Installing Mast Boot w/no deck collar?

[Mike Turner]

I want to install mast boots on both masts of my Lazyjack 32 schooner to help stop persistent leaks around the mast partners. But my boat doesn't have a mast collar or flange at deck level surrounding the masts - the masts just enter the deck. The deck is built up into a pad maybe 1/2" around the partners, not enough to affix much of anything to. The masts are sealed at the partners with caulk (part of the leak problem that I'm fixing).

My plan is to re-caulk, perhaps augmented with some waterproof tape, and then cover with the boot.

I'm thinking about boots eiither made of inner tubes, covered with canvas; or one of the types available from the various chandleries (I already have some mast boot rigging tape). Most are held on by two large hose clamps, one at the top of the boot around the mast; one at the bottom of the boot around the mast collar or flange.

Any ideas on how I can install boots, since there's no collar or flange to attach them to at the lower ends? An additional problem is that on each mast I only have about 1" of clearance between the mast and either a deck fitting (mainmast) or the front of the cabin (foremast).

I posted on another site and the only answer I got was "Spartite," which in my opinion is not the answer in my case, there's only 1/4" or so of clearance all the way around the mast at the partners, not really enough room to justify so expensive a product (and one that still has to be caulked to make it water tight).

Thanks in advance!

Mike Turner
Lazyjack 32 schooner "Mary 'Lis"
Mobile Bay, AL

 

[Tim R.]

You really need to install a collar if you want to avoid large amount of goop around your mast partner. Your leaks are probably mostly from water running across the deck and that will still get under any type of boot unless you have a collar to stop it.

If you have a production mast, you may still be able to purchase the correct collar. Check Rigrite.com

If it is custom or a round wooden mast, a local machine shop should be able fabricate something for you that you can screw down to your decks. The masts will need to be removed.

Or you may be able to find something existing that is big enough for your mast. Maybe a large pipe flange.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Mikie,
I think you could make collars out of either solid fiberglass or solid rot resistant hard wood using a band or jig saw. Spilt the collars to fasten to the deck if the masts are up.
If you were a lot closer I'd make them for you in exchange for a sail on your schooner!
My last boat, GS41 sloop, had Spartite and once in the yard I asked a rigger what it would take to pull the mast (as the Spartite resin was such a tight fit around the mast) and he told me that the Spartite resin would have to be chipped out.
This was on the boat when I bought it and I wouldn't pay for this stuff.

 

[woodster]

mike if you like ...i will be down in fairhope in a couple of weeks and would be glad to come by and take some measurments and make you some collars that you could screw down to your deck out of uhmv or pvc...just let me know...always glad to help...

regards

woody

 

[sailaway78]

I have a deck stepped mast

And use an SSI mast boot, I got from West Marine. While I don't have what you would call a step, or something similar to attach the bottom to, it does have somewhat of an upward slope. I simply pushed the boot down as far as it would go, letting it flare out a little bit on the deck, and put a slight bead of caulk under it. The caulk doesn't show, and it doesn't leak.

 

[sailaway78]

Duhhhhh

Keel stepped mast, not deck stepped. Feel like an idiot for that one. But the rest holds true. It used to leak badly, but the new boot, and caulk under it fixed the problem.

 

[Mike Turner]

Thanks all, I'm working on a fix now and will report back - something of a variation on what Nice and Easy suggested. Woodster, thanks for the offer, I'll keep it in mind if my fix (or my backup plan) don't work out. Let me know when you are going to be in town.