Fresh water is a sealed mast after winter storage
15 views
Skip to first unread message
Vladimir Eremeev
Apr 25, 2026, 4:36:56 PMApr 25
to WR...@googlegroups.com
Hi, everyone. I am a new member and I’m planning to bring my Nacra F17 on Tuesday.
Today I was unpacking the boat after winter storage and I found water splashing inside of my mast. The mast was stored with a top sitting lower than the mast base on a trailer.
I have a draining plug at the base so I was able to drain about a glass of fresh water.
After a panic attack I went soaking the mast in a creek and I didn’t find any leaks.
So, could it be a condensate?
Or it is a rain water/snow made its way through mast step/lower hardware connections?
Anyone had the similar experience? Tell me it’s sort of ok before I started blowing air into the mast and look for leaks :)
Thanks.
See you on Tuesday..
Vladimir
Sent from my iPhone
Today I was unpacking the boat after winter storage and I found water splashing inside of my mast. The mast was stored with a top sitting lower than the mast base on a trailer.
I have a draining plug at the base so I was able to drain about a glass of fresh water.
After a panic attack I went soaking the mast in a creek and I didn’t find any leaks.
So, could it be a condensate?
Or it is a rain water/snow made its way through mast step/lower hardware connections?
Anyone had the similar experience? Tell me it’s sort of ok before I started blowing air into the mast and look for leaks :)
Thanks.
See you on Tuesday..
Vladimir
Sent from my iPhone
john baker
Apr 26, 2026, 3:21:45 PMApr 26
to WR...@googlegroups.com
Hi Vladimir,
I'm not sure if the water you found in your mast is from precipitation or condensation. How is your relationship with your neighbors? A while back, I caught one of my neighbors putting water in my mast late one night. I think it is a good idea to check your mast for leaks every so often.
What time are you going to bring your boat on Tuesday? I can meet you. Sometimes it is helpful to have a second pair of hands.
Talk later,
John Baker
301 385 0701
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "West River Catamaran Racing Association" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to WRCRA+un...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/WRCRA/6DFC2DCF-FC1B-4E28-A043-0F33CD611B3A%40gmail.com.
I'm not sure if the water you found in your mast is from precipitation or condensation. How is your relationship with your neighbors? A while back, I caught one of my neighbors putting water in my mast late one night. I think it is a good idea to check your mast for leaks every so often.
What time are you going to bring your boat on Tuesday? I can meet you. Sometimes it is helpful to have a second pair of hands.
Talk later,
John Baker
301 385 0701
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "West River Catamaran Racing Association" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to WRCRA+un...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/WRCRA/6DFC2DCF-FC1B-4E28-A043-0F33CD611B3A%40gmail.com.
Jahn Tihansky
Apr 26, 2026, 4:10:43 PMApr 26
to WR...@googlegroups.com
Vlad,
Just be careful with the pressure you use. I'd recommend using a shopvac in blow mode which shouldn't damage the mast like a compressor might.
Jahn
Jahn Shaffer Tihansky
Professional Mariner, Sailing Coach & Adventurer
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/WRCRA/759565800.118173.1777231300166%40connect.xfinity.com.
Sam Carter
Apr 26, 2026, 6:57:17 PMApr 26
to West River Catamaran Racing Association
Vlad,
It’s definitely not condensate. I had the same thing happen after a season of sailing on a pretty new mast. Found out while rigging for an event that required weigh-in. I suspect the top cap was leaking. That is probably the case with your mast, unless something else is obvious (pooling water). You can’t really blow air into these rigs-there is a plug at both the top and the bottom, so you would need to drill a hole. I think a few psi is OK, but JT’s approach is perhaps safer.
Main leak points:
1) Spinnaker bail. The metal ones are notorious for this. Replace with a dyneema bail.
2) top plug (under the carbon hound cap)
3) Hound fitting-unlikely but the sealant can fail.
Best,
Sam
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages