Electrical cable In mast

[ketchpearson]

Any Ideas on how to run the cable from the top of mast down to cockpit console for my new wind indicator. Can't pull the existing cable down or up. I have a 1970 356 Pearson ketch. The new cable I am trying to install is in the main mast.

[skipmac]

Can't say an older Pearson is the same but my 1984 422 ALL the wires in the mast were taped together. To run a new VHF cable I had to pull all the mast wires out. Just replaced them all while I was at it.

[Sailmonkey]

On a boat of that age, there’s no telling who’s done what. As skipmac points out, wire bundles are common.

I ziptied every wire in our mast into a tight bundle, nothing goes up or down without everything else.

[thereefgeek]

We just installed a new wind transducer, and thankfully that wire wasn't taped to the rest of the wires in conduit running down our mast, so it pulled freely. Our mast is deck stepped and there is an offset at deck level between the mast conduit and the hole in the top of the compression post. That made it a two step process, first pulling the wind vane wire down to the access plate on the side of the mast at deck level, and a second pull from the access plate to the hole in the compression post in the bilge. All in all, not too bad with my wife on deck and me hanging in the harness 55 feet above the waterline. Took about an hour:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Doy6HS40vLM&t=20s

[NorthCoastJoe]

Drop a strong string down the mast with a small ring or some split shot fishing weights on it. From the base use a stiff wire with the end bent into a hook to fish the string out. From there you can pull your new cable and just abandon the old cable.

[Vortec]

I replaced a defective Raymarine wind indicator with a Nasa-model. Both use 4-core cable, and after some trial & test it worked with the old one. Long before I reached the 24 (4!) different combinations I got it right...


As retired I have oceans of time ¤)

[Dougtiff]

You can use a light FISHING leader fed in at the top, then have a vacuum cleaner with the hose at the bottom, it will suck the leader down if there is no obstructions in the mast, if that works, then attach a stronger line to the leader and pull it down, and that can be used to pull the wire down, i know it sounds a bit hoaky, but it does work.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by ketchpearson

Any Ideas on how to run the cable from the top of mast down to cockpit console for my new wind indicator. Can't pull the existing cable down or up. I have a 1970 356 Pearson ketch. The new cable I am trying to install is in the main mast.

Not sure if you have bought it yet, but you could go wireless.

[Djarraluda]

If you do not have a conduit in the mast, then tie groups of 3 cable ties at regular intervals down the cable, ranged at 120 degrees to each other.
Do not cut the ends!
These then act as spacers and stop the cable banging around as the boat moves.
Roger

[Kokanee]

Originally Posted by Djarraluda

If you do not have a conduit in the mast, then tie groups of 3 cable ties at regular intervals down the cable, ranged at 120 degrees to each other.
Do not cut the ends!
These then act as spacers and stop the cable banging around as the boat moves.
Roger

Thanks Dj! I've been trying to work out a simple way to fix my mast wires rattling around as the boat rocks at anchor. It's these little noises that keep me awake at night.

[zeilersailor]

You could by a Tactick windmeter. It's wireless and works great for me. I have it already more than 6 years