Wire deck pass through

[HeaveToo]

I am thinking of running new wire though the deck. This is the wire for my anchor light and my steaming light. If I do this project I want to go ahead and run the VHF cable through as well (not installing cabin VHF yet and I don't have one). The VHF project is a future project and it won't happen this season. I think that if I am running wire through the deck for the mast I might as well add this so I don't have to open stuff up again when I do add it.

What would be the best way to run two duplex wires and a VHF cable through the deck?

What size wire was run to the two pin connector on the Compac 23?

Could I fit two 14 gauge duplex runs to the deck pass through?

Has anyone run a VHF cable through in that area?

[Bob23]

Heave:
   I've done this on my 23. Last year I ordered a very nice looking ss deck pipe from a Canadian company on the advice of a 23 guy here...sorry don't remember your name. Long story short- the thing never arrived and after a long battle, I got my refund. However...I'd already cut the hole! So in desperation I made a deck pipe out of PVC pipe and elbows as a temporary measure and painted it with Brightsides Bristol Beige paint. I really don't like the way it looks but it really does the job well. I have 4 cables going through and room for more, although I can't imagine needing more. It allows me to remove all or some of the cables when removing the mast.
   If you promise not to laugh, I'll try to post a photo tomorrow.
Bob23

[Shawn]

Bob is talking about a wiring gooseneck. I put one in Serenity a few years ago. Works great, no leaking at all and allows you to add additional wiring very easily at a later date.

Shawn

[HeaveToo]

The deck pass through looks interesting, but that seems like it would be another target for those darn wasps that keep finding their way on my boat.  I like the clean look of deck pass throughs.

[Shawn]

I expected the same but for whatever reason I never had them in the gooseneck itself. They always got under the hawsepipe or in the seat lockers. You could easily plug the gooseneck with a rag or something if needed but I never needed that. The pipe also doubled as another air inlet point for when I had the wood stove going.

Shawn

[HeaveToo]

How hard is it to get to the wiring route in the area inside of the cabin?

Can you get through the head liner easily?

Still not sold on the gooseneck.  I could see mosquitoes getting in there too.  We have a special breed of mosquitoes in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

[Bob23]

Shawn:
   I thought it was you who turned me onto to that. I've had no bugs go in and it has no lines have ever gotten snagged. I wish I could say mine looked as nice as yours, Shawn, but, nay- it's just function and hardly any form.
   Before the deck pipe, I used the Cable Clam. But I think it only allowed one cable per clam. Things are much neater above deck now that all 4 wires exit the boat at one place.
Bob23

[brackish]

How hard is it to get to the wiring route in the area inside of the cabin?

Can you get through the head liner easily?

Still not sold on the gooseneck.  I could see mosquitoes getting in there too.  We have a special breed of mosquitoes in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

In mine the wire for both the mast mounted lighting and the VFH coax I added later routes up through the starboard bulkhead that separates the main and forward cabins.  Mine is wood on the main cabin side and HPL on the forward cabin side.  To find the exact place I took the top trim piece off the bulkhead and it was exposed.  They routed a slot in the plywood before they put the HPL on and that became a chase for the wiring.  I've heard that earlier models were routed up through a slot in the molding on the edge of that bulkhead.  

Mine comes out here with the compression pass through and have never leaked nor have I had any other problems.