Repair & maintenance: stuck mast cap

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stuck mast cap

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13168
Printed Date: 10 May 25 at 3:23pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: stuck mast cap

Posted By: llywelyn1984
Subject: stuck mast cap
Date Posted: 10 Sep 18 at 2:00pm

my mast top cap is stuck on, and i want to take it off.

Any ideas?

Replies:

Posted By: Time Lord
Date Posted: 10 Sep 18 at 2:31pm

You don't say on what type of boat is this mast. If its a dinghy then you can take the mast down easily, if not call a proper rigger!

On a dinghy mast, remove any screws holding the cap then if the cap fits outside the mast gently heat up the cap so that it expands away from the mast and should come loose. If the cap is inside then warm up the mast (assuming its ali).

If its a carbon mast, try the warming but only gently.

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Merlin Rocket 3609

Posted By: llywelyn1984
Date Posted: 10 Sep 18 at 2:59pm

sorry it's on the topper topaz mast top section.

Posted By: llywelyn1984
Date Posted: 10 Sep 18 at 3:45pm

So heat up the aluminium with a small blow torch/heat gun?

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 10 Sep 18 at 6:45pm

Poke a very long stick down the inside and push it out.

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 10 Sep 18 at 8:57pm

Or drop a heavy piece of bar/tube into the bottom, even if it’s not long enough you can bounce it up and down to hammer the top out

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Posted By: Capt_Fred
Date Posted: 14 Sep 18 at 12:40pm

You can gently hit the aluminum rings using the hammer with plastic or rubber ends to avoid scratches and dents to loosen it up. Even if you damage it, it shouldn't be a problem to find a replacement. You can check them on http://ttps://www.boatid.com/sea-dog/%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.boatid.com/sea-dog/%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.boatid.com/sea-dog/ or simply visit amazon

Posted By: llywelyn1984
Date Posted: 14 Sep 18 at 1:06pm

thanks will have a go this weekend.

Posted By: llywelyn1984
Date Posted: 12 Nov 18 at 10:19am

rammed it out from the far end, needed a very long piece of metal/wood which wasn't sharp.

far end came out with a hammer and screwdriver.