[C320-list] Mast Top Shroud Exit

[Jeff Hare]

What probably happened is that debris has probably clogged the exit drain on
the AFT side of the mast step.  There is a U shaped bale hooked into the aft
side of the mast step.  If you were able to remove the mast step, you'd see
a drain channel cast into this plate that leads to the place where this bail
attaches.

When this happened to a friend's boat the rain water would collect inside
the mast column and flow down the tube into the bilge.  We took a hose with
a good nozzle and blast it into the place where this bail attaches.  Then
the water and dirt that had collected in there poured out of the mast
column.  Did this a few times to be sure.  You could put the hose into the
halyard exit plate and see that it drains out properly.

Learned a lot about the mast step/compression post setup the year I removed
and re-bedded my mast step.   I wish I had taken pictures because I'm not
planning on ever doing that again...

-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Cox
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2011 3:50 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Mast Top Shroud Exit

> My Seldon mast has two top shroud exits, (port and starboard) just 
> below the masthead. It appears rainwater maybe ingressing through 
> these holes with severe winds, ending up in my bilge. The slots either 
> side of the mast are not covered with exit plates to protect water 
> entry, like the halyard exits. Does anyone know if there are a rubber 
> grommet or similar for these exits on the mast. Any help would be 
> grateful.
> Peter "Jaraman" # 1096

The water should drain out at the bottom of the mast onto the deck. There is
a pipe up through the mast step that carries all the wiring so any pooling
of water at the base of the mast should drain out before overtopping that
pipe.  The only path to the bilge would be down the electrical wiring lines
and very little would track down those I would have thought.

Stephen Cox
Tegwen #1141