I had about 6 inches of water inside the mast today...noticed it because it was slopping out of a wiring bundle hole at cabin sole level.
Is it normal for a mast to have a drain at the base? I can't believe holding water inside the mast is a good thing.
Using mirror and flashlight I looked around the base of the mast but didn't see anything that looks like a drain hole.
The mast is setting on a metal plate. That plate is bolted to the boat. I can't tell if the mast is welded to the plate...there does appear to be a seam at the bottom of the mast.
The boat is 24 years old so I'm thinking some gook or gunk plugged the mast drain. My plan is to use a water hose with a small nozzle to "pressure wash" the inside of the mast in the hope it will blast loose what's plugging the drain.
__________________
Dale
S/V Cirrus
Omega 36
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I had about 6 inches of water inside the mast today...noticed it because it was slopping out of a wiring bundle hole at cabin sole level.
Is it normal for a mast to have a drain at the base? I can't believe holding water inside the mast is a good thing.
Using mirror and flashlight I looked around the base of the mast but didn't see anything that looks like a drain hole.
The mast is setting on a metal plate. That plate is bolted to the boat. I can't tell if the mast is welded to the plate...there does appear to be a seam at the bottom of the mast.
The boat is 24 years old so I'm thinking some gook or gunk plugged the mast drain. My plan is to use a water hose with a small nozzle to "pressure wash" the inside of the mast in the hope it will blast loose what's plugging the drain.
There very likely is at least one hole down there that has been clogged by debris in the mast.
You can always add another.
And you are right. It's not a good thing to have standing water inside the mast.
... and it's certainly NOT welded to the plate! Hope not, anyway..
__________________ ".. there is much you could do at sea with common sense.. and very little you could do without it.."
Capt G E Ericson (from "The Cruel Sea" by Nicholas Monsarrat)
The wife and I spent quite a bit of time today with a water hose and siphon can rinsing/flushing the base of the mast. We managed to get quite a bit of junk out but did open any drain that may be there.
A couple riggers happened by the boat, I mentioned the water in the mast problem. He took a look at it and suggested a limber hole in the track as low as I could get. A quick trip to the local Ace Hardware and I had a long 1/4' bit. Took some contortions but I was able to drill the hole and voila!! water comes dribbling out. Also at his suggestion I sprayed a liberal amount of WD-40 into the base of the mast.
This "new boat owner" thing is interesting to say the least.
__________________
Dale
S/V Cirrus
Omega 36
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Hope not, anyway..
