Simple but effective! 3 roof rackstraps and some well placed poles will do the trick for you in 10 minutes (I thought this mast was stuck for life- like a fool I got a bunch of desert sand in there before i went sailing)
Easiest solution is to get THREE people either side and TWIST hard.
Works every time period.
Select to expand quotePcdefender said..
Easiest solution is to get THREE people either side and TWIST hard.
Works every time period.
This CAN work - but that will fuse your mast together permanently if its really stuck - if you do manage to get twist stop and let the mast cool down before continuing.We have 5 people on each side of my mast originally and it wouldnt budge - i thought it was stuck forever!
Looks risky, could damage mast possibly? I invert mast and make a duck tape collar around the bottom of inverted joint, then spray joint with WD-40 and let soak in (reapply if WD-40 drains in) and let stand inverted overnight, next morning use 2 boom hitch knots to anchor lower section to a tree (make one boom hitch knot on lower mast section, wrap rope around tree, anchor other end of rope to lower mast section with another boom hitch knot), then just twist upper section until rope stack it taken up and then as you apply moderate twisting tension upper mast section will twist out.
Invert mast, tip on ground.
Grab mast at chest to head height.
Give it a REAL SOLID VIOLENT shake/ whip around. Spin 90' then shake again. Repeat.
This crushes the sand in join. Mast section will wiggle out.
Happy days.
Have tried all other methods, but this reigns SUPREME for me.
Ended up 1 time pulling them apart by tying 1 to my van and 1 to my car
All other methods failed and I had enough.
It worked just a few scratches where I forgot to put some rubber.
Select to expand quoteolskool said..
Invert mast, tip on ground.
Grab mast at chest to head height.
Give it a REAL SOLID VIOLENT shake/ whip around. Spin 90' then shake again. Repeat.
This crushes the sand in join. Mast section will wiggle out.
Happy days.
Have tried all other methods, but this reigns SUPREME for me.
Since you showed me this method , I am a big fan . Works a treat .
Select to expand quotePcdefender said..
Easiest solution is to get THREE people either side and TWIST hard.
Works every time period.
Nope... doesn't aways work. I once had a Neil Pryde mast with super fine sand stuck. Tried with 4 people on either size, multiple booms, the wobble technique... didn't come apart. Drove home with the mast taped to the side of the car.
Ended up using an old extension and tapping it with a rubber mallet. Mast came apart in about 5 minutes.
Select to expand quoteolskool said..
Give it a REAL SOLID VIOLENT shake/ whip around. Spin 90' then shake again. Repeat.
This crushes the sand in join. Mast section will wiggle out.
Happy days.
Have tried all other methods, but this reigns SUPREME for me.
This won't work if the culprit isn't sand but super fine carbon water mixture. I have seen this happen with 100% carbon masts from different brands. Easy to avoid. Just wrap a short piece of electric tape around the mast join. Bunnings has packs of 12 for $12.90. This will last you for years:
www.bunnings.com.au/click-assorted-pvc-insulation-tape-12-pack_p4430559
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..olskool said..
Give it a REAL SOLID VIOLENT shake/ whip around. Spin 90' then shake again. Repeat.
This crushes the sand in join. Mast section will wiggle out.
Happy days.
Have tried all other methods, but this reigns SUPREME for me.
This won't work if the culprit isn't sand but super fine carbon water mixture. I have seen this happen with 100% carbon masts from different brands. Easy to avoid. Just wrap a short piece of electric tape around the mast join. Bunnings has packs of 12 for $12.90. This will last you for years:
www.bunnings.com.au/click-assorted-pvc-insulation-tape-12-pack_p4430559
+1, tape, I use cheap duck tape, tear 2" wide tape lengthwise in half on the roll to get a piece, go back and forth to keep it even on roll.
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..olskool said..
Give it a REAL SOLID VIOLENT shake/ whip around. Spin 90' then shake again. Repeat.
This crushes the sand in join. Mast section will wiggle out.
Happy days.
Have tried all other methods, but this reigns SUPREME for me.
This won't work if the culprit isn't sand but super fine carbon water mixture. I have seen this happen with 100% carbon masts from different brands. Easy to avoid. Just wrap a short piece of electric tape around the mast join. Bunnings has packs of 12 for $12.90. This will last you for years:
www.bunnings.com.au/click-assorted-pvc-insulation-tape-12-pack_p4430559
Yeah, but some of us don't want to give in to the tape, cos we like livin on the edge. Next, we will be reading instructions and wearing booties .
