Hunter 33 water leak at compression post

[KyleH]

Hello all,

We purchased our first boat, a 2008 Hunter 33 in the fall. Before it was hauled out, I noticed a small trickle of water coming down the compression post on a rainy day and found it seems to be coming from the top of the post. Looks like a previous owner was trying to contain it by using silicone at the top of the post inside the cabin.
I was thinking of having the step re-bedded while the mast was off but am confused as to how the water is coming down at the top of the compression post and not the bolts or wires.
How is the mast step/compression post interfaced on the 33?. I reviewed this thread but on the 33 the mast wiring comes out of the base of the mast and goes to a box out front for the wires to penetrate the deck. Would Hunter have cut a hole under the mast step anyway for the wire conduit in the step?

Thanks,

Kyle

 

[jssailem]

Gobbing caulk on the problem from underneath never solves the problem. You need to stop the water from the outside.

To do that, you will need to examine (in detail) the outside of the mast base and find where water is gaining access.

That cover for the wire connections would be a place I would explore.

 

[kbgunn]

The penetrations through the deck for wires and cables will be under the stainless steel box in front of the mast step. Check for leaks there first like @jssailem suggest. Use a hose to douse the area or carry buckets if you can't get a hose to your spot on the hard. You'd be surprised how much water can wick uphill through plywood core and drain out as a leak in unthinkable locations.

The mast rests on a cast plate which is where all of your turning blocks are attached before leading to the deck organizers. This plate has bolts through the deck which potentially are leaking and need to be rebed. You can see two of the bolts forward of the compression post in your photo. The two visible ones look to be sealed well from a visual inspection. I can't see the after bolts in the photo.

You would have to drop the mast for the rebed work. There is also no accounting for what a previous owner might have done under the mast base plate, so it might be a good idea to lift the mast just so you know for certain what's under there. It's also a good time to set prebend of the mast and rake (a Seldén furling mast should have very little of both) and tune the rig after pulling the mast.

The 33 Owner's manual says:

And for rake:

Enjoy your new acquisition, Kyle! She is a great sailing boat and a great value for the amount of boat you get for the money.

 

[Scott B]

As said above, the wires only go down through the small box in front of the mast. Most likely the bolts for the mast plate and should be removed and re-bedded.

 

[sailcapt340]

Check Where I have drawn the red arrows. On my 340, The wires that lead into the stainless steel box on either side pass through a piece of foam. The water….rain, hose, melting ice, whatever you got runs along the wire and wicks through that foam and down the wires into the access panel in the cabin .
There should be 3 or 4 screws in front of the box that hold it to the deck plate its mounted on. Remove them and the cover will lift up along the hinge side and open. I replaced the foam in mine many times as it drys out from the sun beating on it.
I then use flexible caulking to seal the foam and wires leading into the box. I also run a thin bead of caulking under the edges before I press it back down into place.
Solved my issue but needs to be checked as part of the spring commissioning each year.
It stopped the drips of water I was getting running down into the cabin.

 

[KyleH]

Thanks for the reply's. I did investigate the wire box, and it didn't appear to be the source, I'll be keeping an eye on it though.
Since the mast was off and some other work was being done, I had the yard check the mast step. They found it was leaking under the plate at the top of the compression post, and needed re-bedded. Fortunately no moisture damage to the deck, water just ran down the post then into the bilge.
I didn't realize the compression post ran through the deck on this boat like it does on the 260.