does water deteriorate aluminuim mast heel?

hello,

I have a deck step mast. Normally there is a hole at the mast heel to take out the water that somehow comes inside the mast from block cutouts etc. i made a mistake and didn't drill a hole to the mast step so the water indise the mast can not go out. I noticed that there was water inside the mast up to the level of the halyard block which is 10-15 cm higher from the buttom.
Please see the picture to understand it better.
So, in winter with some rain the water accumulates at the heel until it evopatares, it is like that for three years.
I will simply drill a hole to the mast step but i did not mind it too much until now.
what do you think? did it make a deterioration at the mast heel? Does it need a cure by unstepping mast, take the mast heel out etc..

 

Sure it does..get the water out. Big hole.

Use Any defense that insures that the step is dry.

 

But for three years it is like that. So do i need to unstep the mast to cure it?

 

Or maybe i can try to remove halyard block fitting to try to see the condition inside...

 

I Dont know your mast. I Dont know your solution.

Water in the mast step will cause corrosion.

 

Rain isn't so bad, but sea spray is. The water evaporates, the salt does not, so you end up with brine in the lower part of your mast eating the alloy from the inside.

With luck you may still be able to remove the fasteners that hold the halyard block without the heads snapping off.

 

Drilling a hole in the mast will let the water out . But will continually allow the sea water to come in as well as the water comes in, a film of salts will gradually build up promoting alloy rot. Maybe find out where the water is coming in and seal that. Of drill the hole and flush out after use???

 

If you have internal halyards that is a good source of water inside the mast. Make a hole and let the water get out of course. Salt water will eventually eat through a mast base. It's a common problem with all mast bases. But mast bases are all different so you should show a picture of your particular setup.