Mast Coats

A mast coat is a covering either of painted canvas or of rubber, secured round the foot of a mast and to the deck around it, which prevents water running below through the opening in the deck where the masts goes down to its step in the keelson. It is mainly used in sailing vessels where the masts have to be allowed a certain amount of play as they go through the openings in the deck so as to absorb the pressure of wind on the sails.