[Public-List] Frustrating Mast Wiring Issue on Alberg 29

[americo silva]

i was wondering if acetone will dissolve the foam


On Wed, Jun 22, 2022 at 4:31 PM Michael Connolly via Public-List <
public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

> Bill,
> I was thinking along the lines of what George has said.  If for a fact you
> know that all the halyards are protected in tubing, I would attempt to
> auger out the foam.  Flexible augers are available for running wiring in
> construction, they also have extensions to add to their length.  So drill a
> little and then try to vacuum out the ground up stuff.  In this process you
> will ruin all of the existing wiring and co-ax if you have that installed.
> So then you can do it all over the correct way this time and have reliable
> circuits to use.
>
> I assume the mast is unsteped at this point.  I would not attempt to run
> the wiring outside the mast as any kind of permanent arrangement.  To get
> out sailing you could use cpvc plumbing piping of 1/2" size and fasten to
> the outside of the mast with wire ties .................for this season. No
> holes for fasteners and no gooey mess from adhesive tapes.
> Michael
> > On 06/22/2022 12:31 PM vinegar joe via Public-List <
> public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Sorry to bother the Alberg 30 folks, but I'm hoping someone here will
> have some insight into this aggravating problem.
> > I've got a 1985 Alberg 29, keel stepped mast with a tricolor light at
> the top of the mast and a combo deck light - mast head light just above the
> spreaders.  The combo light had been dead for a couple of years and when I
> removed it I discovered that the wires were completely shot - it appeared
> that a glorified extension cord had been used and the end of the wires just
> barely exited the one inch hole in the mast behind the light - when the
> brittle wires were trimmed, they now were just inside the hole.  A gentle
> tug on the ground wire broke it and it is no longer visible.  But it gets
> the worse - the prior owner (I hope not the builder) inserted expanding
> foam a various spots along the mast (wherever access allowed) and so
> there's no budging of the wires even if you wished.  Additionally, the
> wires have been snaked up the aft side of the mast behind conduit that
> encloses four halyards so any attempt at fishing some of the wire out has
> to take place on the opposite side of where the
>  li
> >  ght is mounted.
> >
> > I decided I would try to drive a run of metal conduit inside the mast
> and through the various layers of expandable foam with hopes of perhaps
> snagging it up by the light to run a snake line back down to the base of
> the mast.  The conduit was driven through the first layer of foam (at about
> 4 feet - no idea how it was delivered at this level) without too much
> problem, but at about 6 and 1/2 feet I encountered what I sense is a metal
> plate that seems to completely close further progress.  However, I cannot
> see what I'm hitting.
> >
> > Are further efforts to reach the level of the light by conduit a waste
> of time? Does anyone know what I'm hitting?  I fear I may damage the mast
> or other wiring with further efforts.  If so, what is the most tasteful and
> solid way to run wires on the outside of the mast?
> >
> > Thanks for any help/ideas/suggestions.  I want to go sailing!!!!
> >
> > Bill Zellman
> > s/v Vinegar Joe
> > Milwaukee
> >
> > 'The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest.' - Kilgore Trout
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