I am so greatful for all your help and advice and I promise someday I will quit asking for it!

Next problem...

I have no masthead VHF antenna, or masthead light, and my wind instrument keeps falling off (poor bracket attachment).

Would I be better off waiting until I pull her for the season, drop the mast and work on the it then, or can I just string all the new electrical down the mast and attach brackets, and if so, any tips?

I'm looking for types of brackets, mounting hardware (screws vs. bolts,)where I can get them, and those sorts of things...

Thanks,
Jay

Canm you tell I'm a rookie boat owner?

Don't have a strong opinion about the rest, but... If you don't need it, you might well consider simply relocating the VHF antenna to the stern rail, and pulling the coax out of the mast. You lose a fair bit of line of site range on the VHF, but you also shed the weight of the antenna, (including, in particular, the coil) and the weight of the cable in the mast. All weight right where you don't want it.

- David

You'll probably want the mast down to string electrical and VHF if you're going to do it, because you'll have a heck of a time getting the wires out of the mast at the bottom.

I'm not sure the J/30 came standard with a masthead light, maybe on some. Mine didn't have one when I purchased it. I added a small windex light to illuminate the windex at night. Because it has a very low amperage bulb, I was able to use a smaller (and lighter)gauge wire and still not have unacceptable voltage drop (no greater than 2%).

My VHF bracket is attached with rivets. I don't know how your windex is attached but the windex should screw into the masthead crane. Mine has two threaded holes in the crane and the windex screws into the aft hole. If you have a wind instrument (ie, an anemometer)I'm not sure how that attaches, as different manufacturers have different methods. I would bolt vs screw and would use threadlock or locking washers. Stainless of course.