Cable conduit cover in mast slot

[Dylancs]

I have a Niagara 35. I’m going to be installing a mast head VHF antenna and replacing the original wiring in the mast. I discovered that there is a channel running up the back side of the mast behind the main sail slot. It has a plastic cover that looks as though it gets slid from the bottom up and covers up the mast wires. The plastic is disintegrating and needs to be replaced. I’d prefer to use something that I can snap in place with the mast up. Maybe rubber?
Any suggestions? Has anyone replaced this sort of thing before?
The channel is 1/2” wide and the plastic is about 1/8” thick. I’d have to measure but think the channel it slots into is about 1/8” deep on either side. So I’ll be needing something about 3/4” wide.

Thanks

[nuku34]

Rubber ⅛” thick is going to be way too flexible. I suggest you get some plastic sheet material ⅛’ thick. Look for a type of plastic that is flexible and UV resitant. Rip several pieces just a touch shy of the total width of the slot (use a table saw with a 60 tooth blade raised only a few inches). You may have to sand or file the long edges down a bit to make them fit easily into the slots. I’d suggest you make the pieces around 2ft long. Put in one side first, then spring the other side into the opposite slot. Its going to be a pain in the ass to fit 15+ of them from a bosun’s chair, but cheaper than taking your mast down.

[GordMay]

FWIW: The Mast Section Drawing for the 'Niagara 35' [Hinterhoeller] doesn’t show the cable conduit slot.
Mast Section ➥ http://www.venturesail.com/Hinterhoe...on19840502.pdf

More Niagara 35 Drawings ➥ Venture Sail - Hinterhoeller Drawings