43 DS Cable Runs

[alenka]

I am about to fit a Command Mic at the helm of our 43DS.  

Does anyone have any hints or tips on getting the cable from the instrument pod to the Nav station and suggestions for the easiest route.

Thanks in advance.

[mikebnz]

I just ran a Seatalk HS cable along that route to connect the two Raymarine plotters. The cables run down a duct inside the steering pedestal then to the port side and along there to the nav station.

1. Access the helm by removing the four screws and lifting the whole panel off. Easy.
2. In the port quarter berth take the two back panels off (Velcro so they just pull off). That gives you access to where the cable drops down from the helm.
3. Then it’s bloody tricky. The cables run inside a duct all the way to the nav station.

I gave up trying to get the cable through the very full duct and ran it cable tied to the outside of the duct. I had to remove the wood panel on the port side of the quarter berth, easy. Then it runs into the cupboard by the autohelm. From there it goes in the cavity behind the toilet and under the sink, then behind the removable panel in the shower.

Finally remove the nav station panel and switch board and the storage tray in front of the switch panel (two screws on either end of it, easy). That gives you access to the full path.

Was a bit of a mission but nothing too tricky.

[alenka]

Thanks Mike,

I have to run a complete new cable, the equipment won't work over my Sea Talk network.  Hopefully the new cable will fit.

I am not onboard at the moment but looking at pictures it is not easy to see how the nav panel containing the current radio is attached! No apparent screw heads like there is in the electrical panel.

[alenka]

Ps. You don't happen to know the minimum cable length needed between the two?  The Mic comes with just 24ft which just about might work?

[mikebnz]

It’s a lot longer cable run than I expected. I think I started with a 10m cable and then it only made it to the cupboard in the quarter berth so I had to get another 5m one to finish the run. I’ll check the orders to confirm what I got and will let you know.

The nav station panel, radio panel and switch board are all one jigsaw. Start by removing the nav panel (with the chart plotter, the one most forward) then you can remove the radio panel, then the switch board.

[mikebnz]

Yes, it was a 10m and a 5m cable, that’s 49 feet. I do have a fair bit coiled up, so you probably only need 35-40 feet but way more than 24.

[alenka]

Thanks. I will get the extra cable on order!

[andreshs1]

Hi

I concur with Mike's advise. I fitted one a few months back and did it the same way, although I only found out about the extra length of cable needed when I was fitting it, so had to do the installation over 2 weekends 🤣🤣

Cheers

[moonshadow]

I bought an long flexible endoscope camera from Ebay that displays on iPhone. For long runs behind cabinetry I tape the camera to an electricians fish tape. It helps a lot to see what is hanging up. I think the scope is a DEPSTECH from Ebay about $40.00 US.

[alenka]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Awaiting extra cable and then will (attempt) fit early September.

The idea is to get AIS from the new Std Horizon Matrix VHF onto an iPad via a wifi link; But also get the benefit of a command mic at the helm... Fed up of running up and down to make and take VHF calls.  It seems an added bonus is an intercom system between helm and salon which should prove useful.... "Bring another cold one out of the fridge when you come up".

[Len]

m.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-12-ft-Fiberglass-Glow-In-The-Dark-Fish-Pole/50081460

These fiberglass rods really work well

Len

[Don Reaves]

I used a fish tape to install a messenger line (small poly twine) through the conduits. Now, whenever I need to run a new cable, it's very easy. Just make the messenger a bit more than twice the length of the conduit so you can pull it back through when you're done.

[alenka]

Having gotten back to the boat and opened up the binnacle it was instantly apparent that there was just no room in the ducts for a cable with a sealed, moderately sized, plug attached.

To run the cable outside of the duct placed it very close to the steering mechanism and chain - Not good practise to say the least.

So it is back to the drawing board.

