Best way to run wires through the hull or deck

[poiu]

I just thought about how my boat builder did this, then I realised there are no wire holes in the hull or deck. Not a one. They all go through the mast or pulpit or bow rail. All additions since new go this way and I think it is a good way to do it.

[Bob666]

Hi!

I am planning to make a hole from the anchor locker into the forepeak. More or less horisontal wall. How to avoid water leaks?

If you put a short stainless tube with the cables in it. How do keep the water out? I am very sceptical to this stuff:
http://www.bluesea.com/products/category/Cable_Clams

But my solution, will be lots of water coming through. Should I fill upp with something, along with the cables?

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Bob666

Hi!

I am planning to make a hole from the anchor locker into the forepeak. More or less horisontal wall. How to avoid water leaks?

If you put a short stainless tube with the cables in it. How do keep the water out? I am very sceptical to this stuff:
http://www.bluesea.com/products/category/Cable_Clams

But my solution, will be lots of water coming through. Should I fill upp with something, along with the cables?

I like to put wires thru near the top just under the deck, so haven't worried about water. You can seal up with silicone sealant or other caulking. Just depends on how water tight you really need it.

[jamhass]

I've been very happy with Cable Clams (and others) as cable pass-thrus even for cables coming through the deck. One advantage they have us that they capture the cable well, keeping it secure and minimizing chafe, a very important consideration.

Whatever solution you use, be sure to consider chafe in your installation and include a proper drip loop in the wire run. This will help reduce water leaking through the penetration.

[Terra Nova]

Use the clams or equivalent.

[Bob666]

Avoid cheap brands? Blue sky only way?

Cheers

[UNCIVILIZED]

Out of curiosity, why the aversion to having a few holes in the deck so that you can run vital equipment? As unless all of your instruments are wireless, & run on self contained batteries, then there's gotta' be a hole somewhere. In sight, or hidden.

That said, I'm a fan of cable glands as well. Here's another brand Seaview Cable Gland

[msponer]

If you have space, these things work well. It's easy to add additional wires. I don't know what they are called.

[Bob666]

Originally Posted by poiu

I just thought about how my boat builder did this, then I realised there are no wire holes in the hull or deck. Not a one. They all go through the mast or pulpit or bow rail. All additions since new go this way and I think it is a good way to do it.

Our boat is from 1974. Would You know why they used non-tinned copper back then? It's all black now.

[Terra Nova]

Bare copper is cheaper.

[leftbrainstuff]

Thise plastic cable clams are useless. I've just replaced all with stainless scan struts. They look great and maintain compression on the glands. No leaks.

You could put one either side of a bulkhead. That would look good, provide good support and be watertight.

I prefer not to use masses of goop. That's how novices waste money making penetrations leak. Goop fails in tension.

When you have unsupported blobs of it it will fail just through thermal cycling each day.

Water is a small molecule and an excellent solvent. It will work its way through tiny cracks using capillary action. You need good quality flange seals or compression seals to combat it.

I make my own flange seals using either Goretex (hideously expensive) or a teflon kevlar gasket material I recently found online. It's cheap and I use it under all our flanged deck penetrations.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by msponer

If you have space, these things work well. It's easy to add additional wires. I don't know what they are called.

Swan neck conduits, Kato makes them in SS, but sit down when you price them

http://www.katomarine.com/swannecks.htm

[Salty Mike]

Originally Posted by leftbrainstuff

teflon kevlar gasket material I recently found online. It's cheap and I use it under all our flanged deck penetrations.

Could you please provide a link to this, I've got several leaking deck penetrations that have GOOP under them I was going to use butyl tape or roofing rubber but I'd like to have a look at your suggestion first.

[Bob666]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Swan neck conduits, Kato makes them in SS, but sit down when you price them

Kato Marine

I used a swan neck on previous boat for some solar panel cables on deck etc. As it's wide I could put many cables through just one. Made epoxy plug when fitting through sandwich-laminate. Worked fine but once in really bad weather there came down splashes of water through it.

I found this:
http://scanstrut.com/images/scanstru...chure-2016.pdf

They have them in marine aluminium grade.

Cheers