supersailor
Contributing Partner
Check the drain hole at the bottom of the mast. It is located in the bilge at the back of the mast. If it is plugged due To dirt or growth, the water can fill to a height that puts enough pressure on the dam to leak into the bilge. It is surprising how much water comes down the mast during a moderate rainstorm. The drain hole is pretty small so it needs cleaning periodically. I use a piece of hard wire for the task. If the water stays in the mast, it can grow unpleasant smelling bacteria. If this is the problem, I would temporarily reseal the mast and put some bleach-water mixture inside the mast. This will kill the bacteria. If you don't take a step like this, the bacteria can go dormant until the next rainstorm. I used an unused halyard exit above the deck to snake in a small tube attached to a bottle to get the bleach in then filled the rest in with a hose attached to a sprinkler reducer and small hose. You can also use a funnel attached to the tube. I left the bleach-water in the mast for about two hours then unplugged the drain. Have not had any problems since and the bilge is sweet smelling.