Mast leaks

[Brian Hofler]

Hi folks -

Has anyone found a way to minimize the water leaks coming down the mast
into the cabin at the mast step? We have tried sealant, and that is a pain
to clean out each season. I thought some kind of a rubber gasket to snug
up around all the wires that would keep the water from traveling down the wires
might help, but there doesn't seem to be a product for that. Has anyone
found a good solution?

Drusie Sheldon
"Spindrift", #1879
Saunderstown, RI

 

[reefmagnet]

I am getting to this reply a little late, but having just joined the
group, I'm still catching up on reading all the messages...
A few years ago I had the problem of water coming in through the hole
through which the mast wires enter the cabin. When I was rewiring the
mast I thought of a solution: I found a plastic bottle exactly the
same diameter as the hole. I cut the bottle in half and shoved the
mast wires through the neck of the bottle (as if I were feeding the
wires INTO the bottle). I applied a generous amount of silicone caulk
to the neck of the bottle where the wires pass through. The bottle is
positioned on the wires so that the bottom of it hangs below the butt
of the mast by about two inches; when stepping the mast, I simply
slip the bottle over the lip around the hole in the mast step and
then lower the mast onto the step (I don't know if this would work
with vegas with the mast tabernacle...). I haven't had a leak around
the mast step since. Oh, don't throw away the bottom of the bottle -
it makes a good cover for the mast step hole during winter storage.