Unstepping Mast on Catalina 34 MKii

[mjd123]

Hi All,

Taking mast of our 2000 Catalina 34mkii for the first time. It's a deck stepped mast.  Are all the connections for mast mounted electronics (Wind and Lights) connected at the base of the mast at deck level?  Can't seem to find them anywhere else. 

Thanks,

Mike DePasquale
#1467

[rob herron]

Hi Mike,

I've got hull 1491, and all the connections are inside the cabin next to the top of the compression post.

[KWKloeber]

Taking mast of our 2000 Catalina 34mkii for the first time. It's a deck stepped mast.  Are all the connections for mast mounted electronics (Wind and Lights) connected at the base of the mast at deck level?  Can't seem to find them anywhere else. 

Do it safely!!  Be sure to lay 4x4 or 6x6 blocks on the deck once the mast is raised while messing w/ wiring underneath it.  You can't replace a hand in-kind.

[robbjd]

Our 1997 34 Mk ii has all of its' connections are on deck in the mast base. If you have a Raymarine wind instrument be prepared with a small screw driver as you may have to open a junction box and disconnect the 5 wires. VHF antenna cable, and wires for lights are easy to disconnect plugs.

[Jim Hardesty]

Taking mast of our 2000 Catalina 34mkii for the first time. It's a deck stepped mast.  Are all the connections for mast mounted electronics (Wind and Lights) connected at the base of the mast at deck level?

On Shamrock hull 1570 with roller furling main the connections are at the mast base.  There's a tube that's a few? inches high that the wires run in that's sealed at the top, does a good job keeping the water out.  I did some grinding on the area that drains water from the bottom of the mast, rain water and dirt would plug up the original, would drain water for days after a storm.   Now that it's oversized, no problems.
I second Ken about safety, I use a coat hanger or hemostat to pull the connectors clear.  Anything but hands and fingers under the mast.
Jim

[KWKloeber]

Some put a tee or elbow atop the conduit stub to redirect the cables and prevent rainwater from traveling down the cables and conduit.  If the cables are long enough that's unnecessary because when the mast is down they'll naturally form drip loops.
If they are short or for belt/suspenders, stick a gob of "electrician's putty" (from a big box) in the conduit stub to seal around the cables.

[Jim Hardesty]

I put a tied down bucket over the mast step to keep the water and snow out.  Even under the winter cover.
Jim

[pbyrne]

Hi All,

Taking mast of our 2000 Catalina 34mkii for the first time. It's a deck stepped mast.  Are all the connections for mast mounted electronics (Wind and Lights) connected at the base of the mast at deck level?  Can't seem to find them anywhere else. 

Thanks,

Mike DePasquale
#1467

Might look like this.  I have the same year.