Bones, I stepped the mast yesterday, and approximately 2 lbs of kidney beans fell out the bottom, along with a small amount of rodent poop. I was quite pleased that the mast lights still work. Next winter I will seal the base with a few layers of aluminum foil to foil the critters. ----- Original Message ----- From: <bownez@juno.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 9:23 PM Subject: M_Boats: Mast Nest
Hi Listers,
Here's a good story for you. Launched my M23 yesterday. Last year, after getting it from indoor storage for the first time, I went to install my VHF antenna before raising the mast to find the coax cable had been chewed through. Well, not being prepared with more cable, soldering equipment, etc., I decided to simply use a hand held for the season. Away we go. Here we are in 2009 to launch and I am prepared with coax, PL-249 connector soldered on one end, and ready to attach to the old cable and fish it down the mast, using the old cable to pull it. First problem, chewed cable end now missing and inside the mast. OK, time to remove the masthead and access the old cable. Did that. Attached the new cable to old. Started pulling at the base end of the cable to find the cable severed after about 10 feet. Damn. I go to the top of the mast, and pulling on the old coax produces some sponge material that a PO installed to quiet the cable slap, and, fur!, then bones!, then the skull of a small rodent, which I'm sure is a squirrel, Lordie. Looks like Rocky picked the wrong hideaway for the winter. This little guy had been in there for a while. So, after my helpful harbormaster came up with a length of very stiff wire, and three tries, we got the wire run up the mast so I could pull the new coax down the mast. I have seen birds nest in the open ends of masts when on their trailers, but this mammal experience was a new one on me.
Later,
Bones
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