Installing Anchor Light and Wind Sensors on 19XL

[driversaurus]

I'm installing an Amchor Light and Wind Sensors on my 19XL.

Right now, the only wire in the mast is the one going to the masthead light.

The mast top is a solid cast piece, with the main halyard going through it end-to-end, and everything else pinned on outside of that.

I've figured out how to attach a bracket to this that I can attach everything to, but I don't see an obvious way to get the power and sensor cables into the mast, since the mast head seems solid, and the halyard is in the way of going straight down into the mast.

How is this usually done?  Do I pick a spot below the mast head and drill a hole to pull the wires through? is there anything in there I should worry about?  I figure that a rubber grommet and sealant is the right way to deal with protecting the wire, and to keep from getting water in the mast.

The mast head seems pretty tight on the mast - it doesn't seem to want to jiggle if I take out the screws and yank on it.  Should I try to take it off to see what I'm dealing with?

Same question for the bottom. I haven't looked, but I'm sure there is a hole for the masthead light wire. Do I just add another nearly wire for these new ones?

Thanks!

[brackish]

A bit confused, you say you are adding an anchor light and wind sensors and the only wire is going to the mast head light.  A mast head light would be an anchor light if it is a 360 degree light.  Are you replacing it?

But, yes you need to drill a hole in your mast at the top, use a strain relief type grommet to protect the cable going in and do the same thing at the bottom.  They don't have to be watertight, it will drain. The connector coming out of the bottom needs to have a watertite connector made to go through the roof of the cabin trunk to get to your switching panel.

You certainly don't want to run any cables through the pins, sheaves and toggles for the halyards and out the mast head fitting at the top.

Somewhere I have a picture and I'll add it if I can find it.  It is a 23 but should be similar

When you pull your cables through your mast you might want to consider a way to eliminate cable slap inside the mast.  I've seen people use heavy zip ties every couple of feet, leaving the tails long and rotating the tail orientation so they act as standoffs.

My 23 is set up with an anchor light on a bracket in front of wind vane indicators.  The wind vane itself rotates on the VFH antenna clearing everything and its mount is also on the bracket. Down at spreader level there is an additional light fixture that has a combination steaming and foredeck light.  All conductors go through a single multi pin connector to the panel.

[driversaurus]

Thanks for the response.  The only existing light is the one I've seen called a masthead light -- it is the front facing light that is halfway up the mast and is run when under power at night. 

There are no wires run all of the way to the top at this point, and yes, there will be a 2 wire power cable for the anchor light, and the data cable for the wind sensor.

I'm going to replace (or possibly augment -- I may not have enough pins on the new connector I bought) the existing 2-pin connector on the deck with one that has enough pins to for the additional wires.

Good points about the strain relief at the top and somehow addressing cable slap.  The zip-tie method seems to be the one everyone mentions if you don't have a wire run.  On a post in the FB group, someone pointed me to the "This Old Boat" book, and said that there is a full treatment of this topic in there, so I'll take a look there too.

John

Thanks

[brackish]

OK got it that existing light is a "steaming light"

Some pics of how mine is set up that may help you;




Notice that the light on top of the masthead casting is offset, the cable comes up on the side rather than out the top.

[brackish]

And don't ask me why the pics post twice, they only show up once in the preview.

[driversaurus]

Thanks! That answers a lot of questions for me!