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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 Thru Deck Fittings		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts
Initially Posted - 03/09/2008 :  12:35:35  Show Profile
Has anyone used a Blue Sea Systems thru-deck fitting to run their mast light wiring thru the deck? I know a lot of people have used them for VHF coax.

I'm thinking of using one of these for my mast lights instead of the standard mast light thru-deck fitting. This would allow me to make the connection inside the boat when I want to use the lights (not that often) and put the waterproof cap on it when not using the lights. I'm hoping it would solve all of the issues concerning pulling new wire up through the old passageway and the wiring connector issues that seem to always be present with the current fittings.

It's on the right side of page 36 in the West Marine catalog about half way down. Models 540740, 540732, or 540757.

http://ecatalog.westmarine.com/zoom.asp?page=38

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GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 03/09/2008 :  13:24:03  Show Profile
I haven't used these, but but every other Blue Sea product that I have used has been very high quality. I use the Ancor PL-259 deck feed thru on the same page for VFH and West Marine 18167 and 184226 on page 422 for electrical connections. I hook up when I raise the mast and forget it until I lower the the mast. A permanent connection at the deck connector and a permanent connection to the screw on fitting from the mast wiring.
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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts
Response Posted - 03/09/2008 :  15:50:42  Show Profile  Visit Turk's Homepage
I've used them and they work beautifully. The design is a little more complicated than what you see in the picture. As you tighten down the top cap, it squeezes the rubber to make a perfect watertight fit. Don't be afraid to use one.
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts
Response Posted - 03/09/2008 :  17:42:52  Show Profile
Turk,

Did you use yours for mast light wiring or VHF coax?
Edited by - GaryB on 03/09/2008 17:43:08
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Response Posted - 03/10/2008 :  09:22:48  Show Profile
Gary,
I believe I use the Ancor fitting for my mast electrical connections. This allow the actual connections to be made inside the cabin, above the head, outside of the elements. Using the standard deck mounted connectors, I had to service them just about every time I took an overnight trip. It has been two years since I made the change and they still work great. My VHF connection still uses a deck connector which seems more watertight then the old electrical connectors. When it starts failing I will not hesitate to change it over as well.
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts
Response Posted - 03/10/2008 :  22:15:51  Show Profile
Joe,

Do you have a Part # for the fittings you;re referring to?
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Response Posted - 03/11/2008 :  09:26:07  Show Profile
Gary,
Mine is actually a Perko fitting (PKO-1190) but there are other manufacturers who have the same type connector. Same concept. This one is from Jamestown Distributors.
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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts
Response Posted - 03/11/2008 :  10:35:33  Show Profile
Do you use bullit connectors below deck, or will something else fit through the gasket? Or do you just make a permanent connection? I step and unstep my mast 4 times a year, so screw together connectors with gaskets topside is convenient for me, but there is no denying that putting connections below decks is when possible is best.
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 03/11/2008 :  12:09:17  Show Profile
We use the CableClam for our VHF cable. It is a great product. Seems to me the key is that you want your cable to be robust and very round. Some elctric cables don't maintain a nice round shape and that might allow some water leaking. The Cableclam is really effective when the cable passing through it maintains a nice round shape. That is why they work so well for VHF cable.
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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts
Response Posted - 03/11/2008 :  13:07:23  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Do you use bullit connectors below deck?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

For my electrical connections I used plain old faston connectors with the connection made below the deck. The trick is, whether you are talking electrical or VHF, is to use connectors that will be able to be pulled back through the deck outlet. If they're too large you would have to remove the connector each time.
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts
Response Posted - 03/14/2008 :  12:19:51  Show Profile
Larry,

The lower end of the CD mast wiring kit is round so I think it might work well with the CableClam. Is there another cap that can be screwed onto the CableClam to keep out water when you have the mast down?
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 03/14/2008 :  13:16:47  Show Profile
I put a piece of blue masking tape over the CableClam when the mast is down. An alternative would be to have a piece of wire a few inches long that you could clamp in there.
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Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts
Response Posted - 03/18/2008 :  11:46:26  Show Profile  Visit Turk's Homepage
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by GaryB</i>
<br />Turk,

Did you use yours for mast light wiring or VHF coax?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Mine was for VHF coax.
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