In mast furling & water leaks

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Jun 9, 2008
14
Catalina 310 Carlyle, IL
Have any other owners with in mast furling having problems with water in the bilge. I've noticed that every time it rains I get water in the two bilge sections aft of the compression post. I have over the past 3 years confrimed that the water leak is from the mast. Any suggestions on how I can fix this?
 
Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
Have any other owners with in mast furling having problems with water in the bilge. I've noticed that every time it rains I get water in the two bilge sections aft of the compression post. I have over the past 3 years confrimed that the water leak is from the mast. Any suggestions on how I can fix this?
I only have water if it rains very hard. It is coming from the somewhere in the front. I resealed the chainplates which was only part of the problem. I had not considered the in-mast furling as the source, but I will set up a trap under the mast post and see if I catch any fish.
 
Jul 1, 2009
221
Catalina 310 Sydney-Pittwater
Not sure, whether this helps or contributes.

A while ago I noticed an imperceptable trickle of freshwater running on the starboard side into the middle portion of the bilge. As it had not been raining for a few days I suspected a leak in the water supply system. However, it seemed to originate higher up from behind the fridge/icebox and since I had not been running these, the only source could have been from under ceiling/deck/hull joints.

I checked all shroud exits below and could not discern any telltale signs. Also, one would think that these would leak earlier, ie. immediately after rain.

Then discovered that the mast ( Charleston furling) was still holding some rainwater, upwards from just below the vang fitting. Also, a couple of the vang fitting rivets showed some minor rust streaks. Siphoned this out and the trickle from the mast base onto the deck, and into the bilge as well, stopped.

Afterwards, I siphoned this water after every rain. This seems to have stopped that annoying trickle into the bilge. As the siphoning became a bit tiresome (about a bucket full), I drilled a pinhole next to the vang fitting - away from wires in the front section of the mast and not too low to interfere with any mast base sealing. This seems to drain nicely.

I really don't know the rationale behind all this, except that water may have very slowly trickled thru somehow from the higher section of this ready made rainwatertank inside of the mast, entered the ceiling/deck space and run along the underneath sides of the deck to then run down into the bilge. There was no moisture underneath the compression post.

Since then, to complicate the issue, with a new pair of glasses I noticed the absence of any apparent sealant in the spaces of/below the 'beauty plate' of the starboard lower f'd shroud. Sealed this. Whether this contributed to the leak?

Since all this work we haven't had any sustained hard rain periods and I hope that it will still remain dry when those re-occur.
 
Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
It seems insane that Charleston would design a mast that holds water?? I'm going to check this out further. Thanks for the info Albanach.
 
Sep 29, 2008
1,944
Catalina 310 #185 Quantico
Now I am curious ...

I have been following this thinking I have not noticed anything like this. But the comment that some of you with this problem have in-mast furling and I don't makes me wonder if it specific to the in-mast configuration.

When I was looking to install an spinnaker pole ring on my boat, I contacted Catalina and Charleston Spar and no one could ever tell me definitively who made my mast. Catalina was saying it was Charleston, but after talking to them over a couple of days he realized I had a traditional main (not in-mast) and said they did not make it and it was probably done in-house by Catalina.

I may just be counting my blessings, but am also wondering if the solution is to put a small weep hole in the base of your masts or perhaps there is one already there and clogged up with something.

Just my musings.
 
Jul 1, 2009
221
Catalina 310 Sydney-Pittwater
Witzend -
I did contact Charleston - Spar ( US Sparsoutlining my problem - mainly to ensure that by drilling my planned weeping hole I would not hit something unexpected.
Their only response was by sending me the link to the 310 Furling Mast Manual - the one showing an exploded view of the furling drum and its bits. (Unfortunately, I lost this and other corro in a recent crash of my computer due to severe virus infection - despite Norton protection - another story.)

rpwillia -
Did eventually drill the weeping hole, as above.
It appears that there is/was some provision for the water to escape, because on and off a trickle across the deck could be seen. However, the evacuation seemed to be just too slow. Possibly a blockage. Charleston did not mention any such thing, which would probably be the domain of the mast installer in any case.
Whatever the cause of the leak, it seems to have stopped and the mast is now (fairly) dry after some rain - nothing to be pumped out any longer. Rain is forecast for next week and I am hoping that things will remain dry.
 
Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
Mine collects water, which is running down the wires in the mast post and exiting into the forward bilge section.
Since I'm on a mooring if it is a driving rain, no problem because the back side of the mast is not exposed. If it is a windless down poor as we just had 2 days ago, it leeks. I'm wondering if I can design a "U" shaped removable diverter to help direct water out of the mast at just above the lower bearing and a long clip that snaps over the exposed fer-low line screw section.
 
Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
It appears that the cabin support tube protrudes above the deck level. I wonder if the end of the tube is sealed? I bet not and when the water reaches above the level of the protrusion water comes in. A drain hole is in order here. I could not find one during my inspection.
 
Jul 1, 2009
221
Catalina 310 Sydney-Pittwater
Checked my boat today after some heavy rain during the week. Bilges are dry.

The mast foot showed only slight weepage. Generally, the mast interior seemed dry.

I drilled my drainhole (of pinsize) next to the vang attachment, reasoning that there would not be too much to hit inside. Also, did it with the mast full of water. This let me know immediately (with a stream of water) when I penetrated the mast wall.

According to paulj's photo I probably could have drilled the hole closer towards the mastfoot for more efficient drainage.
 
Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
Paul does not have furllowed main, I wonder how much different my base plate is.
 
Jul 1, 2009
221
Catalina 310 Sydney-Pittwater
Asked Sparcraft-US for another 310 Furling Mast manual or link thereto.

As I mentioned current topic of water retention in these masts, I only received the following reply and outline of mast section (PDF). No indication of how low to go on the mast. Hope this helps a bit.

"Here is the Catalina 310 section picture. You can drill a ¼” hole in the back where the 1” wide strip is."


Have also attached picture of the hole I drilled (much smaller than suggested by Sparcraft) which seems to be doing the job.
 

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Dec 25, 2008
1,580
catalina 310 Elk River
Can you show the picture they provided?
Seems like your hole is way too high and small?
 
Jul 1, 2009
221
Catalina 310 Sydney-Pittwater
Agree, that the hole could be lower. I was trying to be careful not to drill into anything that may be lower down - and size does not seem to matter in this case, as it all appears to have done the job during a recent deluge. Shall check again after today's downpour.
BTW, just received full 310 Furler manual from Facnor (pt of Sparcraft). Attached for your info with another copy of their drawing (which does not really add anything).
PS. The manual's size seems to be exceeding the limit allowed here. If you are interested (and I recommend it) send me your email address to 'stefh@iprimus.com.au' and I shall forward a copy.
 

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