Timber mast foot protection.

[salticrak]

I lowered the mast on my tiki 26 and discovered a split in the fibre glass sheathing. Freshwater had made its way into a ding at the base of the mast.
The damage must have been done when I raised it.
I have removed the wet timber and have glued in a hardwood fillet. To stop this happening again what can I use to seal/protect the foot of the mast?.
regards paul.

[roverhi]

This isn't a fix but a preventive measure. When visiting Mystic Seaport in the early spring with all the rain, they spread salt around the base of the masts on their boats. Cuts down on rot.

[Cheechako]

One option:Cuprous oxide liquid? Sold at the hardware store for treating wood, fence posts etc. Get the brown powerful stuff rather than the green stuff for best results.
Don't drink your bilge water though!

[salticrak]

Thnx for the replies fellas. I think i did not make myself clear as to the protection I was looking for. I want to know if rubber strip or adhesive goop would be and option to stick to the bottom of the mast pictured here.

[micah719]

Carbon, Glass or Dynel (polyester) cloth and epoxy are the methods I've seen used so far...was going to use dynel for the dinghy myself, and mix in graphite powder to the epoxy for the final coat so I could get it out again. Mast and step, not much point in just doing one and they'll be acting against each other.

[salticrak]

@Micah. I am leaning towards glassing the bottom of the mast. Might be a bit tricky with the tight radius's.

[micah719]

You could make the radii larger and fill in the corresponding step with fillets....but there is that nasty slot, and I suppose you don't want to completely redo the foot and step. How about glassing the easy surfaces and relying on additives in the epoxy for the corners? Also, while you're working on it, you could epoxy in a drain tube so any water that does get to the step can get out again.

WEST SYSTEM | 105 System Epoxy - Additive Selection Guide

supplies epoxy fiberglass tools paint additives

http://www.gurit.com/files/documents...n-guidepdf.pdf

Gotta help a fellow canetoad

[salticrak]

Micah,I have graphite powder and wil mix it into the resin.
I have trimmed about 3mm off the bottom of the mast.I had to ensure the 4 deg angle for the mast rake is maintained.I have some heavy glass weave that i will attempt to glass just on the flat surfaces.
The may help with friction The radii will just get a heap of epoxy mixed with microfibres.The water ingress I am sure originated from a ding in the radii and not further up the mast. Thnx for your advice,I will get onto it as soon as it's light here.

[micah719]

This is the drain tube I had in mind:



How much free space in the mast step for the thickening of the foot?

From here:
Building the Sooty Tern | "…boatbuilding is, after all, a matter of cutting out pieces of wood and putting them together" Iain Oughtred

[salticrak]

This won't be necessary mate as my mast sits on a beam.The mast sits on the pad above the compass. Pic from a blokes build I followed a few years ago.

[micah719]

Ah, now I see. Wow, simple & pretty boat....must go like a scalded cat, too.