When I recently pulled the mast to add radar etc. to my 1987 Olson 911s I discovered that my rather normal appearing mast base was badly corroded on the bottom and cracked in four places.? No big surprise I suppose, considering the boats age but I would like to add some comments here for those who run into the same issue:? I suspect that the corrosion was due to water trickling down the mast and collecting in and below the base, a normal occurence on this rig.? The compression on the base eventually caused cracks yet the base appeared to be normal with the exception of hairline surface cracks that were difficult to see.? As the mast compressed the corroded base it did slightly alter the tune of the rig, as the aftmost end of the base suffered the most trauma.? I did notice that a previous owner had drilled a hole at the base of the sail track, but not through the teak block that supports the base.? This drill hole appears to have caused the most trouble as the cracks appear t
o have originated there.? It was probably drilled in an attempt to allow water to drain, but there was no outlet.? I would not recommend this drill hole be made and new bases do not have it.? It turns out that Ballinger
Spars still stocks the part (around $90 US) in matching anodized
aluminum and they were able to overnight via UPS.? An easy way to keep water from running down the sail track is to place a bead of silicone in the track above the mast collar.? Water will still come through the mast and enter the bilge at the base of the mast but not through the sail track.? Drilling a hole through the teak block at the base is not a good idea because foreign matter will eventually plug the hole.? Cheers - Tom Brielmann