Hi Terry,
I bought Sandy Evers (Old Sailor on here I think) Hunter 42 last March and have read many posts on the boat, and many of those yours. If I can I wanted to ask you about your wrote quite a while ago about mast leaks. I have one and can't seem to find the drain channel at the base of the mast you talked about in the post. Any tips on finding it? I'm hoping to avoid lifting the mast off.
Thank you, Dennis
Hi Dennis, as best as I can describe it, the drain port is molded into the underneath side of cast aluminum mast step plate that the mast rests on. So, if you were to stand at the bow looking aft at this mast step plate, the weep hole is located on the underneath side and center of this plate's leading edge. It is small, but large enough to allow rain water to drain out, but small enough to become clogged with gunk.
So, the step plate rests on the coach roof and the very center of the plate's leading edge is where you will find this drain port.
You can use a long pipe cleaner to auger out this weep hole. Last year in Sullivan Bay in a down pour rain water came into our cabin and down the compression post. It had been awhile since last cleaning this weep hole. When I stuck the cleaner into this hole, water came pouring out, which solved the problem.
Please let me know if and when you find it. It does serve an important function. If I can remember the next time at the boat in a week or so I will take a photo of it.
As long as the stand pipe (the piece of conduit that extends through the coach roof and into the mast base for mast wiring) is sealed and in good condition, keeping that weep hole clean should solve the problem. Such was not the case with our boat. The repair to this conduit did fix the rain water leak that we had and helped me to understand what was going on.
Hope this helps.
