MAST STEP LEAK

[BOB DOW]

I JUST HAD THE MAST ON MY 1994 LEGEND 49.5 STEPPED. I NOW HAVE LEAK AROUND THE MAST BASE WHERE THE WIRING ENTERS THE BOAT. IS THIS A TYPICAL PROBLEM? WOULD APPRECIATE ANY IDEAS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.THANKS, BOB

 

[Richard Owen]

Leaks through wiring harness

Bob: I had a 40.5 and had a mast leak as well. All it took was a re-seal of the tube which the wiring is run in. We used some silicon on it and had no further problem. Access is through the removable portion of the headliner.Hope your solution is this simple.ROwen

 

[bob]

40.5 mast step leak

hi..my 1995 40.5 has a similiar small leak through the mast step...i recaulked the wiring harness, as suggested by richard, but the problem has continued....i believe i've isolated the leak as coming through the mast step bolts....i've rebedded them (twice), and the leak is reduced, but not eliminated....anyone else with further ideas?...bob s/v reliance

 

[Jim Rushing]

Is the leak down through the wiring tube or around the tube. If it is around the tube, then the water could get into the core area. Not good. With this you need to lift the mast and reseal the outside of the tube. The tube is about a 6 inch piece of PVC pipe. If it is leaking down the center of the tube, there is probably two problems. One,the tube didn't get sealed at the top when the mast was resteped and two, the drain holes in the bottom of the mast are probably plugged. Ther are normally two small holes in the base of the mast on the deck that are the drain holes. Doesn't take much to stop them up. Then the water will rise until it is above the top of the wiring tube and then work its way into the boat. On my 35.5, I drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the front of the mast just above the deck flange. This keeps the water from raising above that level in the mast. I fought my leak for a couple of years until I had the hull repainted. At the same time, I had the mast dropped so I could fix the leak. Good luck.

 

[Vito Ciaravino]

Expanding sealant

I have been fighting the same leak for years. Everytime the mast gets restepped it reaccurs. The problem is poor design of the wireing going into the hull.The best thing I have used is an expanding coucking product.I purchased at boat US. The problem is conventional sealants cant seal all the spagetti of wires coming trough the mast. This stuff works most of the time.

 

[GERRY FRIG]

Fix Those Mast Leaks!

I was unaware of a mast wiring leak on my P42 until it filled the compression post with water and frose during this winter. The result was $25,000 worth of damage to the deck and headliner. Here are some thoughts.1. Drill a small hole (1/8- 1/4 in. dia. at the base of the compression post and below the floor boards to let any water entering the post drain into the bilge.2. Make certain that the top of the inlet tube is above the bottom of the sheave outlet boxes near the base of the mast. Water cannot get out of the drain holes fast enough in a heavy rain.3. Make certain that your interior wiring extends outside of the boat and through the tube with the plugs on the outside. The wiring shoulf be long enough to form a good sized loop above the tube. Bring it back down alongside the tube and fix it to the tube with a wire tie (or two) to form a drip loop to prevent water from traveling down the wires to the top of the tube. then fill the entire length of the tube with silicone sealant.With this arangement, you will not have to disturb the seal or the wiring as it travels through the deck tube. Make certain that the tube is securely sealed to the deck. 3M 5200 works best.GOD LUCK!