Advice to anyone else contemplating adding cables into the binnacle - check first if there is room before you buy the extra piece of kit 

[andreshs1]

Hi

Well, you need to cut the plug anyway as the cable is not long enough and you need to connect it

I cut mine and then with washing up liquid (and lots of patience) pushed the cable through

Cheers

[alenka]

Even with no plug there is just not enough room for an extra cable I am afraid.  Plus it is one of those specialised multi-pin plugs which is impossible to open and re-attach the wires.

I will find a way/route!

I forgot to mention. After opening the binnacle, inspecting and re-fixing all seemed to work just fine until I tried to zoom in on the chart plotter and it became clear it was not receiving map data from the master plotter below decks.

Another quick inspection and a lose data cable was found and re-inserted.

The ST60 wind instrument then went haywire giving all sorts of strange readings.... Back in-side the binnacle once more and no cables were found to be lose but we re-seated all of them and checked everything twice but still no Joy.

After docking for the evening it was time to check, once again, what was happening inside the binnacle but before going back into it we switched everything off for 30 mins and powered on again.  Eureka! All was good and it has continued to work from that point on.

If you do need to go into your binnacle I would advise extreme care. NMEA cables are fiddly at the best of times and it seems you only have to look at them to cause a problem.

I will post again when the installation is complete.

[markevans]

Hi, Alenka.


Or save the hassle and go with a VHF that has good wireless command mics such as B&G V50/H50. The handsets aren't much more than standard ones and you save the cost of the cable. Plus they are mobile.


Without replacing your VHF, the advice given already is sound and I would make the following additions on the cable routing. If you access the stern via the electrical locker you can more easily feed/pull cables along side the existing ones. There is also a high level empty duct that runs through from there to just aft of the cabin locker should the other routes prove choked. Another route is to drop down from the electrical panel (removing cubby hole as others have said makes it much easier) and then following the cable port side of the engine bay and stern gland down the centre line of the boat which takes you underneath the binnacle.

Since we are going NMEA 2000 pretty much throughout, we will only have 1 x N2K, 1 x power for compass light and 1 x Seatalk to Autopilot head unit to get to the pod.

Good luck. 

[alenka]

Hi Mark.

Thanks for your comments.

I am replacing a Raymarine VHF with a Standard Horizon Matrix - the type that receives and displays AIS data. They don't make a blue tooth command mike which works with this model alas!

In a perfect world I would like the mike attached to the binnacle support within easy access of the helmsman.  The column looks pretty big but there's a definite shortage of space in the interior ducts within.  I am happy with the routing of the cable through the rest of the boat.

I am leaning towards installing a small SS tube from the deck up and into the base of the cockpit table storage at the moment. I just need to make sure I can get a suitable tube and deck flange to ensure that water does leak back in.

Before anyone tells me the LCD display on the command mike is pretty useless for AIS, I am also fitting a WiFi transmitter for the AIS data (Yakka) so it can be viewed on an iPad or iPhone via iSailor. The alarm on the Command Mike should wake up the helmsman to the fact we are being run down if nothing else.

It's all a bit of a stop gap until the Raymarine RL series equipment I have needs to be replaced, but so far and touch wood it is still giving good service.

[boltnbrew]

If you are considering alternative locations, maybe next to the Yanmar panel behind the pilot standing at the wheel.

[alenka]

Yes, I have looked at this location. It is not perfect as it would be all too easy for the helmsman to keep kicking it.  Further over would be much better but there I found it was double skinned and the gap between isn't big enough to accommodate the back of the plug. Likewise coming through the electric locker - not a simple fit.

At the moment the fallback position is below and just to the side of the port jib sheet winch, where I could run the cable very easily into that locker... But... It's not my favourite position.

[manaia]

I have been contemplating a similar thing and thought of the space on the starboard side of cockpit table. The table flap appears to be shorter on that side and the mike would be out of the traffic and close to the helm.
I will investigate if the cable can run up beside the throttle cables - has anyone else done this b?