I currently have my sunfish outside. I should just cover it but was I wondering, when it rains obviously water goes into the hole where the mast goes. I know there is cork at the bottom of the mast hole and so water can evaporate. However, is it better to cover the hole? Or just leave it open?
An old tennis ball makes a perfect keep-the-rain out stopper. If you store the boat outside in sub-freezimg temps, store it deck side down or risk cracks in the hull.
I think the cork in the bottom of your mast hole came from an old mast without a plastic end cap. Older masts had a cork sectioin at each end to keep water out. You should remove it as it serves no function. Does your mast have a plastic base cap? If not, install one as the raw edge of the aluminum mast will eventually cookie-cut its way into the fiberglass.
Cause the bottom of my mast was missing its cap and pieces of cork came out. So I put the cap onto the bottom of the mast. Yea good call on the tennis ball. Thank you guys.