Hunter 376 - companionway steps & mast

N

NProvost

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May 27, 2024
2
Hunter 37,5 Lake Champlain
Hello everyone

With spring comes all sorts of ideas for reflection and improvements to the sailboat.

I own a 1997 Hunter 376. I have two questions for this forum:

1) Does any of you know how to remove the companionway steps inside the sailboat that attach to the engine cover? When I open the cover, I see a silver film stuck to the entire inside surface of the cover, preventing me from seeing the nuts.

2) Water is entering the sailboat through my mast foot. It seems that the metal pipe between the floor and the mast foot is too short. Since I don't dare remove the mast without knowing if this metal tube is attached and welded to something, have any of you ever had the experience of replacing the tube that keeps the water out?
 
Rich Stidger

Rich Stidger

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Feb 10, 2004
4,136
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Ii have a 1997 40.5- a sister ship. I can't help with the companion way steps, but the mast leak is likely from water running down the wire bundle and through the PVC pipe. The PVC pipe is only about 2.5" long, but unless the mast drain holes are plugged, that should be high enough. So first check the drain holes for debris. A common wire problem is that no drip loop was created above the PVC tube when the mast was stepped. Without a drip loop, water will run straight down the wires, through the PVC tube, and into the cabin. The only way I know to fix this properly is to pull the mast and put in a drip loop.
An alternative solution that I have used, is to remove the PVC tube and the wires from the tube. Clean the wire bundle of old sealant, and using a generous supply of new sealant, work the sealant between all of the wires. Tie all together with a couple wire ties. Add more sealant to the top of the wires in a couple layers. Sudbury has a liquid sealant that is the consistency of water that will run into cracks and spaces. Finally, reseal the PVC tube in the mast step as high as it will go. Cover the wire bundle exit with a lot
more sealant.
Pray to the water gods of leakage.
 
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