[C320-list] Pulling the mast

[P.F. Ross]

Scott, I first unstepped my mast at 20 years also, but that was 5 years ago.

I don't recall exactly where my mast plug was, but it did not matter since
I was going to replace all wiring in the mast anyway (I probably just cut
the wires).  Like Graeme, I did not add a plug when restepping the mast,
but left a loop of extra wire in the bilge so I could add one easily the
next time the mast came down (I don't recall how, or if, I sealed aound the
cables as they ran down through the compression post).  Good feeling to
know there are no connections between your DC panel (and radio) going all
the way up the mast.

I also replaced all mast lighting (anchor, steaming and deck lights) with
LED units from Marinebeam.com.  Perhaps not cheapest, but quality is
excellent, and more good feelings to know I should not have to mess with
these again.  I also replaced my VHF antenna (defender.com) and masthead
sheaves (rigrite.com).

I also rebedded chainplates (per info on the C320 website).  I also pulled
the compression post (some good help on this from Graeme and quite easy,
some pics in my owners gallery) to rebed underneath it (with butyl ribbon
caulk from marinehowto.com).

Great opportunity to address lots of potential issues, good luck!

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206

On Mon, Oct 5, 2020 at 12:40 PM Graeme Clark <cg at skyflyer.co.uk> wrote:

> Scott
>
> The cables are joined at the mast step with a square plug. The mast is
> lifted a small amount and it can be disconnected. On my hull (366) the top
> of the support post through which the cables run had also been plugged with
> silicone sealant.
> I had a bigger issue with the radar cable. The plug was too big to thread
> back through the mast post so the cable had to be disconnected at the radar
> head and allowed to pull free out the bottom of the mast as it was lifted
> (obviously taking a line with it so it can be retreaded when you restep)
> I replaced all the in mast cables (lights and vhf) and decided to do away
> with the connecting plug. It’s not hard to thread the cables through the
> mast post (they come out the base into the bilge area) and then I made
> connections under the port settee.  That way I don’t have to worry about
> accessing the connection block if there’s a circuit continuity problem.
> Graeme
>
> Sent from my phone. Excuse typos!
>
> > On 5 Oct 2020, at 17:44, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com> wrote:
> >
> > Surprise is 20 years old and as far as I know the mast has never been
> pulled. I'm thinking of doing that this winter to service halyard sheaves,
> rebed chainplates, etc.  Can anyone tell me what problems to expect if I
> ask the yard to do this as part of winter haulout? I'm mostly concerned
> about cables that may run through the mast step with no connector. In case
> it matters, I believe that my boat was originally commissioned by Sail
> Annapolis in 1999. I suspect that they sold most of the 320's of comparable
> vintage on the Northern Chesapeake, and probably the mast was stepped
> initially under their direction.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Scott Thompson
> > Surprise, #653
> >
>
>