Clanging Banging inside mast of Newport 30 II

[crisper]

Any ideas on what this is? The noise comes from inside the mast, pulling on wiring from access hole on port base of mast makes no difference. It is quite loud, enough to prevent sleeping on the boat. Nothing external on the mast appears amiss. It sounds like something metal rocking back and forth inside the mast. Thanks.

 

[Cayennita]

My mast has a pvc pipe for the wires and it has separated from it's various anchoring points. Now it makes the same noise. This hurricane season I removed the mast and will correct the situation.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

If your halyards are internal, then they can slam about making noise along with the electrical wiring going to lights aloft. Also make sure the halyards on the outside of the mast are pulled away from the spar to shut them up.

 

[stpabr]

Cayennita is correct, PVC pipe riveted (smallest rivet made) to the mast.

Look on the outside for the Rivet Heads, may be missing. I found mine to be the lower half. Use a coat hanger (or similar type of hooked pick) to pull the PVC back to the mast and attempt to drill out to the next size aluminum rivet below or above. Be carefull of the wires inside.

If your weary of redrilling, then just use another coat hanger (or similar wire) to push out the old broken rivet (probably gone from banging) and use a Long shank (I thing it 3/16th) Pop rivet.