The mast boot our N26C was cracked and old so I used a product called
Plasti-Dip in a spray can which coated the complete boot in a rubber type
plasic. The result was quite good, see picture attached. The desripion
on the can says it's OK for UV, but only time will tell.
Allan and Judy Maclatchy.
N26c 106 Ottawa River
Alan,
No picture.
On the subject of mast boots (and not to hijack this thread) the mast boot on my 30 needs replacement... where can I get a new one and is there a way to replace it without pulling the mast, the one that is on there seems to be one piece with no seam, I would like to keep the job as simple as possible!
Thanks,
Mike
KAT-LEEN
Michael A. Esposito, DDS
dr.espo@mac.com
570-262-6371 (cell)
Allan and Judy Maclatchy wrote << The mast boot our N26C was cracked and old
so I used a product called Plasti-Dip in a spray can which coated the
complete boot in a rubber type plastic. The result was quite good, see
picture attached. The description on the can says it's OK for UV, but only
time will tell.>>
I must confess I felt a momentary pang in reading this post, having spent a
good bit of time replacing my mast boot this spring. Replacing it involved
removing the mast heel and sliding on the new boot (much easier said than
done!) Your solution would have been tempting.
On the other hand, in removing the old boot (and the old bolts holding on
the mast heel), I discovered that after 20 years there was a lot of
corrosion around the bolts holding the mast heel to the mast - the tapped
holes had to be drilled out and retapped a size larger. (As usual, Mike
Quill was most helpful and generous with his time in guiding me, since it is
not every day that I drill and tap anything, let alone something as dear as
a Nonsuch mast!).
Bill Baxter
Persistence NS30 #507
Kingston ON
I have replaced my original boot w one made of sunbrella. It wraps around the mast in the same place as the boot, is held to the mast and collar w the same clamps, and is kept closed by a velcro strip.
It hasn’t leaked in its 4+ years of service, is removable/installable w/o removing mast, and I got to choose the color. Any canvas shop or upholsterer could make one.
Pics on request
Al Donaghy
ELLEN M 26C 19
Take a look at www.waterboot.com. I have used one for seven years and found it easy to put on and off.This means I can check the partners and my Spartite easily, which I do frequently during the season.
Joe Wauters NS36 Deep Powder
In a message dated 6/10/2010 10:49:17 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, dr.espo@MAC.COM writes:
Mike,
There are universal mast boots available at most chandleries. I got mine at Fisheries Supply (they have a web site) but I’m sure West Marine will have them. Measure the circumferences of your mast and deck ring and take them to the store. It is a easy but tricky process to install. Have some sharp scissors and lots of patience and only cut off one section at a time. I tried to speed the process and ended up going back to the store for another one. Another set of hands also helps but I did mine alone. Also, I found gluing it to be very difficult so I extended the overlap by an inch or so and haven’t had any leakage yet.
Bob
I got a mast boot from Mike Quill. Price was reasonable and it was OE apparently. We put it on when the mast was pulled.
Phil LeVine, MeSays, San Pedro, CA
I have just replaced my N30 mast boot with a new original model from Mike Quill
http://home.cogeco.ca/~mquill/the_stores.html
It has to be put on when the mast is off, and getting it on could be difficult without this trick :
Find a ball which is a couple of inches larger than the diameter of the mast, and let the air out of it, then re-inflate with the mast boot's upper collar around it. Inflate enough so that the upper collar is just large enough to go over the base plate of the mast. Next (prefer warm) day go to the mast and deflate the ball and put the mast boot over the base and up quite quickly as it will be slowly returning to its original size. When in place, tighten the steel band to help the boot remember its smaller size.
It went on easily in about one minute.
Cheers, Jon Matthews N30 #266 Toronto NYC
Put it in hot water and it will slide on no problem
If you can’t or don’t want to pull the mast…here’s what I did with a boot from Mike Quill.
There is a large tab on the boot. Cut the boot vertically down through the outter edge of the tab.
Wrap it around the mast and place the hose clamps on it top and bottom. While the clamps are
fairly loose pull the ends together and tighten. Then seal the outter edge of the tab and the top and bottom
areas where they are against the mast and mast deck collar with 5200 sealer. Done.
Earle and Nancy Beasley
470 Wethersfield St.
Rowley, MA 01969
Mariposa, NS30U, 272
Cell 978-857-7866
Thank you for all the advice on the mast boot…wanting to keep things simple I am leaning towards the solution offered by Earle and Nancy!
I’ll have to contact Mike Quill for a mast boot…
Best regards,
Mike
KAT-LEEN
5200 is essentially a permanent adhesive. You may wish to consider 4200 or another type of caulk. sealant.
Mark Powers & Nesta Davies
La Reina Nonsuch 26c
Burrard Civic Marina
Vancouver BC
Yes, great point…I did order and receive the boot from Mike Quill - wow, what fast service! thanks Mike 
I intend to install it sometime this month and will use the 4200, i’ll keep you posted.
Best regards,
Mike
KAT-LEEN
I got a new mast boot from Mike this spring. I had to cut it lengthwise to get in around the mast , as fitting it up the mast from the bottom required removing some things that didn’t seem like a good idea. I then used a special mast boot tape which stretches like rubber and sticks to itself to wrap around the mast boot. Works great and nothing gets glued. I forget the name of the tape, but it is especially for mast boots.
Bill Wigglesworth
Bananaquit 30U
Noank CT
In a message dated 06/21/10 08:01:26 Eastern Daylight Time, dr.espo@MAC.COM writes: