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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

14-4 wired to the deck

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/14/2010 : 13:25:14

Got the mast deck plug wired to the panel today. Whew...I was kinda worried about that one. Drillrd down and came out just behind the bulkhead. Talk about thrilled...

Ray in Atlanta, Ga.
"Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25
Standard Rig / Fin Keel

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 11/14/2010 : 13:26:38

I ment just forward the bulkhead.

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aeckhart
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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2010 : 18:00:12

Drilling holes, specially on the deck, is always a hairy experience. I drilled my first hole, a two incher, under the hull for my depth sounder than anoither for my speed-log transducer. You should have seen my wife's face when she saw me drilling those holes. That was 22 years ago and I'm now drilling with a little more confidence.

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sweetcraft
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USA
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Response Posted - 11/14/2010 : 21:42:24

You did drill with a very small drill first before the big drill?

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2010 : 08:29:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sweetcraft
 You did drill with a very small drill first before the big drill?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">For a 2-incher, I'd use a hole saw, working from the outside.

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redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2010 : 10:23:43

I drilled the hole out with a 1 inch wood bit down a 1/2 inch whish is the space I needed for the bottom of the deck plug fitting. That only went down as far as the wood core. Then I finished with a 7/8 wood bit ( a little bigger than the size of the 14/4 cable ) and drilled down till I felt the tip break through, and looked below to see where it was coming out, just barely forward of the bulkhead. I angled forward drilling, and I was askew forward the "bump" that the plug was mounted in. The previous plug was mounted a bit forward, not centered properly on the rize up in the deck. Anyhoo... I got lucky.... but I think wither way it would have worked out.

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Voyager
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5369 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2010 : 13:19:14

Ray, just for my orientation, is this on the starboard main cabin bulkhead, inside the port head area bulkhead or in the vee berth area?
Without a reference point in the photo, its hard to tell exactly which side of which bulkhead we are looking at.

I think it's the port side, but not sure which bulkhead.....

I like your LED lighting fixture -- what model is that?

Edited by - Voyager on 11/15/2010 13:19:58

redeye
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Response Posted - 11/15/2010 : 14:10:57

Port main bulkhead over the head, shot is looking aft. The 2 nuts on the left are two of the four that hold the mastplate.

West Marine LED Accent Light with Bezel * Model # 9265976

It's OK and I was "trying" different lights, but it kinda acts like a spot and I'd rather had put in a regular LED dome light. It kinda blinds you in this location, but it would work well in other locations, such as overhead looking down on a table. Hmmmm... maybe I'll change it out...also it is white (blue purpleish ) only, no red.

Don't get me wrong, the light works fine.... I'm a photographer and it is a mistake to ask me about lighting, I could go on all day and night...( Oh NO!!! harsh Shadows )

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redeye
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Response Posted - 11/15/2010 : 14:31:11

I found about 6 places where the old wire was rubbed to the point of opening up the insulation and corrosion had started in on the wire. And this boat is freshwater. Previously I had thought of the wire as just fine, and I'm sure this would only add some resistance, reducing amps and adding heat.

So.. anyhoo.. I added grommets through the bulkheads with this 14-4 run, one on the upper left in picture. Felt kinda stupid running new wire between the bulkhead and deck on the previous wiring I'd done, but the "rubbins" were not at the bulkheads.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 11/15/2010 : 14:33:30

OK one nut on the left in the first picture.

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Voyager
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USA
5369 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2010 : 17:36:02

That's why I asked about the light. The form factor looks good, but many LEDs appear bright when looking "down the barrel" directly into them, even though they don't produce a good "spread" or nice gaussian distribution of light like an incandescent or fluorescent.
I hear you about color temperature - same problem with fluorescents. Just don't have that 2900K look of tungsten.
But if I can save Amp-Hours, I'm willing to accept "warm white" LEDs.

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islander
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4024 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 06:29:03

Ray, Did you re-use the old deck plug hole or make a new one in a different spot.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 10:05:45

I was in the same opening as used before, and it was askew a little forward from the center of the round uprising that held the old plug.

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redeye
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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 10:27:16

I'd have rather filled it with resin and redrilled, but I forgot to bring the resin onboard. I was anchored out doing the work.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 10:44:46

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redeye
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Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 10:48:05

I also opened up a tube of boatlife caulk and it was "liquid" ...

I was not happy. watch out for that one... Boatlife caulk makes a "liquid" type for creeping cracks. not the regular caulk.

Looks very similar when you buy the tube.

So.. great, I can go after my creeping cracks now. ( watch it...do not reply on that one. )

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 11/17/2010 : 17:02:02

That pic of the old deck connector is great!

On our 2005 WB C250, the deck plugs are directly on the none skid surface, where your's are in a molding on the deck.

Probably why so many 250s have a leak in that area.

When I redo my deckplugs, think I'll sand away the none skid and add a raised smooth area.

What I would really like is a clam shell type of cover that would go over the cables so that rain / splash doesn't run down the cables into the connectors!

Paul

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redeye
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Response Posted - 11/19/2010 : 05:49:54

I ended up putting the liquid boatlife on the deck and coating the plug and it's gasket with a black aircraft gasket sealer and letting each surface dry some after coating, about an hour, and then screwing it down almost tight. I got some boat life from the marina later in the day and coated around the plug. After it was all over I kinda felt like the liquid boatlife was a good idea. I don't think it will leak.

I'll tighten it down some more today.

I left some slack ( a loop down ) in the wire just below the deck, a little more than pictured, as I took the shot before I loosened it up a bit more, so I can pull the plug up and rebed it or work on the connections if I need to.

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