Does keel stepped mast drain into bilge?

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Does anyone know if the keel stepped mast in our She 33 will drain into the bilge. In heavy rain the floor of the saloon floods through the bottom of the footplate on the saloon floor and I am wondering if I just need to seal round the bottom of the footplate or will the mast then fill up with water. I can't get my hand around enough to feel what is there. Can anyone help?
 
Keel-stepped masts are usually sealed internally above deck, so water doesn't drain down in to the boat. There's comprehensive advice on sealing masts on the Selden website.
 
pvb said:
Keel-stepped masts are usually sealed internally above deck, so water doesn't drain down in to the boat. There's comprehensive advice on sealing masts on the Selden website.
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I've never met a keel-stepped mast that didn't sooner or later let some water into the bilge. Often quite a lot of water.
 
First thing to check is that some numpty has not covered the drain holes just above the mast coat with a couple of rounds of tape, if they are clear, try poking gently through them to see if the foam barrier seems intact, then squirt a bit of water in through them to see how long it takes to appear down below, if the leak is not too bad an injection of a thick thixotropic glue might cure it, (after it has dried); avoid expanding foam unless you want to move the drain holes quite a bit further up. A bit of tube on the end of the cartridge nozzle is useful.
 
The keel stepped mast I had certainly let in rain through the sheave boxes, and I'd be intrigued to hear anyone's explanation as to how theirs doesn't !

In the case of the Carter 30 it drains into the shower tray; but if leavng such a boat for more than a week I'd want a reliable auto bilge pump.
 
Seajet said:
The keel stepped mast I had certainly let in rain through the sheave boxes, and I'd be intrigued to hear anyone's explanation as to how theirs doesn't !

In the case of the Carter 30 it drains into the shower tray; but if leavng such a boat for more than a week I'd want a reliable auto bilge pump.
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They all admit water but most have a barrier just above deck level where it runs out again, it is usually at least 10-15 years before water finds its way past but it is amazing how many yachties do not know there are drain holes to let the water out. The electrical cable conduit usually does not have a barrier so a combination of grommets and drip loops at entry points need to be povided.
 
A lot of boats of the period had deep bilges so the matter was not even considered. The water came down the mast and collected in the bilge, that was it till it was pumped out.
Someone may be along to speak for the She with authority, but you may find there are some bunged up drain holes which are preventing the water from getting aft.
My experience fits with post 3 and I think it would be very difficult to fabricate something to fully dam the water at deck level, though it may be worth a try. All spare holes, sheaves etc in my mast are fitted with wooden shoes and this does help keep out a surprising amount of rainwater.
 
I have a She32, and the mast does drain rain water from the luff groove into the bilges.

I've found that trimming the topping lift so that the boom drains down towards the stern reduces inflow to the bilges. As it is fresh water, you might want to check the boxed section round the heel of the mast, as bacteria can flourish and make the area slimy.
 
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that's a useful and thorough paper from Selden, thanks. I really dont like the idea of injecting polyurethane foam into the mast though, preferring to allow "stack effect" ventilation to keep the interior relatively dry.

Probably no more than a quart of rainwater per week, if the boat happens to be moored stern to wind. If there's a lot of spray when sailing, the other ingress points will generate more than the luff groove, which is normally filled with the mainsail.

In a perfect world, a mast will not conduct water below, agreed.
 
My keel-stepped mast leaked considerably. Most of the water was coming from the holes of the standing rigging and leaked out through the holes at the bottom of the mast. I have almost solved the problem (I only get 0,2 liter of water under a heavy rain) by inserting a balloon into the mast through one of the halyard holes and sprayed polyurethane spray.
 
It needs a bit of thought if you do have a go at sealing the thing. You will probably have to take the mast down to put your ideas into effect and maybe to address problems.
Any dam will mean that a certain amount of brackish water will lie within the mast, 24/7.
Some of your cables will lie within a conduit which may end at the deck, with some cables exiting at deckhead level (above or below) and some at the base of the mast. Some cables may not enter the conduit at all, it is common for retro fitted items to be dropped down the mast and at original build for the steaming light cable to be routed directly to the mid mast position. Either way maintaining a seal against the irregular shape of conduit and/or cable is not easy. You are working within a closed section perhaps 6ft along the mast with little useful access apart from the base. If you have problems with it, or any of the cables and attached kit you have to consider how it might be removed for maintenance.
The balloon trick may be possible or a ball of foam, sealed later. I have had my mast down several times and considered this at length but never came up with any usable solution.
 
I found the easiest answer was to seal the bottom of the mast, with a drain tube to a small tupperware type box under the floor. There was sealing above deck level, but it was not 100% effective.
Probably over 90% effective, as the rain came out of the drain above the collar in a jet sometimes.
I think quite a bit of rain ran down the sides of the mast and entered at the halyard exit slots.
I'd spent time sealing spreaders, gooseneck, luff track, shroud fittings....
 
lw395 said:
I found the easiest answer was to seal the bottom of the mast, with a drain tube to a small tupperware type box under the floor. There was sealing above deck level, but it was not 100% effective.
Probably over 90% effective, as the rain came out of the drain above the collar in a jet sometimes.
I think quite a bit of rain ran down the sides of the mast and entered at the halyard exit slots.
I'd spent time sealing spreaders, gooseneck, luff track, shroud fittings....
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How did you seal at the bottom of the mast lw395? Same method? Drill holes and fill with closed cell foam?
 
in the fullness of time, people will need to send up new halyards or cabling inside the mast.


Gert big chunks of sodden polyurethane foam are not going to help that process, and will also prevent the ventilation of the innards of the mast. Water is a great contributor to corrosion.
 
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