Torrential rain getting into mast?

Today I was working on my H-14 and noticed there was quite a lot of water sloshing around inside the mast (non-comptip).

The last sail I had was 3 weeks ago where I did a practice capsize. I was back up within a minute so I can't imagine it was that. Plus I've tested the mast in the swimming pool a couple of months ago and it didn't appear to leak.

If it was the capsize then I don't think it would be that much water as it was over very quick and shorter than my pool test with the mast. However the rain last weekend beat all the records and went on for days. It was on the verge of biblical. So if there was a slow leak I guess the rain had ample time to get in but too slow a leak for the pool water to get in?

My mast is stored on the trailer as per normal with a tarp over the hulls but of course the mast peeks out a fair bit from both ends of the tarp. The luff track faces skywards, but it seems to me it's a one piece mold; so I'm not sure if rain can get in that way. It does however end up acting like a gutter when it rains.

Is it possible to get rain water into the mast via the luff track?

It looks like I'm going to have to drill a hole to get the water out. Then do a pool test again.

I also found a small soft spot on the hull under the tramp, only noticed it when I stood on it; you can't find it by pushing with your fingers unless you push very hard. Then to top it off the tramp started to tear whilst stepping the mast. It's all happening at once!

If the mast leaks in the rain It will surely leak the next time the boat is turtled. Find a swimming pool or shallow water at a lake and sink the mast. Bubbles should indicate the leak. To get the water out just drill a rivet and drain the mast.

We have seen masts "pump" humidity into the inside through the smallest of holes. Right through the fiberglass of the CompTip for example. This seemed to be an issue in humid areas with passing clouds, I surmised. Heating and cooling the mast repeatedly. Humidity seeps in as the mast cools and then it condenses. Then the air is expelled in the next heating cycle.

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

Matt has a point and maybe your mast does not leak but wouldn't it be nice to know for sure one way or the other. A leaky mast is sometimes a problem if you turtle.
Gary

Thanks guys.
My halyard cleat was very very loose, although that part of the mast doesn't touch the water when capsized. When I drilled out the cleat rivets the holes were sucking air in and water was bubbling out. Going to take my mast for another swim sometime this week, in my In-Law's pool

Hi Guys,

So for the record it must have been the rain/humidity. I put the mast in the pool again and just like the other month, no bubbles. The only part of the mast not in the pool was just the base with the halyard cleat holes (I had drilled out the rivets and removed the cleat)

I pushed the mast under water and held it down for some time; no bubbles. I rotated it to different positions; nothing no bubbles.... After a few minutes I tipped it up and no water came out the cleat holes, and I couldn't hear any water in it either.

When it was raining the halyard cleat was pointing towards the ground but the rivets were very loose. I'm guessing as the mast cooled during the rain, it then contracted and sucked in moisture via the cleat holes. We had very high humidity at that time.

That's the only explanation I can have as that area never came in contact with the lake during the capsize.

So I'm happy now. I only have to re-rivet and seal the halyard cleat.

Hope you got your rivets from a hobie dealer. They know what goes where. I had a demasting about 6 miles off Myrtle Beach SC when I bought some rivets at the nut and bolt house real cheap. What a mess

I have friends that have actual holes left in their mast from were hounds have been moved and gear that has slowly fallen of over the years, Do you think i can get them to put a little goo on those holes, its like talking to a brick wall, I have told them why it's important to have an air tight mast, one of them was sailing a few weeks back and went turtle and it stayed that way, he has his boat back at home and Guess what , The holes are still there. http://beachcatsaustralia.ning.com/