Pico mast won't rotate

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   )

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. 

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