How to run new wires for bow navigation lights?

FrankMin

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1986 241 Offshore
How do I run wires from the helm to the bow for the navigation lights? The wires are held in place with plastic cable clamps running along the starboard underdeck. I cannot reach to feed thru each cable clamp. Any ideas? Thanks
 

Hookup1

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I have taken the cable tie mounting squares with the adhesive back, pull the paper off and put a dab of 4200 or 5200 and stick up there. When cured you can reach up and install wires and cable tie. Also a good ides to clean the fiberglass off with lacquer thinner first - nothing sticks to the resin film. I also install the wire tie and sometimes connect it but with a big loop - pull tight after you snake wire. I don't usually cut the tag ends off.
 
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seasick

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It depends on how involved you want to get. You might consider leaving the old wires in place and zip tieing the new ones to the old ones.
I second Dennis's recommendation.
 

glacierbaze

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Is the problem that the plastic cable clamps are too tight, or just that you can’t reach them?
If it was a question of reach, and I really needed a new wire, I would try to butt splice the new to the old, with a really good connection and then heat shrink and lube it. Pull the new wire in by pulling the old wire out. If the old wire pulls easily, I might try pulling both new wires with one old wire, in case I lost the connection, I would still have one more wire for a second chance.
 

FrankMin

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Yes that is the problem the cable clamps are too tight. I can’t reach the wires and also too tight to pull thru.