Noticed after rain there is a small amount of water comming out from the inside of the compression post at the base of our c320. The 309 would be very similar to the 320. Does anyboby know how the water finds its way through to the inside of the post? And indeed how best to stop it. Cheers.
C320 mk2 compression post leak
- Thread starter Brahmany
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I've had this problem with my 309 since it was commissioned 3 years ago. Tracked it down to the plastic conduit that carries the electrical wiring through the mast step and into the compression post. Rainwater follows the wires running through the mast, down the wires, into the conduit, and then down the compression post into the bilge. I tried several means of fixing it, including squirting expanding foam into the conduit. Nothing worked. This winter, I had my yard unstep the mast so I could look for a solution (as well as do some work on the mast).
My preferred fix will be to turn the conduit 180 degrees so that the wires exit downward, and the conduit opening faces downward, when the mast is re-stepped. I have a feeling this isn't going to work, as I don't think there is enough space in the mast base to accept the doubled-over conduit. My backup plan is to fill the conduit with a more fluid substance like silicone.
I'll provide an update on what works when I recommission in the spring.
Thanks for the heads up on the leak. Reccon you are on the money. Ours is not a great amount of water but I do like to see (and smell) a dry bilge. we wont be stepping the mast unless something horrible happens as we dont winterise here. Cheers
Update: I took measurements, and in fact the conduit will NOT fit in the mast base when bent over 180 degrees. I filled the opening of the conduit with about half a tube of silicone sealant, and am hoping that will work. It passed the "hose squirt" test. Only problem is this will make it difficult to run new mast wiring in the future. Not a problem for me, as I have everything on the mast that I'll likely ever need or want, but if anyone else uses this method you might want to run some extra wiring from the bilge up through the post and conduit to accomodate any future additions in or on the mast.
Fixed!!
We had several torrential downpours since my mast was re-stepped with the wiring conduit filled with silicone. Bilge is dry as a bone! It's pretty difficult to fill the conduit with the mast stepped - the Selden mast on the 309 has an access hole in the side of the mast that gives limited access, but it's much easier and more thoroughly done with the mast out of the boat. I've put up with this leak for 4 years, and feel like it was worth the expense of unstepping the mast to finally get it fixed.
We had several torrential downpours since my mast was re-stepped with the wiring conduit filled with silicone. Bilge is dry as a bone! It's pretty difficult to fill the conduit with the mast stepped - the Selden mast on the 309 has an access hole in the side of the mast that gives limited access, but it's much easier and more thoroughly done with the mast out of the boat. I've put up with this leak for 4 years, and feel like it was worth the expense of unstepping the mast to finally get it fixed.
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