Removing masthead

[Tbeeman]

Has anyone done it? And if so how?   Thanks!

[Bob23]

I haven't done that but you probably just drill out the rivets and it should come out, maybe with a little persuasion.
Bob23

[brackish]

I haven't done it, but mine is held on with machine screws, clearance hole in the mast, tapped masthead fitting.  If you look at the antenna/windex bracket I rigged up,  one of the screws in the top of the angle bracket is one of the original screws used for that purpose.  I added the second one, tapping another hole in the fitting.  I think there were only three screws holding it on before I added that one.  If yours is similar should be easy.  If you have rivets, it would be a matter of drilling them out and then tapping for machine screws to go back.

[Tbeeman]

ok cool, I did drill out the 3 rivets and tried knocking it off with a mallet and block but the thing wouldn't budge.  I wanted to see if i was missing anything.  Ill give it another go this afternoon.  Thanks!!!

[skip1930]

I pulled my masthead off years ago. Also the spreaders, ... stripped the 'tube' down to bare nothing so I could clean the anodized tube and wax it.
But that had to be 10 years ago when the boat was new-to-me and I did everything to keep it pristine.

If this is a drill-out job then then just self tap it back together. Where can it go? The masthead has a 'skirt' on it about 3 or so inch long so it slips down into the tube. Sink the screws into the tube. Always predrill a small hole with self tappers as these things tend to snap off the hex head if you don't.

I think I took mine off and popped out the shafts to grease the pulleys. Is that crazy or what?

Response from post below ... I think it just fell out ... maybe a little tapping with a hammer. I like heat for things stuck. Paint strip gun or torch.

skip.

[brackish]

ok cool, I did drill out the 3 rivets and tried knocking it off with a mallet and block but the thing wouldn't budge.  I wanted to see if i was missing anything.  Ill give it another go this afternoon.  Thanks!!!

You might try wrapping a heating pad around the outside of the mast, stuffing a blue ice flexible pad in the cast fitting then give it a wallop.  Doesn't take much differential temp to loosen it up.

[Tbeeman]

Got it.  Thanks for your help.  And brackish what did you use to rig up that antennae/windex piece of awesomeness?

[brackish]

Got it.  Thanks for your help.  And brackish what did you use to rig up that antennae/windex piece of awesomeness?

I bought and installed the VHF antenna it came with the stainless steel angle bracket.  I had a traditional Windex unit and converted it to antenna mount.  For the rotating indicator I used a couple of nylon spacers (the white items under and over the black piece) then used a piece of heat shrink wrap on top to lock it in place.  The lower spacer gives it clearance to the masthead light.  I added a piece of stainless steel sheet to the original angle bracket in order to get a place to mount the angle indicator flags.  I had to cut the post off to get the right height for clearance to the rotating piece.  Everything for the adaptation came from the hardware store.  

If you don't have a traditional Windex you can buy one that is meant to be antenna mounted and save all the adaptation steps.

[brokenotbroken]

Great idea.  I have the traditional Windex and ended up taking it off my boat because birds kept sitting on it and bending it.  I was thinking about buying one that mounts on the VHF antenna but instead I'll do what you did.  Thanks!