Stuck. Help with Macwester mizzen stepping know-how

[yodave]

Hi, using a mobile phone in a canal. Mast stepping failed as our mizzen mast won't come down. I have a photo which I'll try to upload ASAP. Mast sits on a small plinth. The are two bolts with 4 nuts. These go through a metal housing/case with two edges to fix the mast in place. It looks as though removing the nuts and sliding the bolts through should free the mast, but the bolts won't budge. Question: are the bolts supposed to move or am I missing something that's stopping them move?

Photo as soon as I can figure out how to upload it from my mobile. Many thanks and apologies for not being able to reply to all answers. Battery on my phone needs the electricity on the other side of the motorway. Thanks again.

 

[sarabande]

i suspect corrosion from internal condensation running down the mast.

Heat the bolts, apply WD40, gentle then increasingly heavy treatment with a soft face hammer ( or piece of ply).




Can you slacken off the shrouds and then rock the mast to and fro ? That might break the corrosion bond.

 

[yodave]

Thanks v much sarabande sounds plausible. No joy with photo yet as the site tells me photo is too big despite me editing/ reducing on my iPhone as best I can. I'll keep trying. Thanks again!!

 

[guernseyman]

I'm finding it difficult to imagine what the problem could be.
Hence I wonder if you have slackened the fixed rigging - if you have the mizzen slanted fore or aft the lateral pressure on the bolts could make them difficult to remove.

 

[yodave]

Many thanks to both of you. Sarabande was right. Stainless steel bolts through an aluminium fitting. Corrosion the problem. A good friend turned up late on. We just finished. He used the nuts and spacers to edge the bolts out turn by turn. Should get the masts down tomorrow. Thanks again!!!

 

[William_H]

The bolts do not need to be a tight fit. All the thrust of the mast should be onto a base not through the bolts in shear. Hence if the set up is as I imagine from your description the bolts only keep the base in location fore and aft and possibly sideways. My mast has a 1/4ww bolt in a 3/8 or more diameter hole so very sloppy fit but this is not a concern when the mast is up. So bolt can be removed easily. good luck olewill