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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

4-Pin Deck Connector

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/19/2017 : 13:00:12

I'm re-doing the standing rigging, mast wiring, etc. What electric deck connector do you recommend? Reviews of the connectors from the usual sources are not good, and that has been my experience as well. The guy at Catalina Direct said new boats now come with the plastic one, so that is what he suggests. What say you?

RichardG 81 FK/SR #2657
Terminal Island, CA

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5231 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2017 : 20:10:41

Mine was Bakelite and metal. Buy 2 or 3, the old one lasted 30+ years. Just be sure to document the procedure so you can do it the same way next time! Good luck

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

dasreboot
Admiral

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803 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2017 : 04:43:49

I'm a big fan of the clamshell type, where the entire wire comes through an connections are made on the inside. much easier to troubleshoot.

Todd Lewis
Eowyn 87 TR/WK C25 #5656
ARWEN 84 TR/SK C25 #4031
www.mainsailsailingschool.com

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2017 : 11:16:31

The Bulgin Buccaneer line of connectors includes a range of bulkhead-mounted (deck-mount) and cable-end connectors that are cost-effective and well-engineered. They are made of durable, non-corrosive, glass-filled polyamide, and they are IP68 waterproof when connected together or to their caps when disconnected. As a Civil Engineer, I have been very pleased with them, and I know of others who also use and recommend them. I am using components from their Standard series:

http://www.bulgin.com/products/circular-power-connectors/standard.html

For the through-deck connection at the base of the mast use the bulkhead-mounted PX0761/S (4-pin) or PX0758/S (6-pin) along with the PX0748/P or PX0739/P flex cable connectors. The bulkhead units were around $16, and the flex connectors were around $13, at Mouser Electronics (www.mouser.com) a few years ago.

Bulgin also has a Mini Series that I have used and also higly recommend.

Considering the importance of reliable detachable connections (particluarly in a salt-water environment) I felt that industrial-quality connectors were the way to go, and I have been fully satisfied. I also use these for my detachable solar through-deck connections. Over the life of the boat, good electrical connectors are an invaluable investment.

As a standard disclaimer, I have no affiliation with these firms other than as a grateful customer.

Good luck with your project, Richard.

The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4275 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2017 : 17:44:43

Thanks Lee! I've been looking for something better than the standard connectors for several years. This looks exactly like what I've been looking for. Thank you!

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2017 : 07:04:59

I used this one from Hamilton Marine. I did have to make an adapter to accept it as the deck hole from the original connector was to large for this one. I sealed the upper end with liquid electrical tape to insure no water would get in it.

https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products/connector-deck-4-pin-3amp-chr-pltd-brs-29859.html

1988 WK/SR w/inboard diesel Joe Pool Lake
Hobie 18 Lake Worth

Life is not a dress rehearsal. You will not get another chance.

Edited by - hewebb on 01/21/2017 07:09:56

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3754 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2017 : 20:01:35

I bought one years ago at West Marine, metal housing, plastic insert, and gasket, but I don't remember the brand. Still looks new. Quality, UV resistant, reinforced plastic would be an excellent option. Liquid Electrical Tape is degraded by UV. It makes a good seal, but I also wrap the insertion with sea-amalgamating tape, rigging tape.

Dave B. aboard Pearl
1982 TR/SK/Trad. #3399
Lake Erie/Florida Panhandle

Lee Panza
Captain

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USA
465 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2017 : 09:03:54

Presuming that's just a typo, Dave. Self-amalgamating tape is an excellent second level of defense against water intrusion. "Rescue Tape" is a popular brand, but there are less expensive generic versions (look it up in Wikipedia). I've been using it around the deck connections at the base of my mast for a few years and it seems to be holding up well to the UV and temperature changes (far better than vinyl electrical tape). I strongly second Dave's suggestion. And, while "liquid electrical tape" doesn't hold up well to UV I applied it to the gland around the wire on the cable-end fitting (as a third level of defense) before wrapping the assembled connection with S/A tape, and the last time I opened the connections to drop my mast for maintenance I found that the S/A tape had protected the L/E "tape" and there was no evident degradation.

BTW, I put L/E "tape" on many of my interior electrical connections as well, and I do the same S/A tape over L/E "tape" regime on the cables at my battery connections. This in additional to good heat-shrink sleeves on all wire-to-ring-connector joints. I also slather dielectric grease on terminal connections after the ring-connectors are fastened to them.

The dampness within a boat that lives in a marine environment is tough on electrical connections, and those connections are generally not conveniently inspected on a regular basis. The effect on metals, especially where electrical currents are present, is relentless and usually not noticed until a connection fails - and as one of Mr. Murphy's followers pointed out - it'll happen at the worst possible time.

The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)

Edited by - Lee Panza on 01/22/2017 09:36:07

SKS
Navigator

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USA
161 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2017 : 04:17:14

quote:
Originally posted by Dave5041

I bought one years ago at West Marine, metal housing, plastic insert, and gasket, but I don't remember the brand. Still looks new. Quality, UV resistant, reinforced plastic would be an excellent option. Liquid Electrical Tape is degraded by UV. It makes a good seal, but I also wrap the insertion with sea-amalgamating tape, rigging tape.

I did the same. It looks like the Hamilton unit posted by hewebb.
Mine has a rubber grommet at the top as a weather seal, so I didn't use any other sealant. I haven't found any problems with it.

"Lady E" 1986 Catalina 25: Fin Keel, Standard Rig, Inboard M12 Diesel, Sail No. 5339
Sailing out of Norwalk Cove Marina, Connecticut

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