[C320-list] Wiring an ST 60 Wind Instrument

[Jeff Hare]

Generally you'll find that running wires to the pedestal will go smoothly if
you go down the port side of the boat.  We ran our wires to up into the
compartment next to the Nav Station Seat where we have a box where the
connections are made.  When pulling the mast, there's only a short distance
to pull the wires back before they get to the base of the mast.  It also
keeps the connections out of the bilge.

>From there there's a spot where you can snake the wires up behind the nav
station.  That's typically where the VHF radio cable goes up to get to the
radio (assuming yours is mounted next to your electrical panel also).  Under
the stove is a little storage cubby that you can remove with 4 screws.
Between this and the door under the sink, you'll be able to snake the wires
aft into the area where the water tank valves & pump typically are located
(on your model year).

>From there, you follow the blower hoses and have access to the storage
locker (we call it the black hole) behind the aft cabin.  'cause everything
goes in there and doesn't come out till fall.  Anyway, to route wires up to
the pedestal, you should remove the steering gear cover in the aft cabin.
It's got a dozen small screws and probably sealed with silicon or something
like that (which you should re-seal when you're done so that you don't get
anything dripping down the back wall of the aft cabin and leaving stains or
a wet bunk.

If your boat is anything like ours, the original wiring runs up one side of
the pedestal tube.  I've had mixed luck trying to just feed a snake wire up
the tube and pulling new wires.  It gets full pretty quickly.  If that's the
case, you should consider loosening and lifting the pedestal tubes a couple
inches and drilling a new hole down the other foot so you'll have an empty
tube to run some new wires up into.  I suggest also running a new/spare
duplex power wire, and a length of Cat6e cable for NMEA, radio remote or
other future signaling purposes. Easy to do now, hard to do all over again.

Then when you're done, seal the holes and cables with some kind of
waterproof sealant that you can easily remove in the future, drop the
pedestal tube back in place.
If you run wires up the other tube, you'll have to drill a large access hole
in the pod and the SS tube to bring the wires into the pod where your ST
gauges are.

If you don't have an Autopilot yet, it's a good time to consider at least
buying and running the control wires because you'll have to do this all over
again otherwise.

All in all, it's one of my least favorite wiring jobs on the 320 but once
it's done you should be in great shape for the future.

-Jeff Hare
#809
-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Harry Juris
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2015 9:53 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Wiring an ST 60 Wind Instrument

To introduce myself to the group, my name is Harry. I purchased Polar STAR
about a year ago and have been actively reading the website and this group
ever since then. They have been incredibly helpful. I previously owned a
Catalina 30.  I haven't posted previously because I didn't have any good
answers to contribute and didn't have any questions which hadn't already
been answered.    

I am now in the process of installing an ST 60 wind instrument on Polar
Star, a 1998 C320. The mast is down and I snaked the wire and got the
transducer installed on the masthead today. Tomorrow I will tackle the
interior work, running the wire down the compression post and aft then up
through the pedestal. I'm looking for advice as to how the wire runs from
the bottom of the post. Does it go down the Port or Starboard side? How does
it get through the aft cabin? Does it go under the bed or up and through the
headliner? Any suggestions would be welcome.  

 

Thanks

Harry

Polar star

C320 # 541

Nyack Boat Club

Nyack, NY