Select to expand quoteImax1 said..
Yeah, but some of us don't want to give in to the tape, cos we like livin on the edge. Next, we will be reading instructions and wearing booties .
you forgot to mention helmet and sunnies
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..Imax1 said..
Yeah, but some of us don't want to give in to the tape, cos we like livin on the edge. Next, we will be reading instructions and wearing booties .
you forgot to mention helmet and sunnies
I do wear a helmet and I should wear sunnies . Squinting into the glare is a skill I developed while learning to weld without a visor 
Best to do it at home, indoors, not hurt anyone or anything, little force involved, works always:
What about if you have the opposite problem? The mast joint is a bit loose, maybe just paint some expoxy on it to build it up? So it's a snug fit again
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..Pcdefender said..
Easiest solution is to get THREE people either side and TWIST hard.
Works every time period.
Nope... doesn't aways work. I once had a Neil Pryde mast with super fine sand stuck. Tried with 4 people on either size, multiple booms, the wobble technique... didn't come apart. Drove home with the mast taped to the side of the car.
Ended up using an old extension and tapping it with a rubber mallet. Mast came apart in about 5 minutes.
That's a newy. I take it you put an extension in, tapped the extension and the top separated, like a Newton's cradle.
I've always pulled them apart with the car + sturdy tree + roof rack tape.
Select to expand quoteManuel7 said..
Best to do it at home, indoors, not hurt anyone or anything, little force involved, works always:
Just to add to tip number 5. I put the boom on one piece of the mast and then wrap a towel around the 2nd piece. I wring the towel as tight as possible creating a very tight lever and then try to turn the mast using the towel.
Great video Manuel loved seeing the kids help out.
Select to expand quoteGasHazard said..
That's a newy. I take it you put an extension in, tapped the extension and the top separated, like a Newton's cradle.
I've always pulled them apart with the car + sturdy tree + roof rack tape.
That's basically it.
Select to expand quoteImax1 said..stehsegler said..olskool said..
Give it a REAL SOLID VIOLENT shake/ whip around. Spin 90' then shake again. Repeat.
This crushes the sand in join. Mast section will wiggle out.
Happy days.
Have tried all other methods, but this reigns SUPREME for me.
This won't work if the culprit isn't sand but super fine carbon water mixture. I have seen this happen with 100% carbon masts from different brands. Easy to avoid. Just wrap a short piece of electric tape around the mast join. Bunnings has packs of 12 for $12.90. This will last you for years:
www.bunnings.com.au/click-assorted-pvc-insulation-tape-12-pack_p4430559
Yeah, but some of us don't want to give in to the tape, cos we like livin on the edge. Next, we will be reading instructions and wearing booties .
HELL YEAH CUZ !
Im a Sparky, electrical tape everywhere.
But NEVER on my mast ferrule. 
Lifes a Challenge,
If youre not Livin on the Edge youre takin up Too much Space !
Select to expand quoteolskool said..Imax1 said..stehsegler said..olskool said..
Give it a REAL SOLID VIOLENT shake/ whip around. Spin 90' then shake again. Repeat.
This crushes the sand in join. Mast section will wiggle out.
Happy days.
Have tried all other methods, but this reigns SUPREME for me.
This won't work if the culprit isn't sand but super fine carbon water mixture. I have seen this happen with 100% carbon masts from different brands. Easy to avoid. Just wrap a short piece of electric tape around the mast join. Bunnings has packs of 12 for $12.90. This will last you for years:
www.bunnings.com.au/click-assorted-pvc-insulation-tape-12-pack_p4430559
Yeah, but some of us don't want to give in to the tape, cos we like livin on the edge. Next, we will be reading instructions and wearing booties .
HELL YEAH CUZ !
Im a Sparky, electrical tape everywhere.
But NEVER on my mast ferrule.
Lifes a Challenge,
If youre not Livin on the Edge youre takin up Too much Space !
Tape will change the mast curve , not to mention the extra weight .
This works pretty well as a preventative measure. I had to try a few sizes to get the right diameter tube. I think a 44 mm (1.75") MTB tube fits an RDM mast.
Rental centers also tape extensions but it's a bit of a lost cause....
Main preventive measures, watch for sand:
1. ....inside the mast itself (dried out and stuck)
2. ...in the sail mast sleeve (present before rigging)
3. ...near the sail tip area
4. ...in the mast halves near junction when assembling
5. ...inside the mast bottom before assembling extension
It's also best to have a little bit of play around both the extension and the mast junction.
