Any tips for rigging an A Frame

[boristhebold]

Finally my replacement A Frame is ready, so im planning on rigging it this weekend, do you have any tips on rigging, I need to pull through the following cables;

AIS GPS Antanae cable
VHF Cable
Nav lights x 2
Steaming light

Im thinking of threading some good strong string through the various points on the A Frame, then putting some adhesive around the mounting holes, then threading the sring through the holes and mounting and loosely bolting down, then pull through the cables with the use of the string and final bolt down, then connecting cables in boat.

Does that sound reasonable or do you have a better method.

[James3402]

If you have and thin wire push that through first then pull the string through. Then tie string to wire tape that then a bit of washing up liquid over the tape to help it through.
Hope that makes sense.

[Chris Caton]

if you can terminate direct to the nav light fittings rather than a joint that's the best way, then run directly back to the switches, less joints the better, but don't pull the wiring tight, leave some slack in the A frame, you never know if you'll need it in the future, talcum powder is good for lubrication to get things moving when pulling the cables through, and if you can use some corrugated hose when the cables exit the tube ends, just to protect them, if not a good layer of insulation tape

VWP - cable sleeving

[bedajim]

Deburr any holes and fit grommets if possible

[Steve_B]

Find somewhere with protection!
This weekend looks pretty grim

[jyasaki]

I'd also suggest leaving a pull line (string or wire) in place in case you decide to add something at a later date.

If you do find you need to get a string in, tie a small piece of cloth on the end, and use a shop vac to suck it through.

jky

[Nos4r2]

All good tips.

Some of my own:-

Put a thin line in each hole so every wire is pulled through by it's own line. Make every line long enough (like a normal lazy line) that you don't lose it if the cable gets detached from it.

Tie a knot in the line and tape the cable to it (stops the line slipping in the taped join).

Put the longest cables in first and (assuming it's all coming out of one hole into the hull) leave the line on the longest cable for use later on if you want to install other things on the A-frame.

[boristhebold]

All great tips thanks.

250knots yes the weather looks grim this weekend its doing my head in cant get on with it when it rains. im going to put my sailing waterproofs on and carry on with it. if it gets too wet will just do the prep and wait until its drier.

[Oscarguitar]

Hi,

When I replaced my VHF antenna cable and put in a second antenna for the FM radio I had a devil of a job feeding the wires through the A frame. In the end I went to Screwfix and bought one of these

http://m.screwfix.com/pr-gallery.htm?id=75807#imggal1

It's a cable and flex draw tape and made all the difference. You can borrow mine if you like. Alternative is an old throttle cable inner, however I found that too stiff to get round the bends on my frame which has some right angles to get round.

Good luck.

[jyasaki]

Oscar: Your link brings up the Screwfix top page. I assume you're talking about a cable fish tape?

jky

[Nasher]

I'm in the middle of doing mine at the moment, but unfortunately don't have any images yet.

I'm using grommets with a sleeve attached as per the image below.

I tried pushing a 'fish' through first but it kept jamming up.

I've had most success by wrapping the end of the cable in white insulation tape with a tail on the end about an inch long of just the tape folded in half.
Being white you can see it when it appears in the hole and then grab it with a pair of thin long nosed pliers.

Once the cable is pulled through the hole the grommet can be slid down the cable and forced through the hole.

It's worked for me on 3 cables so far.

One thing to note is how difficult it is to get a nice round hole in a bit of stainless tube with a hand held drill. You end up with something that looks like a 3 leaf clover instead.
I made up a jig that clamps around the tube and has a large bush welded to it to drill through, nice round hole every time that way.

I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow night.

Nasher.

[maxitope]

Try stainless 0.8 mig wire its very flexable and if u put a small loop in the end u can conect the wires to it and pull threw hope it helps

[Nasher]

Stopped off at the boat to get some pictures on my way to the gym tonight.

The whole point of this for me was that when I leave the boat tied up anywhere people will raft up to it by putting a line around the 'A' Frame and hence the cables cable tied to it. They have been damaged on more than one occasion that way.

Excuse the quality of the 'after' images as the light was fading fast, plus the amount of green slime that's built up in the last couple of months.

I'm pleased with how much neater it looks.
The Anchor Light and Nav lights are now wired from one multicore cable rather than two separate twin core cables.
The other two cables are the Antenna Coax, and the GPS antenna cable.

I've included an image of the jig I made to drill the holes.

I'm going to make up a stainless guard to protect the cable run at the bottom, then it's just a bit more tidying up and a good clean required before it's finished.

Also I can't stress enough how easy the white insulation tape made getting the cables through the holes.

Nasher.

[Neil Harvey]

Nasher
Nice job!

[HughN]

Net curtain wire every time!

[boristhebold]

In the end I put small diamter rope through each hole then mounted A frame, then loose bolted and pulled all cables through so no wires are visiable apart from to the side nav lights which I also used some black conduit to make a neat job. Used two core wire for lights which has a good protective outer cable. The only bitch was pulling the GPS cable through the hull but managed in the end. Talc on cables helped.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by maxitope

Try stainless 0.8 mig wire its very flexable and if u put a small loop in the end u can conect the wires to it and pull threw hope it helps

Safety wire (the stuff they use on race motors to keep nuts and bolts in place) works well. Cheap, too, at around $15 a pound. Don't know what "normal" stuff is, but I get the stainless, which can be left in place for the next time you need to pull something through.

jky