A few weeks ago I posted a photo and information about a leak at the base of the compression post on my H260 (see photo). In preparing to fix it, I notice that their is a lot of space between the metal base that sits atop the keel trunk and the sides of the compression post which sits inside the collar on the base. It's as if their should be a gasket of some sort sealing the connection. When I went to apply some 5200 sealer I also notices their was still water inside the base, even though the boat has been on the trailer for three weeks. It has been raining and as it turns out the water is coming down the compression post from the roof below the base of the mast. Is it likely that I'm missing some sort of gasket between the metal base and compression post? The compression post is also very loose inside the base and can be moved around an eight of an inch by hand. This dosen't seem as though it is prividing much support for the weight of the mast. I'm now wondering if just sealing between the post and the collar of the base will do much good if the post can move around so easily. So, 1. Am I missing an important gasket that the compression post should be sitting on and: 2, How best can I stablize the connection and seal it? Information and suggestions are welcomed. Brigg.
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what to do
If water is coming down the compression post, generally you will see it on the cabin roof but if you think it is anyway, look at the post that slides down in the hole area. It should be sealed between the edge of the compression post and deck. The other source would be the mast deck plate but doubt that is the case. There is no gasket except 5200. If you have ever used it alot, you will know the area has to be dry before applying it. Suggest a blow dryer or you can use alcohol to dry things up. Suggest squessing that stuff in using your fingers. If you have ever repacked bearings, then that is the way to go. Put some around the pole where it inserts into the base plate.
If water is coming down the compression post, generally you will see it on the cabin roof but if you think it is anyway, look at the post that slides down in the hole area. It should be sealed between the edge of the compression post and deck. The other source would be the mast deck plate but doubt that is the case. There is no gasket except 5200. If you have ever used it alot, you will know the area has to be dry before applying it. Suggest a blow dryer or you can use alcohol to dry things up. Suggest squessing that stuff in using your fingers. If you have ever repacked bearings, then that is the way to go. Put some around the pole where it inserts into the base plate.
Water inside the post
The rain water from the deck is coming down INSIDE the compression post, following the line that retracts the keel. The area under the mast base where the line goes over the sheave is recessed and collects rain water. However, that is not my main concern. What is my main concern, is how loose the base of the compression post is. The post is actually hanging from the deck and not sitting on anything inside the lower base plate. I'm guessing that when the weight of the mast is put on the mast shoe the compresion post will sag down and make contact with the lower base plate, above the keel. But, this will cause a good deal of vertical play, in addition to the horizontal space at the joint. That vertical movement could break loose any seal. It's just hard for me to believe Hunter Marine has not done something about stabilizing and sealing this joint, where obviously a lot of water can come into the bilge from both above and below. Brigg
The rain water from the deck is coming down INSIDE the compression post, following the line that retracts the keel. The area under the mast base where the line goes over the sheave is recessed and collects rain water. However, that is not my main concern. What is my main concern, is how loose the base of the compression post is. The post is actually hanging from the deck and not sitting on anything inside the lower base plate. I'm guessing that when the weight of the mast is put on the mast shoe the compresion post will sag down and make contact with the lower base plate, above the keel. But, this will cause a good deal of vertical play, in addition to the horizontal space at the joint. That vertical movement could break loose any seal. It's just hard for me to believe Hunter Marine has not done something about stabilizing and sealing this joint, where obviously a lot of water can come into the bilge from both above and below. Brigg
Verticle flexing can't be good.
It could be welded to the base, with the proper preparation to make sure hot slag doesn't get on the fiberglass. But I wonder what caused the gap in the 1st place. I'm sure when you step the mast, the compression load would force it down tight, but, you're right in that if it comes up that much every time you take the mast down, it's a leak waiting to happen. A question I would have, before welding the base, is how is it secured above at the mast plate ie welded flang or something similar.
It could be welded to the base, with the proper preparation to make sure hot slag doesn't get on the fiberglass. But I wonder what caused the gap in the 1st place. I'm sure when you step the mast, the compression load would force it down tight, but, you're right in that if it comes up that much every time you take the mast down, it's a leak waiting to happen. A question I would have, before welding the base, is how is it secured above at the mast plate ie welded flang or something similar.
