Tiny Plastic beads and the sound of "stuff"inside my mast

Took our new to us 1983 Hobie 16 out for a shakedown this weekend and noticed a few things. First, the tramp was littered with dozens of small "pencil tip" size white plastic beads that seem to have appeared as we lowered to mast. Second, there was a definite cascading of something inside the mast that was audible (at the base end) when lowering it. Almost sounded like one of those "rain sticks". Perhaps the beads?
Any clues?
A float test of the mast in our pool indicated no leaks

You are hearing rivets of days gone by. This in not a problem at all.

I had the same sounds on my '81. When a mast cleat has been replaced, the rivet heads are drilled off, but the remainder of the rivet is pushed into the mast as there is no way to pull it out without damaging the hole.

I can't imagine what the plastic beads are though.

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1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

Thought it might be rivets.
Regarding the beads. I wonder if the Styrofoam plugs in the mast for water tight integrity might be breaking down into little beads...even so, how would they get out? These are too hard to be styrofoam but that's what they look like.

I can think of nothing (Hobie related) to explain the pencil tip sized beads... I suspect they came from something else but the mast.

Stepped on a desiccant pack and tore it open?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiccant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Indicating-silica-gel.png



Maybe they had packs in the sail to keep down moisture while in storage?

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

The mast plugs aren't styrofoam - they are polyethylene foam (think pool noodles).

I am assuming the plastic beads you found, are from one of your Harken or Ronstan Cleats. Check your main-sheet, traveler, jib, and down-haul cleats. There are 2 sets of them for each jaw, top and bottom bearings... I believe you can buy replacements,and refurbish them yourself.

As for the sound from coming the mast, everyone here is correct, they are pop rivet casings in the mast, nothing you can really do about them.

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1992 Hobie Cat 18 #16943
Hobie Fleet 198, Rapid City, SD

Great insights. I'll check the bearings. They do look like the desiccants.