Leaking Around Base of Mast

[zeehag]

can be done using a crane to lift mast off deck and will only --or should only take an hour or two -- the deck plate/ mast base dish thingie is different for each kinda boat--- ericson used aluminum. they last somewhere around 20+ yrs before they mess up and need replacement. if no interior damage--awesome. if only core-- willbe wet-- repairs are not prohibitive. goood luck and have fun-will be nice n dry when is done....the dish thingie will only get worse and crack the deck more as time goes on-- is better to replace dish thingie now rather than do deck and core also later......the dish is under the glass of the deck. you may notice a slight swelling at the mast base at this time. that is the corrosion. soon will crack deck. eeps.....dish thingie is cheap. repairs are pricey.

[Tori]

Here is a photo of the interior exactly where the water comes through and photos of the base of the mast from all angles. The plate below the mast is held on with four bolts Joe wants to unstep the mast and remove and redeem that plate and the bolts. The wiring seal is very messy because it was leaking and we sealed it during a storm when we first moved aboard. Have had numerous other storms and thus new leak has only been during the last two.

[zeehag]

looks like a crane and then repair the stuff you have--may only take a ccoupla hours of crane rental--is a better set up than my ericson has..lol... awesome.... easy fix, i hope!!!
rebed the hail outta it and have a good season!! could just be bolts tha t hold the dang thing to boat-- in length of time your boat has been alive, can actually require that bit done. i like your set up!!

[Tori]

We have access to a forklift here at the dock. Tentatively going to try tomorrow if weather holds and see how things go. Want to get this leak repaired before guy comes to do rigging in two weeks.

[zeehag]

please post pix--i am now more than a tad curious ..... meouuurw....

[Tori]

Lol I will post pics. Joe wants to try to slide the mast to fore and aft and reseal the bolts and just have forklift for safety. Not sure if this is possible but we will see...

[zeehag]

wow--now ye need video capability!!!!! gooodluck-- could just work perfectly!!!!

[Tori]

I have video on the phone

[DeepFrz]

You might install a proper gooseneck for your wiring as well while you are at it. Best to remove the mast and check underneath, make sure the core isn't saturated and all bolt holes are properly sealed so core can't get wet. The mast plate doesn't look like it was properly bedded to the deck.

Is that silicone you spread around the wire?

[Tori]

Thanks for the input. Not sure if Joe is going to completely unstep the mast or not but we are fairly certain the core isn't damaged yet.
He has a friend coming to redo all the wiring on the mast in a few weeks so he is going to take care of those details.
Nope it isn't silicone is sikaflex (spelling?) a commercial marine grade sealant. It is a mess because it was done during a storm but it immediately stopped that leak. ( we at least know not to use silicone)

[Tori]

Too windy today to work on mast leak repair shall try again tomorrow

[DeepFrz]

we at least know not to use silicone

I apologize if I sounded condescending. My question wasn't meant that way but looking back on it today I kind of cringed at the tone. Good luck.

[Tori]

Lol no worries wasn't offended at all...it does look kinda like crap right now. But it stopped that leak during that storm...this is what happens when you live on an over thirty year old boat

[zeehag]

i also think the bolts under need attention--after all--has prolly been all its life untouched.....

[Tori]

Which bolts zeehag? Or all of them?