quote:
Originally posted by jhaley_100
Is it hard to get the mast base plate on the deck off?
Is there room between the forward cabin liner and the inside of the deck to run another wire?
If anyone has worked on this problem before, please let me know.
Mast step:
I do not know yet. I just pulled all forward cabin hardware off the other day. What remains is the mast step so I can not comment on its removal but plan to pull it off the cabin when it warms up a bit (currently -10f). I do remember there being 4 small screws and sealant. That might be all there is to it. The chainplates are through solid fiberglass so I suspect there is a solid fiberglass structure bridging the cabin to the compression post -- (speculation only). When the step is off, you should carefully check the holes for exposed balsa and pot the holes as per Casey:
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/39.htmsee: "Special Precautions for Cored Construction"
caveat: In talking to friends and reading about this, I would recommend using milled glass fiber rather than silica as under compression, the silica may crack. Call these guys, you can get small amounts:
http://www.expresscomposites.com/fillers.html- Fibertech 7232: Milled Glass Fiber
Wiring:
There is room, but tight. Pop off the caps which cover the interior hardware if present. You should look for one near the port side of the compression post. My wires went up through the port side near the aft window (above the stove) and across the cabin top between the headliner and deck. I appear to have a bit if electrical tape kruft happening where the wires head through the deck. I plan to cut the plug off on deck, and feed a new wire backwards through the hole and fish if along to the window area to make a new solder connection. If long enough, I will take the new wire back to the block to reduce voltage drops across the run. An electrical fish tape will get the wire up the mast. Fish from the light fitting toward the base and pull the wire back through the mast. Since these boats have external halyards out of the box, it should be a non-event.
Cheers,
josh richard
duluth, mn