Leaks around mast on H28

[Martin Cole]

My 1991 Hunter 28 has developed a leak that comes out of the compression post below the deck level. Above the access panel that goes through the head liner around the post there is an exit hole for the mast wiring. Water comes out there. There is also a mating joint line in the post just below the head liner. Some water weeps out of there also.Before I have the mast unstepped, could anyone give me some ideas as to the most likely causes of these leaks. My guesses are either:1-leaking at the lights and masthead running down the wires.2-water entering at the running rigging sheaves and somehow getting through the deck step seals.3-water on the deck entering under the deck step seal plate.Is the black "plate" (that the mast sets on and that has the turning block attachments) an item that sometimes needs to be replaced? If so, is a replacement available from Hunter Marine?Any insight you can give me would be greatly appreciated.Martin Coles/v Ares

 

[Terry]

Hi Martin, I wrote an article about the mast step

water leak on our P42 a few months ago. I had an H28, but it never leaked. Rain water will come down the inside of the mast and pool at the step. The P42 vents the water through a small weep hole molded into the leading edge of the metal step that the mast slides into. If that hole plugs up from debris, the water will puddle until it finds a way out or in. A pipe cleaner should clear it out.The wires that come down the mast enter the cabin through a short piece (three inches) of plastic conduit inserted through a hole in the coach roof and sealed. The conduit sticks up above the step about two inches to create a dam that forces the rain water to discharge through the weep hole and prevents water from entering the cabin. The sealant around the conduit on our P42 had opened up and allowed water to enter the cabin rather than through the weep hole. This summer I hauled the boat, unstepped the mast, replaced and sealed the conduit, which stopped the leak. Whether what I did to our P42 will fix the leak on your H28, I'm not sure, because it was never an issue with ours. Hopefully, this will give you some ideas to check on to find and fix your leak.Good luck.Terry