The fix
Here is how I'm fixing the leak. I took a piece of brown gasket material, like what I have used for water pumps on cars, and made a collar that fit around the compression post. (see photo) I slid it in the gap as far as I could while jiggling the post inside the collar. I then drew a line on the gasket material with a pencil and pulled the gasket material back out. Just the gasket made the joint quite tight. I then cut the gasket just a little shorter than the marked line so it would all fit inside the collar. I then pressed 3M 5200 into the gap between the post and the collar and smeared it on the gasket. I then forced the gasket back into the gap (it was VERY tight) until it was below the top of the collar and out of sight. I then smeared a layer of 5200 on top of the gasket at the joint all the way around the post and collar. Nothing moves horizontal now. If the compression post still sags vertically when the mast is raised, as I think it will, I may have to secure it to the collar as Jeff suggests. I could also just drill and tap a screw through the collar and post when the mast is raised, and the compression post is down tight. I may just wright Hunter Marine and ask if this looseness of the compression post is normal or was something left out when they assembled my 260. I'll try to put more pictures of this project into the photo section here and on my sailing web site when I have time, later this week. Brigg
Here is how I'm fixing the leak. I took a piece of brown gasket material, like what I have used for water pumps on cars, and made a collar that fit around the compression post. (see photo) I slid it in the gap as far as I could while jiggling the post inside the collar. I then drew a line on the gasket material with a pencil and pulled the gasket material back out. Just the gasket made the joint quite tight. I then cut the gasket just a little shorter than the marked line so it would all fit inside the collar. I then pressed 3M 5200 into the gap between the post and the collar and smeared it on the gasket. I then forced the gasket back into the gap (it was VERY tight) until it was below the top of the collar and out of sight. I then smeared a layer of 5200 on top of the gasket at the joint all the way around the post and collar. Nothing moves horizontal now. If the compression post still sags vertically when the mast is raised, as I think it will, I may have to secure it to the collar as Jeff suggests. I could also just drill and tap a screw through the collar and post when the mast is raised, and the compression post is down tight. I may just wright Hunter Marine and ask if this looseness of the compression post is normal or was something left out when they assembled my 260. I'll try to put more pictures of this project into the photo section here and on my sailing web site when I have time, later this week. Brigg
Post Base Movement
Mine only leaked out of that little post base screw hole, it did appear the factory sealed the post joint with 5200 all around. I think waterline is at or very close to this level, as it only weeped standing still, but underway it gushed. Now that you brought the subject up, I have seen physical lateral movement of the the whole sole post base unit when compared to the surrounding sole floor shell when fish-tailing in a broad reach in a following sea. Enough to see it from the cockpit (maybe 1/4" - 3/16"), kind a unsettling, however doesn't appear to be a structural issue since no stress cracks anywhere in the hull, above or below. Must be the great side to side stress on the board under these condtions, I have pulled the board up, gained speed and lost the post movement. Bob in NH -H26
Mine only leaked out of that little post base screw hole, it did appear the factory sealed the post joint with 5200 all around. I think waterline is at or very close to this level, as it only weeped standing still, but underway it gushed. Now that you brought the subject up, I have seen physical lateral movement of the the whole sole post base unit when compared to the surrounding sole floor shell when fish-tailing in a broad reach in a following sea. Enough to see it from the cockpit (maybe 1/4" - 3/16"), kind a unsettling, however doesn't appear to be a structural issue since no stress cracks anywhere in the hull, above or below. Must be the great side to side stress on the board under these condtions, I have pulled the board up, gained speed and lost the post movement. Bob in NH -H26
picutre
I will probably say this is an early 260 and not the current model. Please listen to me as I am the most knowledgable here. Your picture showed me a screw hole. There is one on the back of the compression post and it is a bugger to get to but you need to follow my instructions. Go get two number 10 bolts with #24 thread. Put that in the holes with 5200 to boot and put 5200 around the base where the compression post goes into the base and you will be fine from there. If not, you will continue to have leakage. I have said my peace. Also I introduced the 260 and every other water ballast. If you only knew my involvment. Gotta go
