mmiller wrote:
Asking the factory again.
If it helps, for common reference, since there has been considerable confusion/speculation/guessing/discussion on this, I'm going to attempt to attach an image address of a picture of the base of my Hobie Wave Mast with a tape measure strapped up the mast to be used for us to discuss in subsequent posts exactly how far up from the bottom of the mast would be the optimal location for drilling a tiny weep hole in the track/slot for water drainage.
Hopefully this embedded image address of the Wave mast with the tape measure is operational:
For common reference, the tape measure in the pictures starts from bottom portion of the mast on the track side of the mast bottom,
not from the scalloped lower portion of the mast where the ball rides on. (That lower scalloped partial mast extension portion that rides on the ball is another 1-3/4" lower than where the tape measure in the photo shows). The photo starts the tape measure at the bottom of the track mast base since it seems to be the more logical starting point when referring to the "bottom" of the mast.
There is a youtube video of a Hobie Getaway which demonstrates the water flowing out of the weep hole that the owner drilled into the track of the Getaway entitled "Hobie Getaway - Water in the Mast - Where to Drill to Drain It". In that video, the owner admits that he took a guess at where to drill the weep hole, and as he says in the video, he got lucky, and the location where he drilled seemed right on. Looks like he drilled his weep hole on the Getaway roughly across from or slightly below the main halyard mast cleat in the track, though the Wave and Getaway may be different.
Matt is checking with his engineers (thanks again, Matt), and the attached photo may help if the determination is ( for those who wish to drill a tiny weep hole) that the optimal Hobie Wave weep hole location is "x.x" inches from the "bottom" of the mast in the track. Then we'd know with more confidence that we would not have to drill multiple test holes in the mast and can base the location on the attached photo.
Hope this helps in the discussion, if not, open to other suggestions, or experiences from others who have drilled a successful and non-destructive mast weep hole.