Because you will have twice the chance of the pieces being stuck together.
My new North mast has been sailed only about a dozen or so times. Was getting a tighter and tighter fit each time, which was weird. Perfectly clean. Now firmly stuck. Bugger, 'cause everything else about it is excellent.
(searching for the forum thread now on how to get apart. Have tried the 2 boom thing but 2nd boom is so old and crappy doesn't grip well enough, added some silicone spray)
Go to bunnings or any hardware and you can purchase these tools with rubber straps the tool is called a 'Boa'.. they are used for pulling apart pipes... they wont damage your mast and can disconnect almost anything and best part is they only cost about $10
Yep, it sounds like a stupid idea to me too.
In the past I've had success by tying one end of the mast to a tree and the other end to the the front of the car and backing up slowly. It works fine for garden variety tough masts but I would be a little more circumspect about trying it on an egg shell race mast. Use tapes not ropes and look up "icicle hitch". You wont find a better way to tie it.
Speaking of masts I broke my 430 today (drop shape 80% carbon). It broke at the ferrule. The penis bit broke off. No idea why. It was a bit of a surprise. Its out of warranty I think.
I was thinking I could grind the remnants away and perform a penile reconstruction.
I was thinking I could scrounge a piece of another broken mast and cut a bit a tad smaller in diameter than I need and build it up with an additional layer of carbon and stick it in there.
Has anyone done such a repair before. If so, how'd it go?
yeah i broke a ferule on a drop shape (in warranty thought)
trick to get masts apart:
use a prusic type climbing knot. (make a loop and wrap it around the mast a bunch of times then back through itself) with a cam strap or some climbing tape, tie it to something imoveable, in this case a 80 series land cruiser.
Do the same now with another peice of tape on the other end of the mast, and tie it to a car, in this case, a hilux.
Now put the hilux in low range, put a hoody on each end of the mast for pading, then drive.
be warned it will pop with an exceptional explosion.
Panda,
Don't like the idea of pulling apart using 2 cars. I've always thought they needed twisting. (once they get started, it usually gets easier)
The best method is to get as many guys as you can holding onto each section and twisting in opposing directions, rather than pulling, until it gets started. If it doesn't budge, give it a few "taps" around the ferule and add more people!
I've seen masts that have been given up on, get a second chance at life using this method.If When you get it apart, give the ferule(s) a light sand before you take it out again.
-Let us know how you eventually do it!!
Put the mast between 2 chairs and sit on it at the join to make it bend. The join on the underneath side will open up slightly. Stick a matchstick or something in the gap and then stand up. Roll the mast arond 180 degrees and do the same on the other side. A few times with slightly bigger things jammed in the gap will open it enough to pull them apart. Works reaaly well.
i've done this two or three times now. a highly technical method of getting my masts apart. if there is any split showing rub some dishwashing detergent into it and leave it over night (not vital). okay now the hard part, put one end of the mast into a vice (i found skinny end better because you can grip the thick end better) then i rounded up about ten other blokes (i did it in the school tech center) and just got them to twist and pull the thicker half while i sat there with a flat head screwdriver and a hammer just hitting the crack apart (apparently sharp movements like this make a difference, so i was told). Yeah so haven't been beaten yet anyway, just my idea thats all lol.
Bubs
Always rinse both halves in fresh water immediately before assembly.
Yes, people will look at you funny, but you'll have the last laugh...
Hey, when did I hit 1000 posts??? 
I would honestly avoid doing anything that induces undue stresses through a mast. IE putting it in a vice, slinging it to cars, jumping on it, hitting it etc. The twist method with aid of booms or more people is by far the easiest on the mast. There is no mast that can not be pulled apart by this method by either applying more people or more booms :D Note: don't over clamp the booms either, just normal clamping force, if it spins, add more booms...or people.
A 3 piece mast seems like a great idea to me..
If it gets stuck in one joint, you still have a 2 piece mast!
How come there's no mention of the water pressure method yet? Basically an arrangement of suitable plumbing fittings, some hose clamps, and your garden variety city water supply. Turn the tap on, and wait for all the crap to be flushed out of the join, and eventually the mast will slide right apart.
No cars, trucks, hilux's, or 20 men needed.
No damaged mast.
Just go the Boa ! ! i ($10 fix) its a one possibly two man job if its as tight as suggested.
Good idea to wash the sand and especially the salt of with fresh water if possible before assembly.
This is the official way to undo a two piece mast which is stuck
1. Try and twist it apart yourself.
2. Get a friend to twist the other end.
3. Let your friend twist on his own
4. Stand the mast on its end and jiggle
5. Let third friend jiggle mast on its end.
6. A crowd is now forming and pack mentality is taking over. Seven booms now hang off your mast.
7. Let one of the crowd pour coke in the gap and do alot of jiggling.
8. Someone turns up from nowhere with a oxy acetylene tank and tries to burn it apart.
9. You give up and tie it to your roof in one piece.
10. When you get home your wife gets it apart in two seconds flat with some nappisan.
I do notice when I watch some people rig that they are a little careless when inserting the mast and sometimes the open end digs into the dirt and they dont' bother cleaning it out, but really...
But if its perfectly clean then what gives?
OK, I've tried holding the tip and wobbling, actually opened up a small gap. I then placed a screwdriver in and opened a little bit more before... ouch, carbon splinter. Very, very minor damage.
- Have added silicon spray but on second thoughts will break out the WD40 tonight.
- Will add tape around join from now on, not just on masts that separate when rigging.
- Will rinse with fresh water each time.
- Will get a boa thing, but keen to try the icicle hitch just 'cause it looks impressive.
- Will ask for help next session. Will bring beers/cookies.
Always wrap a single layer of high-quality electrical tape ($3) around the join before you rig. Keeps the sand out and makes sure it stays snug while you feed it up the luff. Your mast will always come apart afterwards.
