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Old 07-12-2007, 03:34   #1
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Cold mast

I am liveaboard. As I was sitting in the slightly chilly cabin last night it occurred to me that the aluminum keel-stepped mast was radiating a lot of cold. It got me to thinking: how could I stop the internal part of the mast from transmitting the cold from outside, or better yet, get it to start radiating heat?

I wonder if wrapping it in carpet would be enough to make a difference. Alternately, what about installing those water pipe electric heat straps to warm it up?

Thoughts appreciated.
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Old 07-12-2007, 03:44   #2
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... how could I stop the internal part of the mast from transmitting the cold from outside, or better yet, get it to start radiating heat?
I wonder if wrapping it in carpet would be enough to make a difference. Alternately, what about installing those water pipe electric heat straps to warm it up?
Any kind of insulation (carpet) will help. I used a bleached canvass (thinner than most carpets) effectively on Lk. Superior.
Electric Heat tracing will work, though most cables are only about 10 Watts per lineal Ft.
Double wrapping might provide only about 100 - 150 Watts; but in the right place (more effective).

Thermon “FLX” self-regulating heating cables (10W/Ft)
http://www.thermon.com/us/catalog/us...es/CPD1007.pdf
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Old 07-12-2007, 03:54   #3
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Can you fill the inside with foam?
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Old 07-12-2007, 04:12   #4
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replace it with a wooden mast
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Old 07-12-2007, 04:16   #5
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Nit Picking

I know its a minor point in this context but heat travels from hot to cold.

Your mast does not radiate cold.

The interior of your boat is losing heat that is being absorbed by the mast and other colder parts.

The three main methods by which the interior of your boat is transferring heat are conduction, convection and radiation.

Conduction can be reduced with a layer of insulation. This will also reduce radiation.

Convection can be reduced by restricting air from leaving the interior, and by insulation arranged so that warm air does not impinge on cold surfaces.

The is a minimum amount of air that must circulate through a boat to keep it dry and to prevent the build up of toxins. Some attention must be paid to this.
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Old 07-12-2007, 04:22   #6
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I think that means put a sweater on your mast instead of stuffing it .

I liked my stuffing idea,, LOL


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Old 07-12-2007, 04:32   #7
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I know its a minor point in this context but heat travels from hot to cold.

Your mast does not radiate cold.
Of course, you are right. I think it does make a difference on the solution.
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Old 07-12-2007, 04:44   #8
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It's not radiating cold. It's attracting all the heat and conducting it. It's a heat sink! Insulated it. Cut the path of heat transfer or interfere with it as best you can. Bubble wrap?

And another advantage of deck stepped masts.
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Old 07-12-2007, 07:49   #9
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Insulation

Your mast is sucking the heat out of your space--not radiating cold.

For an easy cure go by you local Home Depot and pick up a roll of Reflectix 16 In. x 25 Ft. Reflective Insulation - ST16025 at The Home Depot for a few dollars. It's about 5/16" thick. Cut a piece in a width equal to the circumference of your mast and in length equal to the height between the overhead and sole and secure it around the mast with Duct Tape at the top, bottom and quarter points. Then have your local canvas shop sew up a piece of fabric that works with your interior equal in length of the distance between the overhead and sole with Velcro fastening material on an overlapping vertical seam which can be placed on the least conspicuous face of the mast. Voilà!

We have used this stuff between the overhead panels and the decks to help keep the yacht cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter and on the undersides of the berths to cut down/eliminate condensation on the undersides of mattresses caused by warm moist air coming into contact with the (relatively) colder portions of the hull that are in contact with the water.

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Old 07-12-2007, 10:08   #10
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The Wylie 65 Saga owned by Arlo Nish, a martini lover, installed a vodka tank in the mast. While this might not increase the cabin temperature; it might very well be a solution that would keep you quite warm!
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Old 07-12-2007, 11:11   #11
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The Wylie 65 Saga owned by Arlo Nish, a martini lover, installed a vodka tank in the mast. While this might not increase the cabin temperature; it might very well be a solution that would keep you quite warm!
ah yes, if only the notion that alcohol warms the body weren't a myth - and a dangerous one at that. In fact, the result is the opposite!
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Old 07-12-2007, 11:40   #12
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actually Eric Hiscock in Cruising Under Sail recommends either rum or brandy to be administered to chilled victims as long as they are in warm and dry surroundings.
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Old 07-12-2007, 13:03   #13
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Couple things come to mind.
I would just insulate the part of the mast which is in the main cabin. Not the entire mast. Could get difficult in a bosun chair way up in the air wrapping the mast. Just kidding of course!!
Reminded me of my thoughts of a mast cover when I had two fully varnished spruce masts.
Another disadvantage of a keel stepped mast?
Seriously, when you do wrap the mast on the interior of your boat and you have the bubble stuff with the aluminum side, would you put the shiney side to the mast or outwards to the cabin?
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Old 07-12-2007, 14:12   #14
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The reflectix stuff is double sided. Permetex headliner adhesive (I think #77) works well to stick it to stuff.

I've used it with great success in cars. Might be able to reduce some noise with some asphalt strips under the bubble wrap too. If some of the vibration noise quiets down if you lay your hand on the mast some strips would help.
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Old 07-12-2007, 15:11   #15
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We made a leather (faux actually) cover for ours. Foam liner, a zipper, and some sewing...looks great and serves the purpose of insulation.
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