Mast step corrosion
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 461 / 470
Forum Description: 461 / 470 Hints and Tips
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8755
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:41
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mast step corrosion
Posted By: Wilkie
Subject: Mast step corrosion
Date Posted: 10 December 2014 at 07:06
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Hello all, Our 6 year old Hanse 470e has a totally corroded mast step. Have you experienced this? On replacing it (required lifting the mast) the corrosion started on the new one within hours. So now we're looking for the cause. Any ideas anyone? Thanks Mike |
Replies:
Posted By: Peter-Blake
Date Posted: 10 December 2014 at 11:19
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Is there any electric connection to it? If it starts within hours than there must be something like a elektrical connection fault! You maststep seems to work like a battery..... Fotos plz. ------------- Blake 370 
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Posted By: iemand
Date Posted: 10 December 2014 at 15:01
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Be careful with your saildrive leg !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ------------- Hanse 312 MJ 2004 - Hanse 370e MJ 2007 |
Posted By: panos
Date Posted: 10 December 2014 at 17:28
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Check if any cable that passes inside the mast is electrically connected to it. You need to remove the battery poles and the shore power cable and check with a good ohmmeter. You have to check both ways since the ohmmeter has a polarity. ------------- Panos Hanse 630e - selling her - |
Posted By: jeancharleb
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 03:39
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wonder if it is a Selden? ------------- Jean Charlebois |
Posted By: iemand
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 16:32
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6 years ago there was no Selden on Hanse 470, only late 2009??? and 2010 ------------- Hanse 312 MJ 2004 - Hanse 370e MJ 2007 |
Posted By: Kytho
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 13:39
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This is a serious issue. My mast step (Hanse built early 2008 with a Sparcraft mast) has cracked at multiple sites, presumably because it got weakened by the massive corrosion. I now have to change it. Do your Hanse yachts have an insulation between mast (aluminum) and step (steel)? Kytho  |
Posted By: iemand
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 19:10
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the maststep is aluminum I'm convinced! ------------- Hanse 312 MJ 2004 - Hanse 370e MJ 2007 |
Posted By: gertha
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 20:48
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When steel corrodes it turns red, as rust. What you have as a picture is not steel, the picture shows something that looks like a piece of knackered aluminium. My guess is your mast is bashing down on a piece of metal that has failed. In the world of sailing where we have salt water everywhere , which most people know is corrosive , and a boat 8 years old these things happen. Simon ------------- Swanned off |
Posted By: Rock
Date Posted: 01 May 2016 at 21:19
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What type of Hanse Kytho? Is your mast keel stepped, i can't place your picture. What you show is indeed Al, you can see the white oxide. ------------- Hanse 400e "M-square2" #0241 |
Posted By: sailkoop
Date Posted: 02 May 2016 at 17:02
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Hi Rock, the Mast on a 470 is stepped over the Mast step directly to the steel frame underneath the mast step. The Steel frame connect the keel, Mast and the Shrouds! only the Forestay and the Backstay are not connected directly. Hope it help for understanding.... ------------- best regards Bjoern |
Posted By: Kytho
Date Posted: 05 May 2016 at 14:49
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Yes, indeed, the mast is keel-stepped and you are probably right that the maststep is made from aluminum. Just underneath the maststep is a stainless steel container (visible on my photograph above) to collect water running down the mast. Could the galvanic reaction between this container and the maststep be part of the problem? I have two questions to other Hanse 470 owners: (1) do you also have Al-oxide accumulating at the base of your mast, and is your maststep still intact? (2) do you also have a stainless steel container under the maststep? I am looking forward hearing from you. Cheers, Kytho |
Posted By: sailkoop
Date Posted: 05 May 2016 at 16:15
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Hi Kytho, your kind of corrosion is normal, when the Mastsealing-System is not working well. In that case rain or saltwater is running on the Mast to the Maststep and the corrosion begins;-(( Take care about that Sealingsystem and you get no issue on that side! The Steelframe underneath the Maststep is installed in all Hanse 461, 470, 531 and in the 540! These Types get these kind of construction. Original it comes from X-Yachts, so not bad at all ;-)) ------------- best regards Bjoern |
Posted By: bovine
Date Posted: 05 May 2016 at 22:41
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Hi guys Any corrosion whether from dissimilar metals or stray electrical current is being fuelled by water. Stop the water stop the corrosion. David |
Posted By: mcmanus
Date Posted: 07 May 2016 at 00:11
| I just replaced the entire standing rigging on my 461 2006. The mast step looked just like the one in the pic. The rigger took it out, soaked it in a mild acid, sanded it and and painted it with special silver paint. When assembling, he coated all the pieces in a special putty-like compound to help delay it happening again. He suggest that I had electrolysis as others have stated. There was no structural damage on mine though. |