H34: removing Kenyon mast head

[hunter34austin]

I was looking at various older posts about Kenyon mast heads and mine looks a little bit different. My question is how do I remove the plate on top of the mast head? Is it as simple as removing the two bolts on the side of the mast or do I need to drill out the rivets on top?



None of my electrical on the mast works so I'm planning to unstep the mast sometimes next year and replace all wiring.

thank you & happy new year!

 

[Allan12210]

I had mine off in 1996. As I recall only the bolts hold it on. I looked an did not take any pictures of that detail.

 

[Capt Robbie]

FYI

Kenyon mast on most of the h34 1983 - 1985 had an aluminum wiring Chanel or extrusion molded into the mast. If yours is this type it is located behind the sail slug track. If I remember correctly the gooseneck has to be remove and I believe a set screw underneath the gooseneck has to be removed.
After both gooseneck and set screw are removed, the entire sail track extrusion can slide out in one piece. The wiring Chanel should now be exposed. If my memory is correct I believe the wiring Chanel stops just sort of the mast head and you may have enough working space to run the wires thru the mast head without removing it.

Keyon did this to eliminate the noise of wires clanking internally inside the mast, plus quick and easily wiring, inspection.

It's been approximatly 35 plus years sence I've remove this sail track extrusion to wire the mast head so my memory isn't what it use to be.

Hope this helps.

 

[jssailem]

@hunter34austin No experience with your specific mast. What I have seen is that mast heads slip inside of the mast extrusion. This provide strength and maintains the form of the aluminum and to the extrusion. The side bolts stop the masthead from coming out of the aluminum mast. When trying to remove the mast head you will need to grab and wiggle the piece. It will have some corrosion on the part that slides inside the mast. Doing its 40-50 feet in the air is a last choice but is has been done.

I can attest that rewiring the mast is a lot easier on the ground. It also lets you clean out the garbage from inside the mast. While you are changing out the wires, take time to clean up the other fixtures. All of the cleats, sheaves, and winches etc. can all be removed, cleaned and serviced. Then reinstalled. You'll be good to go for many years into the future.

 

[shemandr]

And then paint it...

 

[Artey1]

Yes 100% remove the two bolts on the side up there that also hold the sheaves and some light love taps with a rubber mallet and it will come off