Foam in mast

[phantomracer]

The Macgregor 26M comes from the factory with a few shots of foam, creating 2 air pockets.

PITA running wires. We had to 'drill' through the foam to run wires to the mast top (anchor light, vhf antenna). I can see if water did get in, could be hard for it to drain quickly.

[Nicholson58]

Our mast weighs 900 # and the boat is 36 tons. Maybe I should fill the mast with helium?

[HopCar]

When calculating how much trapped air you need to float the mast figure about sixty pounds of floatation for each cubic foot. Don't jump on me, I said "ABOUT". I'm too lazy to look up the exact number.

[Woodentop]

How about those key ring recovery buoys, each one will lift 1kg, water activatied, stuff your mast with them??
Merry Christmas folks!

[JayCall]

From a former F-4 flyer-the reason that chaff worked against the old AA missiles is not becase the chaff showed up strongly on radar or because it produced a particular radar signature, it was simply because it could produce multiple (in reality hundreds) of radar signals just strong enough to confuse the old radar based guidance systems on SAM-1 and Sam-2 AA missiles. With multiple signals, those guidance systems could not "lock on" to a single signal and aim for it. Indeed, such ECM contributed to AA missiles that locked in on engine exhaust heat rather than a radar signal.

The chaff produced something that would look like modern digital radar seeing a flock of birds-a lot of radar chatter but you can't pick out an individual bird.

[sailcruiser]

What about one of the floats you see on multihulls to keep them from completely going over? (please no wisecracks from the mono v multi debate!). It seems like that may provide some buoyancy. No experience just a late night thought. SC

[pressuredrop]

Originally Posted by sailcruiser

What about one of the floats you see on multihulls to keep them from completely going over? (please no wisecracks from the mono v multi debate!). It seems like that may provide some buoyancy. No experience just a late night thought. SC

thought about that too... althought i think the reason you only see them on dinghies is because the amount of windage created by one big enough to keep a big rig from going over is to great to justify its use... now an inflatible bag at the top of the mast with a reliable water activator could do the trick...

[noelex 77]

A foam filled mast will help the AVS. Lots of other drawbacks, as others have pointed out, but can be worthwile.

[xiabbo]

I must say I do not know why you are afraid of your mast sinking but the thing I have done to stop wires clanging in my mast was to fill it up with styro peanuts. worked like a champ used a shop vac and only had to stand it at about a 30 degree angle - just use a little canned foam to seal the bottom.