mast step leak

M

millerkm81

.
Oct 2, 2005
86
Hi everyone,

Recently I removed the trim piece covering the mast compression beam and I've noticed
that whenever it rains a steady drip of water is making its way down the hole, apparently
trickling down the wires in the mast. Does anyone have a solution to stop this dripping?
I've recently replaced the original wiring in the mast with a pvc conduit and removed the
foam blocks that used to hold the wires in place. I suppose that that might have
something to do with it. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hans Ericsson--Whisper, Vega #2751
 
B

bbach1949

.
Apr 30, 2000
197
I made a "weatherhead" out of a piece of plastic pipe and a rubber plumbing
cap. The rubber cap is pop riveted to the short piece of pipe. Picture a
mushroom with the wires looping under the cap and down inside the stem. Dry as a
bone for 6 years and I live in Oregon. Bill Bach V1071
 
B

bobnlesafloat

.
Oct 31, 2019
163
Am glad I'm not the only person who was dumb enough to make this mistake. I changed the VHF aerial/cable and rainwater tracked along the cable and down inside the mast.

I cured it by going back up the mast; pulling a couple of extra inches of cable out of the mast; so that the cable initially ran down-hill from the hole; then sealed the hole and cable with a mastic sealant. That was two years ago and it's been fine ever since.

Bob

millerkm81 millerkm81@... wrote:
Hi everyone,

Recently I removed the trim piece covering the mast compression beam and I've noticed
that whenever it rains a steady drip of water is making its way down the hole, apparently
trickling down the wires in the mast. Does anyone have a solution to stop this dripping?
I've recently replaced the original wiring in the mast with a pvc conduit and removed the
foam blocks that used to hold the wires in place. I suppose that that might have
something to do with it. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hans Ericsson--Whisper, Vega #2751
SPONSORED LINKS
Boating safety Boating supply Gsi outdoors The great outdoors Albin vega
 
T

tom_rutter

.
Aug 3, 2005
66
Hi,

I might give that a try. I've got a similar leak. I'm also trying to get
the wires out of the mast. They're stuck in there pretty firm, with various
other old wires in there too. I assume they're stuck fast somehow. I
remember that someone said they once saw the wires stuck in with glue. Is
this a common problem, and how have people got around it? I've also tried
to push a drain blocker wire up the mast and it comes up against an
obstruction half way down.

It's annoying as I'm stuck with and duller nav lights due to a corroded
cable and using a pushpit VHF ariel, which despite having less range is
quite vulnerable to my clumsyness.

Tom
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Tom

It was my Vega that had the glued in cables which finally snapped in
half when I pulled each cable with a winch! Had toleave the old bits in
and use new cables!!

Sent you an email ref. the running rigging

Cheers

Steve Birch (Technical)
 
O

o2n7dcolin

.
Jul 10, 2009
125
I saw a post last year stating that a 1 litre plastic pop container with
the bottom cut out and the wires running through worked. The water runs
down the sides of the container and out under the mast. I've tried it
and it has not leaked into the cabin below. I sealed the wires in the
neck with marine silcone sealant. Colin... Isis V-703

BBach1949@... wrote:
 
B

bbach1949

.
Apr 30, 2000
197
Even rainwater entering at the sheaves or condensation inside the mast can be a problem, so a "rainhead" solution works to divert anything that finds it way inside. Bill Bach V1071
 
B

bbach1949

.
Apr 30, 2000
197
The obstruction halfway up the mast is most likely the compression tube at the spreaders. You can thread your way around this. Best for long term is a pvc pipe installed as a raceway to the top of the mast. I riveted mine but others have used epoxy with some success. Bill Bach V 1071
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom