Protecting mast boot tape from sharp objects

[LifesBetterWhenYoureBeating]

Merry Christmas everyone!

I've recently installed some mast boot tape on my keel stepped mast and although it seems to have created a proper seal, the tape itself is not very strong and one of the shackles on my mast already managed to pinch through the 3-4 layers of tape I've installed, so I'm wondering what sort of material would be best to wrap around the tape to protect it from sharp objects. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

[JPA Cate]

Leather, such as used for chafing gear on lines.

Ann

[mike d.]

not to take away from Ann's msg ! Our boat came with a mast boot seal, and a cover over it, to stop the sun exposure from degrading it ! That said the cover lasted about 15 yrs ! Also please note the material used was made of a vinyl type material with a velcro closure ! It was tapered to match the angle of the mast diameter to the support ring at the deck !

[JPA Cate]

We've had sunbrella mast boot covers, but they are more vulnerable to chafe, which was why I suggested leather. A pvc cover lasting 15 yrs. would have to be very UV resistant, and that is super. Our own best experience with pvc is a re-tubing 8 yr. ago, with West German pvc, of our previously hypalon Gemini dinghy. I'd think any person could hand or machine stitch something like Herculon and create their own pvc mast boot cover.

Ann

[LifesBetterWhenYoureBeating]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Leather, such as used for chafing gear on lines.

Ann

A quick Google search for that only yielded Chafe guards for lines, which are too small. Any idea where I could find it? Or would any leather with some UV protecting spray work?

[Jim Cate]

Spousal disagreement follows!

I wouldn't bother with leather myself unless the chafing was REALLY severe. A simple sewn bit of Sunbrella will likely work quite adequately and will be far easier to source material and shape into what you want.

Jim

[JPA Cate]

I'd be in complete agreement with Jim, if it were not a case of regular chafe. However, any marine canvas shop can make a sunbrella mast boot cover for you. And you can buy bulk leather anywhere it is sold, but some sails are finished with leather on the clews, so the marine place or a sailmaker might sell you a small patch. As you might imagine, the beef industry generates a lot of it. Anyhow, if the Sunbrella then began to chafe, just hand stitch a leather patch onto the sunbrella, big enough (probably not more than 2 inches square) to cover the hole. You try to put the patch on centered over the hole.

Ann