Masthead Light

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   My anchor light is not very bright so I intend to replace it with a LunaSea Tricolor.
Yesterday afternoon a friend climbed the mast and cut off the old wires but reported that the remaining wires are very short and splicing on the new light may be problematic. 

There doesn’t seem to be any slack in the wires - he was unable to pull any extra at the top of the mast. Nor could we get slack from the base of the mast. 

Anybody know how the wires are (or aren’t) attached/run down the mast? Presumably there’s a conduit?

I note that when I replaced the electronics a couple years ago, I was unable to remove any of the existing wires and ended up reusing the radar and vhf cables. I also went with a wireless wind instrument for the same reasons. 

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Issywa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 13 April 2022 Location: Seattle Status: Offline Points: 143	Post Options Post Reply Quote Issywa Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Masthead Light Posted: 16 July 2025 at 19:07
	My anchor light is not very bright so I intend to replace it with a LunaSea Tricolor. Yesterday afternoon a friend climbed the mast and cut off the old wires but reported that the remaining wires are very short and splicing on the new light may be problematic. There doesn’t seem to be any slack in the wires - he was unable to pull any extra at the top of the mast. Nor could we get slack from the base of the mast. Anybody know how the wires are (or aren’t) attached/run down the mast? Presumably there’s a conduit? I note that when I replaced the electronics a couple years ago, I was unable to remove any of the existing wires and ended up reusing the radar and vhf cables. I also went with a wireless wind instrument for the same reasons.

Aussieangus Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commander Joined: 03 December 2019 Location: sydney Status: Offline Points: 93	Post Options Post Reply Quote Aussieangus Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 July 2025 at 06:24
	No Idea mate but i know that my electrician had a similar problem but he was just able to connect the masthead light. Im guessing you could extend the length by adding some cable in inside the boat but then youve got a break in the line which isnt ideal.
	Sydney Australia GODS COUNTRY

Dogscout Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 10 July 2017 Location: Wandering About Status: Offline Points: 207	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dogscout Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 July 2025 at 22:27
	Just last week I pulled a new VHF cable through the mast, from the top down. I do not know how your mast is configured but mine appears to have 2 conduits. One at the front has the VHF and Wind instrument. The second (with the lights and radar cable) is on the port side just behind the hole in the base of the mast where the wires enter. That is what I could discern from poking around through that hole. If you can get a borescope attachment for a cell phone you may get a better picture. I have not yet tried replacing any of the light connections.
	Adventure awaits

Ian Coverdale Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 19 June 2019 Location: Travelling Status: Offline Points: 311	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ian Coverdale Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 July 2025 at 02:39
	Is it ZSPARS? Our 445 has two conduits. One from base to part way for radar, steaming light and deck light. Second from base to masthead for anchor light, VHF antenna and wind sensor. They are not big conduits so both are pretty congested. We had mast off two years ago for standing rigging replacement so replaced some cables too. Used soapy water for lubrication but it still pretty difficult to pull cables through even with mast base completely open. The conduits unclips from the mast at the base easily then any movement makes further length unclip. It's all a bit fiddly. Don't think we could have replaced the cables with mast in place.
	Ian & Andrea SV Gabrielle (H445) Liveaboards - currently Montenegro. www.facebook.com/sailinggabrielle

Arcadia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 27 November 2017 Location: Sag Harbor, USA Status: Offline Points: 1112	Post Options Post Reply Quote Arcadia Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 July 2025 at 15:54
	Just an FYI. For anyone replacing or working on mast cabling, I would strongly recommend changing to tinned cable. Those wires have a high exposure to salt air and moisture and Hanse like many production builders use less expensive untinned wire.
	Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY



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