Jim, The mast wiring is routed thru a plastic conduit that splits at the point where the steaming lamp is located. All wiring must be routed thru it to avoid fouling with the internal halyards. On my boat, an '84 27SR, the connection to the main harness is at the base of the mast, and is accessible by removing the halyard blocks at the base of the mast. You can use a test lamp available at any auto parts store to test the appropriate connection to see if it is hot when the lamp is turned on. The lamp, of course, will have to be attached to a long wire running to the electrical system ground bus or a battery ground terminal. A long pair of battery jumper cables serves this purpose. If none of your lights are working, check the ground connection by connecting a cable to a + connection on a battery, and touch the tester to the ground connection from inside the mast. If it lights, your harness is grounded. I would add that, if wiring needs replacing, it would be best to replace all of it over winter when the mast is down. Masts SHOULD be down over winter. Good luck, Art Herrick #5468 Sea Change
----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Bernstorf Date: Sunday, August 31, 2008 4:01 pm Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: mast lights To: [email protected] > Dave, on mine there is no sign of a bolt which is what made me > curious.Regardless, you are saying that the mast has to lift > straight up and cant > be leaned back? There is a small hole about ¾ about 5 up from > the base of > the mast that is not quite big enough to pull wires through to > try and > repair things without raising the mast. It also happens to be > full of stuff > that looks about like a birds nest so I havent been too anxious > to poke my > finger in there too much. I want to make sure all of me comes > back out > again! > > > > Thanks . > > > > _____ > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David Shaddock > Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 1:03 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: mast lights > > > > The mast sits on a mast mouse, which is a casting that fills > the inner > contour just about perfectly. On our boat, the mouse penetrates the > interior of the mast about three-fourths of an inch fore and > aft, and about > an inch and a quarter midway, which is where the bolt that runs > from side to > side holds the mast to the mouse. When we pulled our mast, > there was a > disconnect attached to several inches of slack wire; this would > let you lift > the mast about six inches or so and make a connection or pull > the connection > apart. When you do this, even if the mast is supported by a > crane (weighs > about 110 pounds), please use a 2X4 or two around the base of > the mast mouse > so if the mast happens to slip, you wont guillotine your > fingers off while > youre working. > > > > The wiring for the mast in our boat came up out of the deck > through a hole > in the mouse casting, and was embedded in silicone sealant. I believe > Catalina has a wiring diagram for the mast connection in the > owners manual. > If you need further help troubleshooting, just asksomeone will > know, or I > can help. > > > > Good luck, > > Dave Shaddock > > > > > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jim Bernstorf > Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2008 12:43 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: catalina27-talk: mast lights > > > > All this talk about hauling oneself up to the top of the mast > inspired me to > change out my non-working mast light that is mounted at the area > of the > spreaders. My extension ladder worked just fine to mount the > new light. I > discovered that the old light had dropped one of the wires and > when I pulled > out the slide for the port side halyard, I discovered that the > wire was worn > through down there. I dropped a new wire down the mast and > spliced it there > but the light still doesnt work. Im fairly confident that > things are OK > inside the boat since I recently installed a new panel. That > makes me think > that it is probably a problem at the deck top in the mast. > Having had > several trailerable boats I am used to seeing masts that have > hinges or > bolts or something to pivot them into place when stepping them > and the > wiring connections that must be made at that time. My mast has > nothing like > that and appears to just sit on a plate. I am assuming that > there are > splices of the mast wires to the boat wires in the bottom of the mast. > Until I noticed that there is not apparent pivot point, I > thought that I > could just tip the mast back about 30 degrees to access those > wire splices. > My slip neighbor also has a C27TR and he told me that these > boats take a > crane to set the mast. I assumed that he was referring to the > weight: now > Im wondering if that refers to how it is mounted as well. > > > > Is it possible to tip the mast back or does it get set straight > down on the > plate with a crane or something. If it cant tip, that means I > cant finish > this repair without hiring help which I hate to do!! > > > > Jim > > > > Jim Bernstorf > > Jules Distribution > > 6025 Cloverland Drive > > Brentwood, TN 37027 > > 615.833.1848 > > > >
