Need help with mast head removal

[hellosailor]

The ridiculous design actually works fairly well: Strong, cheap, light, compared to any options.

But don't hold out on us, how did you get it off?

[Cheechako]

just lube the new bolt/compression tube with Lanokote. (some mast heads are just held in place with a few small screws... the rigging holds it on!)
In your case... it looks like the compression tube is the only thing keeping it from moving side to side inside the mast ... are you going to have it blasted clean etc?

But don't hold out on us, how did you get it off?
He mentioned above that he drilled the ends of the bolt off so he could slide the masthead out of the mast...

[Captndan714]

I was thinking the same thing that the rigging holds it on. I will still through-bolt it when I re-install it, but wont cinch it down to the point that it deforms the mast. The seat in the mast also holds it in place preventing any lateral movement, so I dont think the compression tube is necessary for that reason either.

There is some sort of black paint that was used on it in the past which you can see in the pictures, but I can pick it off with my fingernail. Is there a recommended coating for it once scraped clean or should I leave it as is?

[DeepFrz]

Use a good coat of lanolin or Tef-Gel. Wire brush it with a grinder to get rid of all the corrosion before.

I also would not skip the compression tube. But use the same product on the bolt.