Pico mast won't rotate

Just as an aside, I'de be very careful to avoid getting silicone into the bottom of the boat

   Hi all 
New to the forum and new to sailing. 
I recently completed my RYA Levels 1 and 2, with most training done on a Laser Pico. 
Really enjoyed it so I've just bought a Pico of my own now. Great condition and all the parts seem to be there but I'm having trouble with one thing. 

From the training I attended, and from the Pico owners manual, I understand you should be able to furl the mainsail by rotating the mast (while it is still stepped). 

The problem I have is that when the mast is in place, the collar and mast gate fit together so tightly that I am unable to rotate the mast at all. 

I've checked that nothing else if fouling it, by just fitting the lower mast section and no other rigging - unfortunately the same problem. 

I applied some spray type silicone lubricant, after which I was able to shift the mast about a quarter turn - but still very stiff and only by using the downhaul cleat as a handle! (I wouldn't want to put any more sideways stress on this). I would by no means be able to do this afloat either.

I thought it should rotate more freely than this?  

Am I doing something wrong? Or is this a problem anyone else has encountered? Any advice greatly appreciated!

Many thanks in advance. 

Brett      

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brettoutdoorme Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 18 Location: Poole, UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote brettoutdoorme Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Pico mast won't rotate Posted: 20 Jan 18 at 3:13pm
	Hi all New to the forum and new to sailing. I recently completed my RYA Levels 1 and 2, with most training done on a Laser Pico. Really enjoyed it so I've just bought a Pico of my own now. Great condition and all the parts seem to be there but I'm having trouble with one thing. From the training I attended, and from the Pico owners manual, I understand you should be able to furl the mainsail by rotating the mast (while it is still stepped). The problem I have is that when the mast is in place, the collar and mast gate fit together so tightly that I am unable to rotate the mast at all. I've checked that nothing else if fouling it, by just fitting the lower mast section and no other rigging - unfortunately the same problem. I applied some spray type silicone lubricant, after which I was able to shift the mast about a quarter turn - but still very stiff and only by using the downhaul cleat as a handle! (I wouldn't want to put any more sideways stress on this). I would by no means be able to do this afloat either. I thought it should rotate more freely than this? Am I doing something wrong? Or is this a problem anyone else has encountered? Any advice greatly appreciated! Many thanks in advance. Brett

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3420	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 18 at 4:13pm
	not sure about Pico, but Toppers you wrap sail around the mast, then attach to boom.

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 18 at 5:34pm
	It's not clear from the OP whether you have the mainsail attached to the boom. Ashore, like stated in the post above, the easiest way is just to wrap the sail around the mast. Just don't try that afloat as it's nearly impossible to re-attach the main to the boom. In picos and toppers alike you should be able to put in and take out a reef with the mainsail attached by rotating the mast. Make sure the outhaul is completely slack as well as the kicker (or remove kicker) before rotating the mast. The downhaul will foul the boom as you rotate, so you can either remove the downhaul too, or drop the boom below the downhaul. I always found it easier to just remove the downhaul and reattach it after. If you don't have the sail attached and still can't rotate the mast then I don't really have an answer for you. Edited by mozzy - 20 Jan 18 at 6:06pm

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 18 at 5:40pm
	should work like this. Here he drops the boom below the downhaul so the mast will rotate, but I always found it easier on the water to just remove the downhaul and leave the boom where it was, then let off the kicker and outhaul and rotate. Should be the same in a pico.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 18 at 6:48pm
	The OP's issue is that the mast gate is too tight to be able to rotate the mast, even without the sail and boom rigged. Just as an aside, I'de be very careful to avoid getting silicone into the bottom of the boat, Non-slip on poly boats is not the best and coating it with silicone is a sure fire way to make it worse (in my windsurfing days we used to refer to the "Teflon non-slip" on certain makes of board )
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 18 at 7:17pm
	Sounds like you might need to ease the joint a fraction. Try fine sanding the inside of the mast gate - you'll only need to take a fraction of a mm off. Another possibility is that the gate part shuts too tight. Try putting a thin but of stiff wire down the locking pin hole, so it doesn't close fully, and see if the bottom mast rotates then. Don't try sailing it like this! If it rotates happily then, you might have to find someone to take another look at what is going on. Also, check the mast in another Pico.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3420	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 18 at 7:52pm
	might be nothing, boat isn't slightly distorted by trolley ? Have you tried rotating mast when boat is in water ?

ColPrice2002 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 25 Nov 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 222	Post Options Post Reply Quote ColPrice2002 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jan 18 at 9:26am
	With the sailing school Picos I have to use both hands to rotate the mast - and use the cleats as a grip. Do check the foot of the mast, I've seen a couple of masts where the foot of the mast had the aluminium worn away leaving wafer thin, razor sharp edges. These will make it difficult to rotate the mast, and are likely to wreck your handsrigging! Also, check the foot of the mast for the condition of the plastic insert, then the mast step. Grit isn't going to help...

PeterG Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Jan 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 822	Post Options Post Reply Quote PeterG Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jan 18 at 9:34am
	Just as an aside, I'de be very careful to avoid getting silicone into the bottom of the boat Indeed, I remember replacing the slot gasket on my Contender some years ago and a "helpful" member of the local Contender fleet enthusiastically spraying silicone over the slot to get the board to move smoothly. Which it did very well. However, the next time I capsized getting onto the board proved to be something like trying to climb onto a skating rink!
	Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jan 18 at 11:07am
	Used to use it all the time (every time I put the CB in the board) on my Mistral Equipe 2 Raceboard, but very sparingly indeed. Of course we never needed to climb onto the centreboard Would have been much worse if he had got it all over the cockpit though.......
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"