OK the PO of my Hunter 30 has filled the lower half of the mast with what seems to be expanding 2 part foam. I assume he was trying to keep the wires in place, however I need to get the foam out as I was going to put in internal halyards and change all the cabling. Anyone got a good ideal as to how I can remove all the foam?
Foam in the mast
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I will presume that the mast is down.
If there is a halyard in there then two people can saw the line back and forth and cut the foam loose. Same way with any wire. Also you can heat the end of a long piece of steel pipe and push it into the foam. Once you have a path through it you just keep picking at it until you can break it all out.
If there is a halyard in there then two people can saw the line back and forth and cut the foam loose. Same way with any wire. Also you can heat the end of a long piece of steel pipe and push it into the foam. Once you have a path through it you just keep picking at it until you can break it all out.
Tried most things
I tried, alcohol, acetone and xylene and it had no effect Any ideas of what else?
I tried, alcohol, acetone and xylene and it had no effect Any ideas of what else?
To sum it up, The alcohol is for you
and the gasoline and fire is for the PO. You say the lower part of the mast. Do you know how far? 1', 10'? You will probably have to dig it out. If you damage a wire you will have to replace. I wouldn't putz with it, I would just get it out. Then do what you have too. I am thinking of something like a reinforcing rod with the end bent on both sides about 2" on the part you are pushing in and 4 to 6" as a handle. Push it up as far as you can. Using the handle, turn it a quarter turn pull it out. It will take a while. Once you get through it, you could probably make a larger bend to go into the mast so you can grab more on the way out. Hopefully you do not have internal halyards! Worst case is you pull the wires out. I had the same problem but the PO used packing peanuts. That was bad enough. good luck. r.w.landau
and the gasoline and fire is for the PO. You say the lower part of the mast. Do you know how far? 1', 10'? You will probably have to dig it out. If you damage a wire you will have to replace. I wouldn't putz with it, I would just get it out. Then do what you have too. I am thinking of something like a reinforcing rod with the end bent on both sides about 2" on the part you are pushing in and 4 to 6" as a handle. Push it up as far as you can. Using the handle, turn it a quarter turn pull it out. It will take a while. Once you get through it, you could probably make a larger bend to go into the mast so you can grab more on the way out. Hopefully you do not have internal halyards! Worst case is you pull the wires out. I had the same problem but the PO used packing peanuts. That was bad enough. good luck. r.w.landau
Foam
O2Addict, My ISOMAT keel stepped mast has foam at the deck level from the factory. They were there to keep water from reaching the keel. Usually they have a PVC pipe to run electrical cable thru. I believe most Hunter has deck stepped mast so there should be no foam. Acetone eats that foam stuff but don't try it with the mast standing. It's too flamable for my liking. What are you trying to do that need to remove the foam anyway?
O2Addict, My ISOMAT keel stepped mast has foam at the deck level from the factory. They were there to keep water from reaching the keel. Usually they have a PVC pipe to run electrical cable thru. I believe most Hunter has deck stepped mast so there should be no foam. Acetone eats that foam stuff but don't try it with the mast standing. It's too flamable for my liking. What are you trying to do that need to remove the foam anyway?
You can make a hole with a long piece of rebar or
pipe, then make more holes the smae way until it's sort of broken up, then us a piece of halyard wire or even chain. If you have wires in the mast, maybe you can make a big enought hole for a piece of pipe, thread the wires through the pipe to protect them, and then you can get pretty rough with your other pipe. Since you're doing this in the Bahamas and we're up here in the rain, I hope you don't expect too much sympathy for your predicament.
pipe, then make more holes the smae way until it's sort of broken up, then us a piece of halyard wire or even chain. If you have wires in the mast, maybe you can make a big enought hole for a piece of pipe, thread the wires through the pipe to protect them, and then you can get pretty rough with your other pipe. Since you're doing this in the Bahamas and we're up here in the rain, I hope you don't expect too much sympathy for your predicament.
This is
a common problem on late model MacGregor trailer sailers. The foam was placed there to act as flotation should the boat tip over to the point of the mast being in the water. Many Mac sailors discovered a way to sharpen the end of a long length of pvc pipe and use it to gouge out an opening in the foam. The pipe can be left in the mast to form a conduit.
a common problem on late model MacGregor trailer sailers. The foam was placed there to act as flotation should the boat tip over to the point of the mast being in the water. Many Mac sailors discovered a way to sharpen the end of a long length of pvc pipe and use it to gouge out an opening in the foam. The pipe can be left in the mast to form a conduit.
New Wiring
I am moving my halyards internal to the mast and replacing all the wiring, so I do not mind what damage is done to the wires inside. I think sharped PVC pipe is the way to go. Just a real PITA to do
I am moving my halyards internal to the mast and replacing all the wiring, so I do not mind what damage is done to the wires inside. I think sharped PVC pipe is the way to go. Just a real PITA to do
I like that PVC idea.
You could use a larger diameter and cut cores of it out. Great idea! r.w.landau
You could use a larger diameter and cut cores of it out. Great idea! r.w.landau
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