Victoria Shadow Association Members' Forum

Bill_Robinson

Member

From: Langkawi, Malaysia

Registered: 2021-06-14

Posts: 110

Victoria Frances 26 mast question.

I am about to pull the mast on Inyoni, my 1987 Frances 26. She has a Proctor mast, and is fractional rigged.

I plan to fit steaming, deck, and tricolor/anchor lights. At present, there is only a very weak anchor light.
Can anyone confirm whether the wiring is in a conduit or not?

Jonathan_Hopper

Member

Registered: 2004-03-23

Posts: 161

Re: Victoria Frances 26 mast question.

Yes there is a conduit.

I changed my masthead lights to an AquaSignal 34 a few years ago which has been good.   The ends of the original wires were green (not tinned wire), so also changed to tinned.

If you do also fit a deck light/steaming light please let me know how you get on.

Bill_Robinson

Member

From: Langkawi, Malaysia

Registered: 2021-06-14

Posts: 110

Re: Victoria Frances 26 mast question.

Thanks Jonathan,
That is good news regarding the conduit. Not sure yet how I will tap into it for the steaming and deck light wiring, but I will figure something out.

Correct navigation lights are very important here. In the Malacca Strait around Singapore, it is usual to have over 1000 AIS targets, as the shipping is squeezed between Singapore and Batam. I was not at all happy there, having no steaming light, and an intermittent fault on my AIS. A deck light for foredeck work at night will be better than my current headlamp. My old navigation lights were really anemic, hopefully the new LED ones will be much brighter.
Regards,
Bill.

Bill_Robinson

Member

From: Langkawi, Malaysia

Registered: 2021-06-14

Posts: 110

Re: Victoria Frances 26 mast question.

Well Jonathan, I have installed the steaming/foredeck light on the mast.

I had to pull 2 three core power cables, the vhf antenna cable and the Raymarine wind transducer cable down through the mast from the upper end.

After I had mounted the steaming/foredeck light unit, I drilled a 10mm. diameter hole through the mast and the conduit. I did this fairly close to one of the rivets that secure the conduit to the mast wall. I measured the required length of the three core cable for this light and then attached a line to it. After pulling all the cables etc through to the bottom, I continued to pull the steaming/foredeck cable a little, then used a wire hook to snag the line attached to it through the hole. Using this line, I then pulled it out of the hole about 200mm. I  taped it well and secured it with a cable tie on the outside. I also used 3M 5200, to further secure it and seal the hole. It is very firm, and I am satisfied that it will stay put.

All this was done with the mast horizontal supported on 3 oil drums, which made it possible. I doubt that it could be done with the mast stepped!

Anyhow, my mast modifications are now completed, and I am busy making up the new standing rigging, using Blue Wave mechanical terminals. I now have two internal halyards, one for the mainsail, and one for the Genoa. The spinnaker, and staysail halyards are still external, as is the topping lift, which I will run down the backstay to a cam cleat. This makes adjusting the topping lift very convenient.

Last edited by Bill_Robinson (2021-10-10 22:39:30)