back towards the larger hole and fish the wire out with a hook of some sort.

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by dpopken

Bow running lights stopped working. Moisture had eaten up the wires right at the exit point on the bow pulpit to a SS plate for light mount. Wires go inside the tubing horizontally to stbd, then down a vertical tube to the anchor locker. A previous repair was done with yards of electrical tape, essentially binding up the wire as it entered the tubing. It broke off flush with the underside of the deck in the anchor locker. It might be possible to pull the old wires out from the exit point, but there is no way to attach a "mouse" to the other end.

Any brilliant ideas besides a battery operated led or external wiring zip tied the the pulpit?

Pull all the crap out of the pulpit tubing and get everything cleaned up as well as possible. Then, steal a cotton ball out of you wife's/girl-friend's makeup kit, tie a suitable length of light thread or even dental floss around it, stuff it through the entry hole in the tubing above deck and use a shop vac to suck it through the tubing and exit hole below deck (it will work, BTDT). Use the thread/dental floss as a messenger for somewhat heavier line that can itself be used as a messenger for replacement wiring, keeping in mind that you will want to leave a length of messenger line laying next to the new wiring for the benefit of the next owner in line.

FWIW...

[Hudson Force]

Tie a cotton ball to the end of a fine thread. Poke the ball into one end and apply the suction of a vacuum cleaner to the other end.

[Hudson Force]

SvHyLyte typed so much more and beat me still!

[DSMAUNEY]

If vacuum and cotton ball doesn't work drill a 1/4" hole at the side of the junction of horizontal and vertical tubes. Probably in the weld. Small enough not to effect strength of pullpit. Then pushed seizing wire in from the bow and up from below deck to the hole. Pull them out of the hole twist them together stuff them back in hole and pull wire from bow leaving a seizing wire messenger to pull your wire with from below. Plug hole with 1/4" plastic plug lightly wrapped on butyl rubber to seal it. This worked for me last week.

A thought.

Goodwinds
DaveM

[dpopken]

All great ideas! Thank you so much fellow cruisers...The boat is in St Augustine, I'm back in Seabrook, Tx, working to pay the bills, so the fix will have to wait for another trip in about three weeks. Hoping to go offshore from St A to Ft L or somewhere short of there, then back into the ICW if necessary. Running lights critical.

[Hydra]

Some talcum powder on the wires might help when pulling them through the tubing. IME, it's less messy and more effective than grease.

Alain