Water in a deck stepped Mast...

[drh1965]

Typically, wow do the designers of deck stepped masts in a monohull keep water that gets in to the mast from soaking in the deck coring or dripping in to the boat?

I took advantage of Humberto yesterday to observe all the little leaks in my boat that need to be fixed. I noticed that the access hole at the base of the mast had quite a bit of water in it but I couldn't find this water leaking in anywhere. Where does that water go?

[Sandero]

Why would a properly built deck stepped mast leak. My Selden mast has weeps and any water entering it exits on top of the deck. The spar sits in a solid "socket' through bolted. The wiring passes through deck glands. No water penetration whatsoever.

jef
sv shiva

[drh1965]

Originally Posted by defjef

Why would a properly built deck stepped mast leak. My Selden mast has weeps and any water entering it exits on top of the deck. The spar sits in a solid "socket' through bolted. The wiring passes through deck glands. No water penetration whatsoever.

jef
sv shiva

On mine, the weep hole is several inches above the deck (actually the cabin top). I looked inside the weep hole in the mast and could see a few inches of water trapped in the base of mast below the level of the hole (in the "socket"). That trapped water makes me nervous...

[Benny]

drill a small hole at the base of the mast to let that water out - problem solved

[drh1965]

Originally Posted by Benny

drill a small hole at the base of the mast to let that water out - problem solved

I wish that was true... the mast is submerged into the deck by many inches. A hole at the deck level would still trap a bunch of water.

[Sandero]

Bad design.

You need to do a new mast step ON TOP of the deck... not IN the deck.
jef
sv shiva

[mickmul]

Had a similar problem before. Solved with a small plugged drillhole upwards through keel to mast base support, through cabin top and through base of mast - done properly shouldn't affect mast integrity. The stepped system was eventually replaced with a keel-stepped mast - well worth it for peace of mind . . .

[mickmul]

I hasten to add "keel-to-mast" (not ipwards through keel!! as my last bad grammar may have suggested. This was an angular drilling through teh top of the support to pierce the mast base, then mini-plugged - hope that makes sense!

[Benny]

yikes - didn't realize is was a sunken arrangement - You could fill it with epoxy and fashion a new step plate from solid aluminum and through bolt it and seal properly. You may need to cut a little from the base of the mast so the rigging still fits unless it is not too much higher and the turnbuckles have enough extension capability. Or you could do as mickmul suggests - though I would put a small diameter through hull and connect a hose where it exits under the deck that leads to the bilge so water is not wetting any interior surfaces - only if you can hide the tube or hose. Good luck

[Pura Vida]

I've got to delivery some canvas out there sunday. Are you going to be around?

[drh1965]

Originally Posted by Pura Vida

I've got to delivery some canvas out there sunday. Are you going to be around?

I'm not 100% sure but lately... every free moment is at the boat

[Amgine]

Great job, Pura Vida! Kudos!

[Pura Vida]

Thanks Amgine, I appreciate the kind words. Really this is just an extension of the kind of thing that you and the other fourm members do every day with their advice and opinion. It is a good group of people here and if we were in the club house we would all walk down to take a look at the boat. I just have the advantage of geography (and I'm really curious too).
pv

[Amgine]

Me too! got a camera in your cell phone?

[drh1965]

I just got back from the boat... solved the fuel delivery problems.

I looked at the mast step again and it appears there is about 1.25" below the raised part of the deck that the mast is bolted through. I'm wondering if the gland for the wiring is deteriorated and allowing me to reach into the hole through the deck? Anyway, I'm planning a restep this winter anyway. I want to check the integrity of the deck under the mast.