Mast rigging noise

[dmkagey]

Question...I have an older...1983....tall mast Catalina 30....great boat, but am having a noise issue in the mast. All the halyards are external and I rig them away from the mast, but the wires inside hit against the inside of the mast when we are at anchor if there is movement. I am in the boatyard with the mast down now, so a good time to try for a fix before the new season. I have heard of some kind of inflatable deal that goes inside the mast and then inflates to keep the wries tight against the mast....does anyone else have a solution or any idea if this inflatable idea works and where you might find it.
Thanks
Dave Kagey
Lone Star

[blt2ski]

Do not know anything about your fix, my boat any how, has a thin about 1/4" foam piece the halyard sit inside of. Mutes the sound reasonably well. Not perfect, then again, being as my boat is 22 yrs old, the foam may be breaking down to some degree too.

Just another possible option.

marty

[US27inKS]

There are 3 different ways that I know of to fix this. The most permanent and best way is to install a conduit inside the mast. It involves riveting a piece of 3/4 pvc pipe inside the front of the mast. You have to be able to remove the mast head and the cap at the base of the mast. The mast head should be no problem, but sometimes the base is stuck for good.

The next method is to pull the wiring from the mast and attach 8" zip ties to it every foot or so. The zip ties should be attached at 120 degree agles to one another and left long. The long end of the zip ties will hold the wiring away from the mast walls.

The third method is to use foam pipe insulation slid up the wires. The foam should come split on one side and can be compressed to fit into the wiring exit hole. You can use this method while the mast is still up, but it can get hung up on existing zip ties or where the spreader light wires exit the rest of the wiring.

[sailingfool]

I solved this problem 20 years ago by sliding sections of closed-cell pipe insulation (such as Tundra Foam Pipe Insulation - Industrial Thermo Polymers Limited) up the wires. Put several turns of tape around each piece of insulation to ensure it stays closed.

(Opps, same as US27's third method).

[T34C]

I don't have a solution for you, but I'm hoping someone else does. I have the same problem with my keel steped mast. I'm trying to figure out a way to dampen the noise with mast still up. The only thing I think might help is to pull some tension on the wires from the top and then secure in place. With light tension on the wires they are going to be less likely to flop around inside the mast.

[knothead]

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...st-wiring.html

The above thread discusses this issue in depth.

[dmkagey]

I think I like the idea of the foam insulation best....think I will head to Home Depot and try it tomorrow. Should not be too difficult with the mast down.
Will let you know how it works
Thanks for all the ideas
Dave Kagey
Lone Star

[beej67]

I advise against regular foam insulation, because what ends up happening is that your wire still hangs, and the foam still swings back and forth, and still whacks the side (less loudly) until the foam gets worn away on a screw or something else abrasive. We used Fun Noodle things, and are really pleased with how it panned out, because there was no room for the wiring to swing back and forth. (it's also actually cheaper than Home Depot foam insulation) Link here:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...arge-pics.html