Plate under the mast

[SteveS]

I have a Hunter 33.5. There is a leak from under the mast into the compresion post.

How is the plate under the mast attached?

I see four bolt, can I remove them, put a bead of caulk under the plate and reattache the bolts?

Thanks

 

[Steve Dion]

Steve:

Your approach is correct. Remove the mast step, clean the area and rebed the step.

Be SURE to make sure that the weep holes are clear of any caulking or debris. You also want to be sure that there is a drip loop in any of the wires the go through the deck. You may want to consider some of the butyl for rebedding the step.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Before you go to a lot of trouble try cleaning the weep holes first. All kinds of stuff gets inside the mast from birds and such and the weep holes are fairly small. If you caulk the tabernacle (deck plate) all you are going to do is seal the water on the inside when it rains. The only thing that actually needs sealed is the bolt holes on the tabernacle and the thru-deck where the wires pass through. Any water that hits the deck (inside the tabernacle) and runs out from under the tabernacle is not a problem. If you caulk it, it just encourages the water to have to use the weep holes; it builds up at the tabernacle and leaks in through the thru-deck hole.
I personally would never calk a tabernacle for that reason.

 

[robertsapp]

Are you SURE it's from under the mast step? Like you get water in the cabin when you run a hose around the base of the mast? Or do you just notice it when it's raining? Because that could be a totally different problem. Just asking.

 

[SteveS]

Steve:

Your approach is correct. Remove the mast step, clean the area and rebed the step.

Be SURE to make sure that the weep holes are clear of any caulking or debris. You also want to be sure that there is a drip loop in any of the wires the go through the deck. You may want to consider some of the butyl for rebedding the step.

Thanks, how are the mast step bolts secured, lagged, nuts, ???

 

[Steve Dion]

Steve:

I do not know about your boat, but all you need to do is remove one of them for now and you will know.

If you decide to use butyl (highly recommended) see MaineSail's posting on using this material.

 

[SteveS]

Before you go to a lot of trouble try cleaning the weep holes first. All kinds of stuff gets inside the mast from birds and such and the weep holes are fairly small. If you caulk the tabernacle (deck plate) all you are going to do is seal the water on the inside when it rains. The only thing that actually needs sealed is the bolt holes on the tabernacle and the thru-deck where the wires pass through. Any water that hits the deck (inside the tabernacle) and runs out from under the tabernacle is not a problem. If you caulk it, it just encourages the water to have to use the weep holes; it builds up at the tabernacle and leaks in through the thru-deck hole.
I personally would never calk a tabernacle for that reason.

Thanks, sounds like weep holes need to be clean.