It is crucial that your mast be watertight. I have had to use silicone rubber sealant on both my current and past boat to stop leaks at rivets and/or masthead castings.<br><br>Practice capsizing & righting your boat a few times, then take the mast down at the end of the day. If you can hear water sloshing inside when you shake the mast, you know you have a leak. This is a mandatory-fix item, or else a simple capsize that shouldn't be any problem will become a certain disabling of your boat. This is a miserable experience at best and could become life-threatening if you are stuck offshore and can't get back or attract assistance.<br><br>It's not hard to waterproof a mast (just a $3 tube of marine silicone), so do it!<br><br>Sail fast and have fun,<br>Alan Thompson<br>I20 - San Diego<br><br>