Leaking under the mast

[scott maccready]

I've developed a leak where rainwater seeps under my tabernacle and into the boat. I've thought about just using sealant to plug the hole around the antenna and lighting wires. Would this work or any other ideas? thanks



scottmacc@coastalnet.com

[charlie palumbo]

I've developed a leak where rainwater seeps under my tabernacle and into the boat. I've thought about just using sealant to plug the hole around the antenna and lighting wires. Would this work or any other ideas? thanks

Scott,
I and countless other sailors from time to time have complained
about this problem. There doesn't seem to be any standard solution, that the sailing fraternity seems to agree on. The stretchy white mastboot tape that you see in the marine stores works fairly well...for 19.95 it is a quick, cheap one season fix....if you have to remove it however, for mast tuning, mast chocking or whatever, you throw it out and start over again.
I would recommend part of an inner rubber tube wrapped around the mast base....large hose clamp at the bottom....flap the top over the hose clamp and hose clamp the new bottom.....judge the distance you need. I would also recommend a middle hose clamp.........tighten all three.A round or two of electrical tape at top and bottom won't hurt.
lastly, I would place a cape dory brown fabric boot around the clamped rubber......this should secure to itself with velcro.
good luck.......Charlie



jcp1347j@gateway.net

[J. Chamberlain]

We just put on new stretchy mast boot and covered with piece of Sunbrella. In addition to Velcro to close it, the boat guy I work with also suggested hemming in length of bungy cord top and bottom. Just tie them aft of the mast. This makes a tight fit and takes all the strain off the Velcro.
J Chamberlain
"Maggie Rose"
CD 33 #61
Lancaster, Va.



jchamber@kaballero.com

[scott maccready]

Guess I should've specified. My boat is a CD25. Oval alluminum mast resting on a rectangular hinged tabernacle which is open at front and rear. I don't see a way to seal it with tape or a boot. Maybe I'm just blind. thanks, scott



scottmacc@coastalnet.com

[Bill Goldsmith]

Scott

The other responders seem to be addressing the perennial keel-stepped mast issue of keeping water from leaking through the deck opening, i.e. mast boots, tape, etc.

For deck stepped masts, such as your CD25, you don't need a boot, etc. I think you are on the right track in suspecting the through deck electrical fittings. When I first bought Second Chance the light and VHF through deck fittings were very leaky and the problem was temporarily resolved by rebedding with silicone. Since then I have changed to better through-deck fittings that are more waterproof.

I really hope that your leak is from the through deck electricals rather than from under the tabernacle. Fixing a leak emanating from under the tabernacle would mean removing the tabernacle, inspecting the attachments and reinstalling with plenty of Lifecaulk. I have a 27 with a non-articulating step (not a tabernacle) so I defer to others with more experience on the 25 setup. However, I have to believe that the problem is more likely those electical fittings.

If you are getting water through the electrical fittings, be sure to remove any wet balsa core from around the fittings, dry it out, and replace the void with epoxy, then reinstall electricals with proper bedding. If you are lucky, the installer already sealed off the balsa
core when installing the fittings, but this is not too common. If so, it's a simple rebedding job.

The epoxy part is not too hard. If you are not familiar with the process, most marine stores sell the Gougeon Brothers/West System pamphlets for 3 bucks, and the skills you'll learn apply to whatever epoxy products you choose to use.

Bill Goldsmith
CD27#173
Second Chance
Croton-on-Hudson, NY

I've developed a leak where rainwater seeps under my tabernacle and into the boat. I've thought about just using sealant to plug the hole around the antenna and lighting wires. Would this work or any other ideas? thanks

goldy@bestweb.net

[bill willis]

I've developed a leak where rainwater seeps under my tabernacle and into the boat. I've thought about just using sealant to plug the hole around the antenna and lighting wires. Would this work or any other ideas? thanks

Scott,
If you are sure the leak is coming from around the tabernacle check the bolts, etc. that mount the tablernacle to the cabin top. Maybe in your moving something got whacked and broke the sealant that waterproofs the connections (Check any other hardware in the vicinity of the leak too). You may need to remove tabernacle and any hardware and rebed with new sealant (3M-4200 is good for this). Good luck.

Bill



wawillis@toad.net

[MIke Thompson]

When I owned a CD-25, I had this problem.
The electrical connections went throught a hole in the tabernacle
directly under the mast. I removed them and filled the hole with
epoxy. Next, I drilled a hole in the side of the mast and passed
the wires out through it. I installed water proof through deck
fittings. Had no more problems!

Mike
CD 28 HAVEN
http://www.mikethompsonpaintings.com

I've developed a leak where rainwater seeps under my tabernacle and into the boat. I've thought about just using sealant to plug the hole around the antenna and lighting wires. Would this work or any other ideas? thanks

Scott,
If you are sure the leak is coming from around the tabernacle check the bolts, etc. that mount the tablernacle to the cabin top. Maybe in your moving something got whacked and broke the sealant that waterproofs the connections (Check any other hardware in the vicinity of the leak too). You may need to remove tabernacle and any hardware and rebed with new sealant (3M-4200 is good for this). Good luck.

Bill

tmike@ma.ultranet.com