Gray Eagle has exactly the same mast seal setup as Amadon Light. In
fact, my review of this product (Spartite) would endorse Bill's comments
in every detail. My wife made the Sunbrella cover for the outside to
keep the UV off the Spartite material. We do not get a single drop of
water past the deck at this location and there is no noise from the
partners during heavy weather. There is a significant amount of dripping
that comes down the interior of the mast from the halyard sheaves and
all the other openings for running rigging. There is nothing one can do
to stop this. Our Spartite installation has been in place for five
years, (Note: the mast has not been pulled since it was installed). I
agree with Bill - it is not likely the Spartite would survive having the
mast pulled and reinstalled and still have the same perfect seal at the
partners although the Spartite vendor says it can be done with success.
I would go for a new Spartite pour next time I have to pull the
stick,(this spring)and cut away the old stuff.

> http://www.spartite.com/

One note of advice: Before the Spartite is poured and with the mast
stepped, be sure the basic mast orientation is correct. Another words,
the mast should be "in the ball park" for tunning before you pour the
Spartite. If not you will be trying to pull the mast into a proper tune
placing pressure (point loading one side)of the Spartite to accomplish
this.

Our Spartite installation was done by Atlantic Spars & Rigging in
Annapolis. Great rigging company if you need a professional.

Rich Cassano

Gary Walls & Bill Healy wrote:
> Richard,
> The dam and pour produces an excellent mast brace. The first time it was
> in position for about five years.
> However, after removing the mast we found that it was impossible to get
> back in place when the mast was re-stepped.
> So, we did a new pour - and that was three years ago. In both instances,
> we also made up a Sunbrella cover to protect
> the material from being degraded bythe tropical sun. Both times, after
> several ocean passages, water (rain & salt water)
> dripped down the mast.
>
> Amadon Light has a Ta Shing made/installed stainless ring around the
> deck opening for the mast. When taping for the
> pour, I brought the tape a half inch above the level of the stainless
> ring and poured the material until it just covered
> the stainless by about an eighth of an inch. That sealed perfectly and
> no rain or salt water has ever dripped down between
> the outer perimeter of the material and the deck.
>
> The dripping both times has been right down the mast itself. A bead of
> silicon where the mast meets the material solved
> the problem. Perhaps a light sanding of the mast - in our case, painted
> aluminum - might make for a better seal.
>
> Even though the kit is not cheap, does not seal perfectly, and can not -
> in our experience - be reinserted once the mast
> is removed, I think it is the best at doing its job that we have tried
> so far. You can get the mast exactly positioned through the deck,
> and it never moves, squeaks, or moans, thereafter. We like it better
> than the wedges and "garters" rolled into position, which are two other
> solutions tried in the past. And, using the foam and putty provided is
> easy to insert to seal for the pour.
>
> Bill Healy
>
>
>
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Received on Mon Feb 19 05:37:16 2007