Rewiring mast on Newport 30

[ironworker]

So next on my list is pulling new wires up the mast. Tying to the existing wires and pulling the new in behind the old will not work because the wires are broken at what appears to be a baffle of some sort at about the spreaders. What is that baffle for and how in the world do I get wires through it. I can't tell what it is made of. I need to totally rewire the mast. Masthead lights, spreader lights, and a messenger or two for later. I am considering installing folding mast steps and thought that maybe I could use those fasteners to install a conduit up the inside or the mast as well. any thoughts on that?

[mitiempo]

The baffle is likely a stiffener to take the load from the spreaders. The baffle probably isn't totally across the extrusion. A long electrical snake might help.

Are tour halyards internal?

[Faster]

Wire conduits are usually situated at 2/4/7/10 "oclock" on the mast section. Mast steps are typically centered up the sides of the section, and in-line with the spreaders meaning your conduit will not have a straight shot. Too bad, because doubling up the fasteners' function makes sense otherwise.

btw our mast has an extruded section behind the sail track that takes a sliding plate, creating a continuous cavity for wires.. clever idea (Selden)

Often you'll see a row of rivets in a mast either side of center that is holding the conduit in place.

Get ahold of some plastic tube/pipe and see if you can push that past the spreader location.. you'll find a path (and likely the right spot for the conduit) that way.

Remember, too, that if you're adding/using a steaming/deck light fixture the wires for that will need to exit the conduit at that point.

Fun, huh??

[ironworker]

My halyards are external. There is a steaming light already in place and its wires are at the bottom of the mast. I would like to add deck lighting as well. The baffle looks like foam but I can't really tell from that far away. I can see down the mast much better at night and plan on taking the masthead off again and trying to "See the light at the end of the tunnel" so to speak. I will try to get a pic or two