maststep/wiring detail 1979 H27

[fnuttersny]

Following mast step thread promted nosing around my compression post area and found water drops coming off a cable that I think goes up to mast head....
this took place during down poor. Previous owner re-cord major portion of cabin top but mad no mention of that area. Can someone explain the construction detail of step area including all penatrations.......cheers frank

 

[David in Sandusky]

'77 h27 details

From the compression post up:

- Plastic cabin liner (floats free of the deck except here where the post squeezes it.)

- Deck sandwich consisting of:
+ Fiberglass ~ 1/4 inch
+ Plywood ~ 1+ inch (This had become mush, and was the reason for our repair.)
+ Fiberglass ~ 1/4 inch

- Plywood to elevate & stiffen the step ~ 1/2 to 3/4 inch
- Another layer of fiberglass ~1/8 inch

- Aluminum mast step.

This step structure is penetrated by 5 holes:

- One ~ 1 inch with a plastic conduit in it to carry the cables for the mast

- Four 1/4-20 Stainless bolts to hold the aluminum mast step to the deck/pad structure.

That was the structure on our '77 model when we took it apart and rebuilt it. When we rebuilt it we substituted an aluminum plate for the ~1+ inch plywood layer in the deck sandwich. All the rest was the same.

Hope this helps.

 

[fnuttersny]

Re: '77 h27 details

Thanks Dave it is very helpfull. What do you think the chances are that some water is finding its way down the mast and following the wire through the conduit wwithout thus bypassing in effect the core? Is it worth while to cut access trim out inspection pannel in said area?.....frank

 

[Manny]

Mast step configuration

Frank - sounds like my '80 was setup differently than David's. My step only had 3 bolts holding it down (definitely original). I had two holes through the cabin top for the wiring. One hole towards the front for the antenna and one in the middle for a four conductor cable. All holes were drilled straight through without conduit. If I recall correctly the bolts didn't have any sealant. The wiring did but it was old and dried up. Water definitely had no problem getting into the core. I was surprised to find that my compression post was in excellent shape. I had no rot but it looked like there was some streaking from water. Also I don't have a plastic liner in the cabin or head, it's fiberglass.

Manny

 

[fnuttersny]

thanks guys for input sounds like core repair falls into routine maintanance sched. by design. If that is only weak point of boat not to horrable.''...cheers frank......now on to some basic mechanics....renault start up