Mast corrosion

[BristolSailor]

The end of my mast is corroded. Any ideas about what is causing this?



I'm tempted to trim off 1/4" and shorten up on my shrouds. But, I'd like to get to the root cause.

Thanks,

 

[Old Skool Neil]

What material is the mast step? Mast stepped through the deck to the keel? If so, is there usually water in the bilge?

 

[Tim R.]

My Pearson 28 had a keel stepped mast. The bottom 1-2" was corroded from water in the bilge and much worse than yours. I cut off the bottom of the mast and built it back up with a custom riser under the step. I used 1/4" box aluminum that should outlast the boat.

 

[sailaway78]

I had the same

I had the same corrosion, and like others, I cut off the bottom of the mast and made a riser to raise the step. This way nothing else changes. If you have a keel stepped mast, the corrosion comes from water in the bilge, and dissimilar metals.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Here is another link to the subject: mast_corrosion . This thread has more pictures of the fix. It also discusses the dissimilar metal issue.