I usually tape around the mast junction and I never had any problems in disassembling the mast so far, even though there is a lot of fine sand and silt around the beach and in suspension in the water.

For some reasons, though, the last three sessions on the very same lake I usually sail, the mast now gets blocked.
I suspect the water may seep in from somewhere else. I have to know it, otherwise I 'll always have the problem, even if I lubricate the junction with soap or grease before assembling the mast..

I seem to remember that a sort rubber plug once came out from inside the mast , but I didn't put it back in and I misplaced it. It is not the plug at the top of the mast, though. That one is still there.
Maybe this inner plug is what prevented water from getting into the junction from the mastbase extension .

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Francone