"Weep" holes in the deckstep?

[Sugaree]

Good morning all,

Cat 30 TR 1986.

We are all familiar with the leaking mast/compression post on this boat. At this point I do not believe I have a rotten block or compression post issue - the deck around the post shows no signs of sinking or cracks in the gelcoat.

However I get significant water leaking out of the bottom of the compression post onto the sole of the boat as well as down through the post which drains into the bilge via the electrical wires.

When I called Catalina, they suggested I use a dremel and drill "weep" holes into the deck step, as in 1/2" little "half moons" one on each side.

Looking at my deck step I am not sure this is feasible, and I am not truly sure it will solve the problem either, and so I am hesitant to drill these holes into the step.

Has anyone ever been recommended this solution or tried it? If so, pictures of it would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[DanM]

Sugaree,

I have a similiar vintage TRBS (the last '85 off the line) and when I bought it I had the same puddle of water that you mention at the base of the post. I've spent way too much time getting a dry bilge, but solving that was a big part of it!

On my boat I found that in the center of the mast step is a small "stand pipe" for the wires to run from the mast down through the post and into the bilge. This stand pipe leaked around it and also it was open on the top letting any rain water that came down the mast also run into the compression post. As a temporary fix I squirted a syringe of West System Epoxy around the stand pipe base (it won't adhear well because it's probably got 20 years of dirt and gunk around it as well) but it stopped the bulk of my leak. I could also just barely reach in there (via the hole in the mast that is there when you remove the turning blocks at the base of the mast) and put and gob of butyl tape in the top of the stand pipe around the wires. This all worked pretty well for me until the next year when I unstepped the mast to replace my rotten compression block.

With the mast down I sealed around the standpipe properly (the epoxy I'd squirted in there came up pretty easily), and also I put a 90 degree fitting on the standpipe with a drip loop in the wires so that water wouldn't run down them into the compression post and onto the saloon floor.

Hope that helps some, DanM.

 

[jrowan]

Nice Pic Dan,

I've never actually seen that mounting plate, as I've never had to remove my mast from the step. Mine is a bit different. I have a mast plate that extends out at least a couple of inches around the mast. I lke this because I feel that it helps to dispurse the load of the mast base to a larger area of the deck. I don't have any visible cracking or indentation around the base. I just hope that my larger plate isn't hiding something, but all appears good. Your idea of creating a diverter for water is a good one. I thought that most of the compression rot that others suffered with C 30 came mostly from rot at the base of the compression post, because it was swimming in bilge water. It haden't occurred to me that leaks from above could create signifcant water penetration from the wiring.

 

[DanM]

JR,

The rot is usually in the compression block in the bilge (a horrible place for a chunk of wood!)

I have not heard of a rotten compression post, usually it's just the conduit for more water in the bilge.

The fitting in my picture makes a bit of a drip loop to limit water running down the post , on to the saloon floor and finally into the bilge.

DanM