Water leak through cables at base of mast

[Victor Robert]

During a recent rain, I noticed water dripping from the cover plate at the top of the compression post. When I removed the cover plate, water poured (not dripped) into the salon. This explains the drips appearing from the headliner elsewhere, as far away as the forward cabin. I have re-siliconed the PVC pipe that holds the wires. Unfortunately, the glue did not adhere well to the gap between the PVC and the surrounding painted metal, so I will have to let it dry and try again.My question is: Where is all this water coming from and where should it be going instead of into the salon ? Is there a drain hole on deck that I should clear, or is this normal ? Your shared experience will be appreciated.Victor Robert"Bluebird"

 

[Steve Cook]

fromthe top of your mast.

I too have the same problem with my new H310. The water is coming in through the openings at the top of your mast.The correct way to fix it would be to drop the mast and remove the masthead unit and caulk the conduit at the top of the mast.This should have been done when the boat was commissioned.I would not caulk the tube at the mast step, instead I would put some kind of putty, like playdough or something kinda temporary. I would fill the tube to the top, to force the water out the mast base on the outside.Next time I step my unstep my mast, I will remove the masthead and fix it right.Good luck, Steves/v The Odyssey...

 

[John Irvine]

water leaks

I've notice that you will always get water in the top plate either running down the sides of the mast or wherever.I noticed water comimg in and down the wiring. I had a small loop before the wiring went into the compression post. I removed the loop by placing more of the wiring into the compression post which now I recieve small amounts of water into the bilge. If you get an answer that solves the problem I'd be interested in hearing for you or anybody else.John Irvine "Silk Sheets"

 

[Wayne Fredrick]

More Than You Think

Most people with a deck stepped mast think they have it made and don't have to worry to much about water getting into the boat. It is amazing how much water can run down through every possible hole in the mast and even just from the top. The best way to solve the problem is the following:Next time you pull the mast, measure the outside diameter of the ridge on the hole in the deck that accepts the wiring. Buy some sort of rubber hose that will fit over this nipple, run your wiring through the hose, put a hose clamp and cauling at the top of the hose and then use a hose clamp to hold the hose on the nipple coming through the deck. In addition to this, drill 2 small holes on either side of the mast just high enough to clear the mast step deck plate. If water builds up in the bottom of the mast, it will not get high enough to go over the rubber hose and will run out of the small holes drilled in the side of the mast. I have done this on several deck stepped boats and have never gotten any water down below. See the article posted about all of the damage created by water filling up the compression post. Hope this helps!!!

 

[Gordon Myers]

Vicctor Two More Thoughts ---

At the base of the compression post (at the floor boards) you will have a plastic coller the seats the floor boards to the comprssion post. This coller is fasten by screws through the plastic coller into the compression post. Remove one or two screws. If your compression post is full of water you will have a big stream of water coming out of the screw hole. Leave some of these screws out over the winter to be sure the water does not freeze.I also had your problem. While at dock, remove the standing rigging at the base of the mast (one on each side) to look in side the mast base. Through the openings clean it out, make sure the "water out" hole in the front base of the mast is open and clean. Remove all the old caulking from the top of the compression post (inside) and at the base of the mast (outside). Then I got and installed a spray expanding foam material from both inside and out. After 48 hrs this material will be hard and can be cut with a razor (to clean it up). Put the standing rigging back and every now and then check the water drain with a pipe cleaner. It never leaked again.Good Luck.