I will probably say this is an early 260 and not the current model. Please listen to me as I am the most knowledgable here. Your picture showed me a screw hole. There is one on the back of the compression post and it is a bugger to get to but you need to follow my instructions. Go get two number 10 bolts with #24 thread. Put that in the holes with 5200 to boot and put 5200 around the base where the compression post goes into the base and you will be fine from there. If not, you will continue to have leakage. I have said my peace. Also I introduced the 260 and every other water ballast. If you only knew my involvment. Gotta go
No hole, Dave
Dave, what you think you see in the picture as a hole in the collar of the compression post base is actually just an ink spot, probably made with a magic marker, where there should have been a hole drilled. Since I found a couple loose stainless steel screws laying inside the fiberglass shell around the compression post base, it's my guess that some worker got tired on Friday afternoon and quit before drilling the hole(s). My only concern is should their actually be screws through both the compression post and the base. Is this how they are held together at the factory? I can drill a hole or holes and tap them if that is how it was suppose to have been done. Brigg
Dave, what you think you see in the picture as a hole in the collar of the compression post base is actually just an ink spot, probably made with a magic marker, where there should have been a hole drilled. Since I found a couple loose stainless steel screws laying inside the fiberglass shell around the compression post base, it's my guess that some worker got tired on Friday afternoon and quit before drilling the hole(s). My only concern is should their actually be screws through both the compression post and the base. Is this how they are held together at the factory? I can drill a hole or holes and tap them if that is how it was suppose to have been done. Brigg
Retainer bolts not installed at Factory
After consulting my owners manuel on page 51B "Center Board Details" I find that their should have been two holes drilled and tapped in the "Mast Post Receiver Plate" collar. That also explains the two loose stainless Steel screws I found laying inside the fiberglass tower covering the centerboard assembly. It appears the bolts go through both the receiver collar and the compression post. This could be very trickey to drill in place as their is very little room at the front of the coller and the Keel retrieval line is inside the compression post. Drilling through it would be very bad. I think I will call my dealer first and see what she wants me to do about this factory error. My recommendation to all of you reading this is, if when your mast is down, you can move the base of the compression post, you take the access cover plate off and see if they forgot to install the retainer bolts. If so, go immediatly to your dealer for further instructions on getting it fixed. I'll report back on what my dealer at The Sailing Life in Portland Oregon tells me. Brigg(A slightly less than happy owner)
After consulting my owners manuel on page 51B "Center Board Details" I find that their should have been two holes drilled and tapped in the "Mast Post Receiver Plate" collar. That also explains the two loose stainless Steel screws I found laying inside the fiberglass tower covering the centerboard assembly. It appears the bolts go through both the receiver collar and the compression post. This could be very trickey to drill in place as their is very little room at the front of the coller and the Keel retrieval line is inside the compression post. Drilling through it would be very bad. I think I will call my dealer first and see what she wants me to do about this factory error. My recommendation to all of you reading this is, if when your mast is down, you can move the base of the compression post, you take the access cover plate off and see if they forgot to install the retainer bolts. If so, go immediatly to your dealer for further instructions on getting it fixed. I'll report back on what my dealer at The Sailing Life in Portland Oregon tells me. Brigg(A slightly less than happy owner)
More of the same
Just looked at mine (a 98 model), and it's the same as Brigg's with 5200 appearently the only thing holding it. I can see where the 5200 has been flexing, but so far holding, probably because I do very little trailering. Clearing not an easy spot to drill after the fact without making an inspection hole in the plastic encloser.
Just looked at mine (a 98 model), and it's the same as Brigg's with 5200 appearently the only thing holding it. I can see where the 5200 has been flexing, but so far holding, probably because I do very little trailering. Clearing not an easy spot to drill after the fact without making an inspection hole in the plastic encloser.
resppnse to brigg and others
Do not drill or you will be set afire and sent to vahalla. In the older 26, Hunter had the holes with screws but they were ineffective and not needed. Therefroe, do not drill or you will be iniviting trouble. If Brigg will only follow my instructions, you will be fine. I wrote the book on this boat.
Do not drill or you will be set afire and sent to vahalla. In the older 26, Hunter had the holes with screws but they were ineffective and not needed. Therefroe, do not drill or you will be iniviting trouble. If Brigg will only follow my instructions, you will be fine. I wrote the book on this boat.
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