Water in compression post on 29.5

[GrantZ]

Recently, I have noticed water leaking out of the bottom of my steel compression post and collecting on the cabin sole. Two questions:

1. Any ideas on where it comes from / how it gets in there?

2. Any way to make it drain to the bilge rather than cabin sole.

The leakage is rather rusty which I suspect is due to rusting of the table counter weight. Is there a way to remove the weight without pulling mast and removing compression post?


Thanks

Grant Ziebell

 

[Steve Dion]

You need to check the weep holes in the mast step. There should be drain holes what allows water that enters the mast to drain out. You may also want to consider removing the mast and check the seal around the wires and the mast base.

 

[robertsapp]

Recently, I have noticed water leaking out of the bottom of my steel compression post and collecting on the cabin sole. Two questions:

1. Any ideas on where it comes from / how it gets in there?

2. Any way to make it drain to the bilge rather than cabin sole.

The leakage is rather rusty which I suspect is due to rusting of the table counter weight. Is there a way to remove the weight without pulling mast and removing compression post?


Thanks

Grant Ziebell

1. It most liikely comes from outside the boat.
2. Drill a hole in the compression post below the sole.

Seriously though, what you're experiencing is rainwater collecting in the mast. Either the internal mast wiring doesn't have the appropriate drip loop in it before it passes through the mast step, or the mast step weep holes are plugged, or both. Sometimes you can fix the problem by cleaning out the weep holes and doing some extra caulking where the wires come through the cabin top. I drilled a 1/4" drain hole in the base of my mast to help by providing an additional drain path. If you don't have an adequate drip loop, you'll need to pull the mast to fix it.

As to the counterweight, you can either pull the mast in order to remove the compression post and knock the weight out, or drill a large hole up through the bottom of the boat and drop the weight out that way. Personally, I recommend the first option.

 

[deangraham]

Hey Grant,

How did you get on? - I have the same issue on my 29.5.

Did you drill a hole, the compression post doesn't go below the sole, I am thining about drilling one though the support bracket and post to drain the water out, maybe with a very small drain pipe as well.

 

[GrantZ]

Hey Grant,

How did you get on? - I have the same issue on my 29.5.

Did you drill a hole, the compression post doesn't go below the sole, I am thining about drilling one though the support bracket and post to drain the water out, maybe with a very small drain pipe as well.

Have not tried anything yet as we are an extended cruise and away from the necessary tools.
Drilling the stainless steel bracket and post may be quite a job.