mast boot

[Peter McMinn]

As I refinish my deck, I'd like to put something around the mast at the cuddy roof to protect the gelcoat from the mast, as well as seal the gap from water seepage. I don't see any particular part in the available parts lists with this function.
To those of you with keel-stepped masts, do you use a mast boot, and if so, what is it made of and how is it secured? Is this something attached to the mast or through the hole as a sleave?

[Roger]

In the old days of sail, I believe that sailors solved this problem by wrapping a sheath of leather around the mast inside the partner then weaving leather thongs around the mast at the top of the coach roof. I think a turk's head or variation thereof was the knot of choice, then snugged down to the gap. The leather sheath would cushion rubbing and protect your gelcoat, and when water came in, (through either splash or rain) the leather knot absorbed it and it would swell up, expanding and sealing the gap. Any excess water would run off rather than be further absorbed. You could also use silicone!

[Peter McMinn]

As renovating Ripple, my 60' DS1, nears completion, I'm revisiting all my old querries to document how things went. The "mast boot" I was after turned out to be in the plumbing section at Home Depot. Bought a 4" solid rubber pipe cuppling which has a lip inside at the center. I cut the gasket open, and reversed it so the lip is on the outside. This fits perfectly in the space around the mast at the cuddy; the lip laps over the edge of the opening. With a little seasonal treatment of Vasaline, the rubber should last for years.
The result is a flexible barrier between mast and glass providing 1) protection of the new gelcoat/paint, 2) flexibility for mast movement, 3) added splash resistence, and of course 4) smooth looks.

[Roger]

I assume you found this in the plumbing department. What is it called in it's usual state? Sounds intriguing! After you cut the rubber, and turn it inside out, how did you get it to stay in place? How thick was it, and how big was the lip?

[Peter McMinn]

I believe it is called a "pipe cupling" and comes with a stainless sheath that is meant to tighten around the two pipes (I stashed the stainless for some future project, pack rat that I am).
I just wrap it around the mast and push it down into the space with the cut ends aft along the sail track. The thickness of the rubber is 1/4", so it's a snug fit. The 'lip" is another 1/4" and rests on the top edge of the mast hole.
It's probably an unecessary gadget, but from all the gelcoat repair I have done on this deck, I'm willing to take a few preventative measures. The boat's almost a half century old!
Another thing I did was to take some cutoff material I found at Tap Plastics and make protective disks that I glued under the mounts for the aft spinaker blocks, which tend to flop around quite bit.

[Roger]

Thanks for that reply, which only leads to another question... regarding the spinnaker blocks, where did you place them relative to the aft cleats and the gunwale?

[Guest]

I put my spin. blocks as far aft and outward as I could get them, allowing for blocking maybe 1" to 1.5" from the gunwhale and transom. Worked so far....

barry (kellbtl-at-aol.com)

[Roger]

and what do you cleat them on and where?