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Frozen mast

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Created by olskool > 9 months ago, 8 Feb 2018
olskool
QLD, 2444 posts
8 Feb 2018 4:04AM
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Hi guys, so derigging sail. Mast stuck solid with sand. How do i seperate? Tried water from hose. Tried lightly tapping join whilst twisting. Tried hot water on outer. Have heard two booms can be used? Any other ideas?

Faff
VIC, 1165 posts
8 Feb 2018 5:41AM
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2 booms.

Tardy
4919 posts
8 Feb 2018 3:36AM
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My mate ties his to the toe bar .with a slip knot ..you will need two people ...if its stuck good .

once open you will have to give it a light sand ..

last time I was up there most guys where duct taping their mast to stop the sand getting in ..

your sand is so fine up there and it's floating in the water most of the time
.I'm still shaking sand out of my harness and that was 5 years ago
still better than rocks .like I have .

BespokeSam
NSW, 17 posts
8 Feb 2018 7:28AM
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I had one recently that multiple people and 2 booms couldn't shift. Ended up taping a block of wood to one end just above the join and smacking it with a hammer. Just be careful not to hit the mast.

mkseven
QLD, 2309 posts
8 Feb 2018 7:19AM
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might not help now but dont twist the masts unless last resort as that can make problem worse. If you lightly bounce tip of mast on grass or lean against a bench/bin/whatever with towel under it & press down at joint, rotate & repeat a few times normally they'll come apart.

olskool
QLD, 2444 posts
8 Feb 2018 7:58AM
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Ive managed to move it about 1mm by using water n bouncing mast base on grass. Can hear it moving. When bouncing it. Thought id use strap type oil filter remover. Wrap it around n crank it up. One on each piece. Failing that the booms gig should provide enough leverage. I hope... No biggie though. A one piece. Just like the old days. Spot of jousting anyone???

mikey100
QLD, 1027 posts
8 Feb 2018 8:05AM
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Like mkseven said... 'bounce n rotate.'
Just keep going as it crushes sand to powder.

Paddles B'mere
QLD, 3586 posts
8 Feb 2018 8:10AM
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Use two booms to get apart and put a run of duct tape around the joint every time you put the mast together in future (first rule of rigging that grand master Waricle taught myself and Adam when we were learning)

PeterHazael
QLD, 50 posts
8 Feb 2018 8:17AM
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Try submerging completely.
Then work gently, won't need much effort.

Imax1
QLD, 4527 posts
8 Feb 2018 8:17AM
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+ 3 , bounce and rotate.

joe windsurf
1480 posts
8 Feb 2018 8:39AM
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+1 bounce n rotate

Ezric
NSW, 183 posts
8 Feb 2018 11:49AM
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Have you tried the upside down 'wobble' technique?

Hold the mast vertical, with the mast tip on the grass. Grab it about chest to shoulder high and shake it hard, forward and back to get a good wobble going. The heavier end at the top naturally wants to pull out, and the wiggling at the joint must move the sand a bit at the same time.

A French guy taught me this technique and it can be amazing how well it works. Have seen masts stuck where 3 to 4 big guys pulling each side were stuck but a few wobbles and she was apart. Give it a try.

qldnacra
QLD, 455 posts
8 Feb 2018 11:31AM
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Here we go again. How bloody hard is it to tape the mast joint before you go out. 50mm duct tape costs 2 parts of nothing and takes about 2 seconds to put on. One less problem in the world.

remery
WA, 1885 posts
8 Feb 2018 9:41AM
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Joustin sticks? Tell him he's dreamin.

olskool
QLD, 2444 posts
8 Feb 2018 11:56AM
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Yep i know, tape tape tape. Wasnt in my usual sailboardin car. None at hand. The mast issue is the tip of the iceberg. Same day i lost my carkeys n got nutted while about 300m from shore. Had to swim it back then walk 2km to get my other car to get my stuff home.Thats when mast got sanded. Tide came in n sail was washing in shore break while i was away.What a day!!! Guess thats my bad luck outta the way for awhile.

olskool
QLD, 2444 posts
8 Feb 2018 12:00PM
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Select to expand quote
joe windsurf said..
+1 bounce n rotate



Joe, yet another choice interlude dude. Nice work!! Gotta laugh.

Mark _australia
WA, 22089 posts
8 Feb 2018 10:20AM
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Please don't hit it with things
Carbon is brittle.

olskool
QLD, 2444 posts
8 Feb 2018 12:33PM
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Select to expand quote
Mark _australia said..
Please don't hit it with things
Carbon is brittle.

Ive only tapped firmly with my soft handled sparky screwdrivers.

Mark _australia
WA, 22089 posts
8 Feb 2018 11:15AM
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^^^ Sorry not you - I was referring to some of the brutal suggestions.

Wiggle and twist then maybe resorting to water flow and wiggle has always worked

Mark _australia
WA, 22089 posts
8 Feb 2018 11:16AM
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Select to expand quote
Ezric said..
Have you tried the upside down 'wobble' technique?

