Mast ball squeels!?!

I noticed this weekend that the mast ball that the mast sits on, on my Nacra 5 was really squeeling as the mast was rotating.

Shrouds are not set overly tight or overly loose. Anybody ever run into this or have any suggestions? Sailube? Ball getting ready to fail?

Other than that, great sailing this weekend!

Danno

Are you sure it is coming from the mast ball?
Squeels on my Nacra are normally coming from the crew position.

Hey Danno -

I have seen (heard) exactly what you're talking about... so loud sometimes it is unnerving. Try the sailkote AFTER you wash it well with warm soapy fresh water. Seems like sometimes it was related to having sailed through some water with certain pollutants that robbed the teflon of some of it's properties. I've also seen guys with that mast ball use the teflon chip, espesh if your mast ball is showing wear.

Other option is to just replace it - worth the quiet, eh? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I had the same problem. I tried marine grease as it was suggested by another member it worked for a week. I ended up buying the Teflon disk (they sell it for the hobie 16) and putting it inbetween the mast and ball. I have not heard a squeak since. One word of caution, It is hard to get it to stay in the mast when stepping, but we finally got it there. I have mast up storage, so I have not taken the mast down. The disk may be a pain if you’re a stepping a lot I don’t know. It might stay after it is squished.

The disks can be bought at many catamaran parts retailers.

Matt

A lot of the time, the squeak is from the threads on the ball as the ball usually rotates with the mast....grease between the mast and the ball might not fix it.

I forgot, Jake is right. I tightened the ball in conjunction with adding the disk.

Here's the fix, it cures the noise and wear.

Wax the ball really well, fill the mast cup with Marine-Tex, insert mast ball, wipe the excess around the edge before it cures. Let dry, remove the ball from base, and re-step the mast. The Marine-Tex fills the voids in the base and forms a perfect fit on the ball...

I just simply use a smear of Vaseline or petroleum jelly each time I sail.

Tried graphite grease (cause I had lots) but it's black (yuk) and causes alum to corrode badly.

Both stopped the noise.

I used the Hobie 16 teflon disk. Not a bad fix. Once you put it in the mast cup and step the mast, it pretty much stays put until it wears to the point it needed replacement anyway.

I'd get a new mast ball (I think the old H20 mast ball is of a harder material) and a few H-16 mast chips, and the squeak should be fixed.

Performance is now supplying mast chips with new boats too.