[C320-list] Mast plug

[Jack Brennan]

Boy, if the plug is under the compression post, my opinion of Catalina’s engineers just plunged like the stock market …

12-volt plugs are by definition cheap. That means they are subject to corrosion, especially near a wet area like the bilge. So you have to remove the mast to repair or replace it? They couldn’t put an access plate in the post?

This is immensely more complicated for me because I live in Florida. The mast comes out of the boat maybe every 15 years, when you rerig. The scarcity of boatyards here (they become condos) means it’s an $800 job plus yard fees and labor (no DIY, either).

You would think Catalina, located in Florida, would understand this.

I guess I’m stuck with hanging a 12-volt light on a Dutchman line for the foreseeable future. I can’t see dropping more than a boat buck to make the anchor light work.

Jack Brennan
Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320
Tierra Verde, Fl.
Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay






Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: sail-ability at sympatico.ca
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 7:47 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mast plug

The wires run through the compression post and then up the mast. If you R lucky U can remove the    The piece of cabin sole behind the mast and you might find the plug there. I put in a new steaming/deck light unit and could only (at least easily) do it with mast down. Good luck and wash Ur hands😄
JohnM
1999#574

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 17, 2020, at 6:26 PM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Many of those wires run through the inboard side of the port settee locker at the aft end. 
> 
> Best Regards,
> Chris Burti
> Statewide Title, Inc.  
> 
>> On Mar 17, 2020, at 6:15 PM, Jack Brennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> 
>> So, as a spare-time hobby while I self-quarantine in place, I try to figure out why my anchor light doesn’t work.
>> 
>> The bulb is new. Power is coming from the circuit breaker. The steaming light works fine. The problem seems to be in the wiring between the panel and the mast.
>> 
>> The wiring diagram that came with my boat indicates there is a plug where the wires from the panel connect with two cables, one black and one white, that run up the mast. The big question is, where the heck is it?
>> 
>> As best I can determine, it must be where the wires disappear under the panel, behind the chart desk. This looks to be a bear to disassemble, with hard-to-reach screws inside the desk.
>> 
>> Am I missing something? Any tips before I start tearing apart the chart desk?
>> 
>> Jack Brennan
>> Sonas, 1998 Catalina 320, no. 528
>> Tierra Verde, Fl.
>> Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>>