Hi, I have recently purchased a Catalina 387 with in-mast furling and when it rains the mast leaks quite a bit of water (as much as 2-3 quarts) into the bilge. The weep hole at the base of the mast plate is tiny, has anyone expanded it? Or any other suggestions?
Catalina 387 Deck-Stepped Mast Leak
- Thread starter stsomewhere108
- Start date
The water is definitely coming down along the wires from the deck-stepped mast into the bilge. I am new to the boat and have not had the mast down yet, but based on what I have read it seem the water may fill up in the mast and flow into the wires, or since I have in-mast furling the amount of water that can come in during a storm is a lot. I was able to reproduce the problem with a water hose spraying into the in-mast furler.
I have had the mast down on my Catalina 387 (Sail #150) and it seems like a really well-designed, watertight system. I have owned the boat for eight plus years and have not had any mast step related leaks, or any other leaks, for what it is worth. That also sound like a lot of water to come into the boat. I might contact Catalina customer in Florida and see if they have had any other complaints and/or have a fix. Otherwise, it sounds like it will need to be resealed. Good Luck! Blair
Last edited:
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 21,998
I have a deck-stepped mast on my Cal35. When I removed the mast for refitting, I also removed the mast step. I had it cleaned and repainted (powder coated). With my wires entering the boat through the mast step, we designed a way to minimize the potential for water to leak. There are weep holes at the bottom of the mast to let any water flow out of the mast onto the deck. The mast step is bedded in 4000 caulk. The conduit that runs through the mast step and deck is bedded in 4000 caulk. We attached hoses to enhance the drip loop before the wires entered the conduit.
The grey wiring is the old wiring. We filled the space around the wires with caulk and cut the old wires off above the mast step.
Here are the images.
The grey wiring is the old wiring. We filled the space around the wires with caulk and cut the old wires off above the mast step.
Here are the images.
Thanks @jssailem and @Bullseye!!! I guess I will have to take the mast down this winter and take a take a look at how the wires are managed and check with Catalina to make sure its done correctly. I was thinking about drilling some weep holes at the bottom of the mast since the one in the Mast boot is tiny and gets easily clogged.