Hold the mast vertical, with the mast tip on the grass. Grab it about chest to shoulder high and shake it hard, forward and back to get a good wobble going. The heavier end at the top naturally wants to pull out, and the wiggling at the joint must move the sand a bit at the same time.

A French guy taught me this technique and it can be amazing how well it works. Have seen masts stuck where 3 to 4 big guys pulling each side were stuck but a few wobbles and she was apart. Give it a try.


I like this one but wanna know if it depends on which piece has the male / female ferrule?

olskool
QLD, 2444 posts
8 Feb 2018 3:03PM
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EZRIC you are a LEGEND!! Did the upside down trick on the grass. Grabbed it at chest height n above my head. Shook it violently,repeatedly. Maybe 10sec. Careful of its whip back when you cease shaking. Itll try knock you over.It moved slightly. Shook it about another 6 times. Hey presto UNDONE.
WICKED!!! No cracking noises either. Phew!!! Thought there might be issues putting that much force on the ferrule, it might break?
EZRIC you deserve a BEER!!!
Note 1.hold yr foot at mast tip when shaking.
2.mast tip will dig a hole quite deep in the grass. ( for all you lawn lovers out there)
3.My mast top slid over the base spigot.

choco
SA, 3995 posts
8 Feb 2018 4:12PM
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This guy had the same problem have to keep in mind the upside down trick


seanhogan
QLD, 3424 posts
8 Feb 2018 5:27PM
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Select to expand quote
Ezric said..
shake it hard, forward and back to get a good wobble going.
A French guy taught me this technique and it can be amazing how well it works.



you can trust a french to wobble out of a sticky situation

Faff
VIC, 1165 posts
8 Feb 2018 7:39PM
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The wobble thing is one hell of a great tip. Having said that, only had problems when I forgot to tape the joint...

Ezric
NSW, 183 posts
8 Feb 2018 11:07PM
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Hey Olskool that is great to hear, glad it worked. Looking forward to that beer one day.

Mark my masts are Severne with ferrule on the bottom section of mast, but I reckon it might work both ways. It would be good to hear if it does.

mkseven
QLD, 2309 posts
9 Feb 2018 11:28AM
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i wobble far too much as it is, it definitely wont be pretty if i start wobbling more

mkseven
QLD, 2309 posts
9 Feb 2018 5:12PM
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with twisting just be careful have seen broken ferrule from it & i had a mast which from attempts built up so much heat it became permanently stuck. Some of the ultra light mast tips can elongate slightly so you might be turning it to even tighter, some sand will crush some can cut grooves into your mast. & masts arent really designed to be twisted, when twisting the mast can flex quite a bit maybe up to 90 deg which doesnt help your efforts & loads alot of energy into the mast. Almost every seriously stuck mast ive seen gorrilla'd with has broken within the next few sessions.

& no need to use tape, make sure your mast is free from sand on rigging, difficult in sandy rigging spots that shovel the sand in there, double check it's properly together before downhaul but mostly dont leave your sail in shallow waters edge.

40knots
VIC, 87 posts
9 Feb 2018 11:43PM
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Go to the beach, ask 7 fellow sailers and use them or put say 4 booms that may work any more booms and it will break

good luck.

Mastbender
1972 posts
10 Feb 2018 4:20AM
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Select to expand quote
mkseven said.
& no need to use tape, make sure your mast is free from sand on rigging, difficult in sandy rigging spots that shovel the sand in there, double check it's properly together before downhaul but mostly dont leave your sail in shallow waters edge.



Or away from the water on a sandy beach when it's blowing sand.
But the tape thing is the easiest, so it doesn't matter where you leave the rig.
Most people around my area use electrical tape, not duct tape, no residue, more solid, cheaper, and you can use the same piece of tape several times.

GazMan
WA, 835 posts
10 Feb 2018 9:40AM
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Select to expand quote
Mastbender said..




mkseven said.
& no need to use tape, make sure your mast is free from sand on rigging, difficult in sandy rigging spots that shovel the sand in there, double check it's properly together before downhaul but mostly dont leave your sail in shallow waters edge.







Or away from the water on a sandy beach when it's blowing sand.
But the tape thing is the easiest, so it doesn't matter where you leave the rig.
Most people around my area use electrical tape, not duct tape, no residue, more solid, cheaper, and you can use the same piece of tape several times.


Have resisted taping the join for eons, arguing with others on here that it's unnecessary coz you just have to be more careful rigging up around sand. After the last two stuck mast dramas (which is no drama since I've worked out an easy singlehanded way of getting them apart once home), now using electrical tape every time with one less thing in life to stress me! Also had masts come apart at join most times when sleevng mast up sail and tape has stopped this from happening.

In saying that, 2 each his (or her) own!!!!

Manuel7
1231 posts
10 Feb 2018 12:13PM
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"Frozen mast" started by olskool