Hunter 280 Mast Water Drain

May 31, 2015
2
Hunter 280 Lake Norman
I have a 1997 Hunter 280 and I'm noticing that when it rains, water comes internally down the mast onto the compression post and into the bilge. Looking at the area around the top of the cabin and compression post, it appears that it is designed to do that (the compression post has a channel formed at the top). I've noticed no drain holes around the outside of the mast at the base. It's not a lot of water but I wanted to see what others with this model have experienced.
Thanks in advance.
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,435
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Common with all deck stepped masts. Water generally flows down the cable race particularly when no drip look exists or puddles on the mast step trapped because the step drain to the deck either doesn’t exist or is blocked by debris.
 
Dec 25, 2000
5,932
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
It's not a lot of water but I wanted to see what others with this model have experienced.
Wrote an article some time ago regarding rain water entering through the coach roof. Here is what I did to stop it:

Our step plate has a weep hole molded into the step base. Here is a picture of what it looks like.

 

chp

.
Sep 13, 2010
432
Hunter 280 hamilton
You're supposed to goop the hell out of the wires in the mast with silicon when running the wires through the tube. I've had most years were it's completely sealed and others where I have a slight leak. It's definitely not the best design. Once the mast is stepped you're stuck with whatever happens for the season until you re step the mast. I try to stuff and pack butyl tape into the tube around the wires when stepping.
 
Jan 7, 2011
5,593
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
I had a H280 for a few years. I don’t recall ever getting water down the mast and into the cabin.

if it was me, I would drill a few weep holes in the mast to let the water out, and pack the conduit or whatever carries the wires through the cabin roof.

Greg