removing mast step pin

[hunkydory]

Does anyone have any tricks for removing the mast step pin? We lowered the mast for the first time on our 95 23.5 and everything went smoothly except for getting the pin out. We even played around with the angle of the mast, raising it up a bit for less tension on the pin, but still had a really tough time.

 

[Bobbi Ullinger]

I've always lowered the mast all the way to resting in the crutch, then while pulling the pin with one hand using a twisting motion, gently rock the mast back and forth with the other hand. This will usually work without too much effort.

 

[hunkydory]

Thanks! We'll give it a shot.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

large rubber mallet

my H260 came with a large rubber mallet in the cockpit locker, I could not figure out why it was there until I put the mast up and down, works quite well to tap the pin in or out.

 

[Tom L]

I have a little trouble with this too. I found that when the mast is in my crutch is pushing it just slightly to the port (left side looking front). Since I am raising and lowering my mast single handed I solved the problem by tying a rope to the top of the crutch, pulling it to the starboard and tying it off to the rear cleat. It still takes a little rocking of the mast with one hand while I tug the pin with the other, but I haven't needed a hammer yet.

 

[cephius (Dave)]

I find that on my H260 the furled jib sitting on the spreader puts a twisting bind on the pin. By rocking the spreaders back and forth I can find the sweet spot that does not require a mallet to remove it.

 

[BrianW]

On my H26, with the mast on the crutch, I tie a small line onto the end of the right spreader to counterbalance my furler weight and put a little tension on it and tie the other end of the line to the stern rail. Just a slight realignment does it enough for me to do this solo. The pin comes out with a tiny bit of help from a pair of vice grips on the pin while rotating it back and forth and pulling it outward with the same motion. Brian

 

[George H260]

Brute Force won't work

We all know that the pin binds because the mast is not square to the bracket side to side and fore and aft.

It helps to have someone help level the spreaders and make sure the mast is in line with the boat. I also spray a little silicone lube on the pin before lowering it. A screwdriver on one side helps align the hole when working the pin out.

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