Water through mast step

av715 · Oct 26, 2009

Nico,

I purchased the following from Hamilton Marine this spring and did not have any further problems with dripping through the mast. My fixed lights this year leaked badly and will need to be addressed for next season. Had my boat hauled today after a fine sail from Stockton to Winterport yesterday. Ahhh, so bittersweet, next year can't come soon enough.

AJD
V715

________________________________
From: Nico Walsh nwalsh@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, October 26, 2009 1:40:50 PM
Subject: [AlbinVega] Water through mast step

I am so sick of raining dripping through at the mast step. Does everyone have this problem? What's the fix?

Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial St.
Portland ME 04101
207/772-2191
Fax 207/774-3940

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av715 · Oct 26, 2009

Whoops:

MAST BOOT UNIVERSAL FOR MASTS 17 1/2"AND LARGER 165349
Item #: SSI-91000000
List Price: $31.89 / EACH
Your Price: $29.99 / EACH
AJD

________________________________
From: Nico Walsh nwalsh@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, October 26, 2009 1:40:50 PM
Subject: [AlbinVega] Water through mast step

I am so sick of raining dripping through at the mast step. Does everyone have this problem? What's the fix?

Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial St.
Portland ME 04101
207/772-2191
Fax 207/774-3940

This email is from a law firm and may contain information
that is privileged or confidential. If you suspect
you were not intended to receive this email,
please delete it and contact us.

groundhogyh · Oct 26, 2009

One cause of this is that water is guided down the inside of the mast by way of the wires.The drips come down the wire and right into the opening, where they fall off onto the wood.
One solution is to build an upside down plastic funnel type set up. YOu run the wires through the upside down funnel thingy and then caulk up the funnel hole. It acts as a roof over the opening to the cabin.I used an upside down pop bottle that I cut in half. If I were to do it again, I would pick something with a more thick and rigid body. When stepping the mast back on, all the forces wanted to push the funnel thing around and dent it and such.rb

pjacobs55 · Oct 26, 2009

Maybe I'll fabricate something out of a PVC pipe, capped, with an attempt at a seal around the wires.Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial St.
Portland ME 04101
207/772-2191
Fax 207/774-3940

This email is from a law firm and may contain information
that is privileged or confidential. If you suspect
you were not intended to receive this email,
please delete it and contact us.

From: groundhog
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 2:57 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Water through mast step One cause of this is that water is guided down the inside of the mast by way of the wires.The drips come down the wire and right into the opening, where they fall off onto the wood.
One solution is to build an upside down plastic funnel type set up. YOu run the wires through the upside down funnel thingy and then caulk up the funnel hole. It acts as a roof over the opening to the cabin.I used an upside down pop bottle that I cut in half. If I were to do it again, I would pick something with a more thick and rigid body. When stepping the mast back on, all the forces wanted to push the funnel thing around and dent it and such.rb

bbach1949 · Oct 26, 2009

I used a short length of pvc pipe that slides snugly into the step, with a rubber plumbing cap riveted to the pvc piece. Wires run down below the rubber cap, then up into the pvc pipe in a "drip loop" and then down into the mast step. Rubber cap overlaps mast step as well. Think electrical power entrance weather head. Works great for years. Bill Bach V 1079

mageekenneth · Oct 27, 2009

Can you determine where the water is coming in and just seal it up. I have a couple of wires that exit the masthead as well as the one for the steaming light. When I installed the mast steps I sealed up the wiring penetrations and haven't had a drop down the mast since, but the mast steps made it really easy.

K.L.Magee

pjacobs55 · Oct 27, 2009

I did the same, with a plastic funnel. No leaks.
One more thing: make sure there's a drain hole in the bottom of the mast so any water that does get in can weep out onto the deck.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

groundhogyh · Oct 27, 2009

I guess I should be more detailed about my concerns.While stepping the mast back on, the guy running crane 40 feet away cant quite see as you are fumbling with the stupid funnel that wont line up properly because of all the forces pushing it around. So you end up putting your little digits at risk of getting chopped off. I was lucky. If I did it again, i would have a step where I put in some type of set screw (or something) holding the funnel in place so that when the mast comes down, the funnel stays put where its supposed to be.
rb

jgbrisson2000 · Oct 27, 2009

I do like my fingers. Using RTV or epoxy, can you adhere (tack) the
funnel in position to the bottom of the mast before doing the lift to
step the mast into the boat?

groundhog wrote:

groundhogyh · Oct 27, 2009

Well, it has to be something that you can do on the spot. RTV takes time to dry.What happened with me is that I floated the boat over to the slip where the crane was waiting and we lifted the mast. Then you shove all your wires down the mast step hole. Then you would, while the crane operator holds the mast about 1 foot above deck, tack down the funnel. Then you give him the signal to lower it. You guide the mast in place.
If you do some fix where you don't have to RTV the wires to the funnel, like maybe some of the other solutions mentioned, you could pre-attach the water roof to the step hole, then feed the wires through your fabricated water roof thingy.roy

j.hunter9999 · Oct 28, 2009

I ran the wires out of the mast step and through the top of a 2 liter bottle cut to fit the step. I then used Lifeseal to seal the 2 liter bottle top to the mast step. So, if you can visualize it, there is a 2 liter bottle top sealed to the mast step with the wires running out the top. The wires have a plug on them which plugs into the receptacle on the mast wires. It works pretty well come mast stepping time.

Jack
Bella-V2620

groundhogyh · Oct 28, 2009

Very good idea.If you have your mast off now, have you addressed the possibility of wires slapping around inside the mast? I have heard some complain of this probem.
There are several fixes for this if you search the posts. One solution I used was to attach long wire ties like every couple feet or so, leave the tails on. THe tails hold the wires still.Other items... Sheves for all rope halyards, Mast top anchor/nav lights, windvave, shroud hardware, spinnaker topping lift block, roy

j.hunter9999 · Oct 28, 2009

I am interested in hearing more about ideas for quieting noisy halyards. My mast is off, so if there is something I can do before next launch, I'm all ears (if you saw a picture, you'd know thats not entirely untrue).

Jack
Bella - V2620

bhofler · Oct 30, 2009

Feed your halyards through a conduit attached using pop rivits and installed inside the mast.

Brian

mageekenneth · Oct 30, 2009

without un-stepping the mast, sleeve pipe insulation up the wires from within the boat. Check local harware stores, and you should find some type of anti freeze water pipe insulation that has a stcky tape seam. It usually comes in 8-10' sections. Adhere the taped seam as you slide the insulation up the wires. $10-20 fix in the slip with no outside cost. Works Great/Last for years! No hassel, quick & easy! The soft foam pipe insulation dampens/muffles the noise of the wires slapping around inside the mast You will nevrer hear them jostling about again.

K.L.Magee

bhofler · Oct 31, 2009

Whoops...Sorry I meant electrical cabling...

cardosoj · Nov 4, 2009

What I do to silence the cables and halyards that run inside the mast --
I use those insulation foam tubes that is sold to insulate your water
water pipes at home. They are slitted alongside their length. Open them
and feed the wires inside then push the insulation tubes up the mast and
voila' . It has working great for me.
-John-

Brian wrote: