Rick, when I got my boat last year, I had a lot of water coming in the same spot, where the electric wires came through. Figuring this will always be a problem because when you pull on the wires that are caulked in it will create leaks. So I closed the hole and ran my electric and coaxial wires out the front of the mast and into mounted sockets. Pictures attached. Ron McNeil M17 #675 Jackpot. On Sunday, March 23, 2014 12:34 PM, Bob Eeg <montgomeryboats@hotmail.com> wrote: Rick There is no balsa core under the mast step. Only hardwood. I am guessing you have to re bed and re caulk some hardware which will require removal ( unbolting the bolts) and if you call me I will instruct you the procedure. You can do this yourself. Call me Bob Sent from my iPad
On Mar 23, 2014, at 12:02 PM, "Rick Davies" <jdavies104@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all,
I'd like to solicit the experts for some advice. I've attached some pictures of damage to the cabin overhead below the mast step that I just found today when I was getting the boat ready for spring sailing. It looks as if there's a leak around the step which has deposited some crud into the light dome, and I found a few drops of dried rusty water on the V berth directly underneath. In the past I have sometimes found a little water in the well below the compression post next to the battery, but thought it came through the post along the wire bundle coming from the mast. I don't quite understand how the fittings around the step are attached to the compression post, nor how the weight is distributed.
My questions are:
Is the boat safe to sail?
How serious is the apparent damage? How can I assess it in more detail?
How can I find out if there's water in the balsa core? There doesn't seem to be any sponginess yet.
I've never done fiberglass work myself, so I'd need a yard if this is going to involve major reconstruction. Does any one know a yard in the DC - Annapolis area they'd recommend for this type of work?
Sure would appreciate any advice and help I can get.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L <photo 1.JPG> <photo 2.JPG> <photo(3).JPG>
