Jayhearts,

I have successfully used styrofoam packing peanuts in an O'Day 25 mast
for twenty years. They are very cheap. They were very easy to
install. They do not pull down on the wires since they are not
attached. And, I have been able to run new wires through the peanuts
when I needed to make a change or add a wire or cable. Packing
peanuts would, of course, require briefly taking off the masthead
while you secure the mast with temporary lines. That is, unless you
are willing to cut a hole the size of a peanut in the top portion of
your mast and have the patience to stuff them in one at a time.

Lee Huddleston
s/v Truelove
lying Sea Gate Marina
Beaufort, NC

Neat idea.

Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com

(Lee Huddleston) wrote in message .. .
Jayhearts,

I have successfully used styrofoam packing peanuts in an O'Day 25 mast
for twenty years. They are very cheap. They were very easy to
install. They do not pull down on the wires since they are not
attached. And, I have been able to run new wires through the peanuts
when I needed to make a change or add a wire or cable. Packing
peanuts would, of course, require briefly taking off the masthead
while you secure the mast with temporary lines. That is, unless you
are willing to cut a hole the size of a peanut in the top portion of
your mast and have the patience to stuff them in one at a time.

Lee Huddleston
s/v Truelove
lying Sea Gate Marina
Beaufort, NC

My mast has one foot section of PVC conduit every 4 ft or so bonded to the
interior wall with exopy (or some type of goop.

At first I couldn't figure out how they were installed.. Then I noticed that
the mast is in 2 section with a doubler and welded at about 25 ft up the
mast. Perhaps they used a method like Glenn discribes or a PVC pole to push
the conduit sections into position.

BTW, I have seen some mast extrusion that have a 'dove tail' grove (kind of
a internal track) on the inside that would allow a series of clips to be
used to secure the conduit in place.

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Steve wrote:

BTW, I have seen some mast extrusion that have a 'dove tail' grove (kind of
a internal track) on the inside that would allow a series of clips to be
used to secure the conduit in place.

That is a feature of Sparcraft/Charleston Spar. Actually 3 little tee
shapes on the inside. One on either side in front and one on the luff
track. You slit a piece of PVC conduit on a table saw, slip the kerf
around a tee and push it in. Pretty neat.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com