spreaders bracket

[bhstech]

My Catalina 27 spreader bracket is bent. I've had this 86 TR version for 6 years now and the strbrd spreader was always a little out of square to the mast. The other side is fine. It was a few degree forward. It is not the spreader tube. It is the SS bracket. The previous owner stored the boat with the mast laying on the boat and covered it with a tarp. A heavy snow bent the bracket. I store it with the mast off the boat and the spreaders detached and in a rack.

This year the spreader is even more out of position. These brackets are very expensive and come in pairs only. I have access to metal working tools and the knowledge and I can straighten it, no problem except I can't get it off the mast. There are 3 through bolts. I got the top 2 out no, problem but the 3/8 bolt in the bottom where the lower shrouds are attached won't come out. I know there is a spacer inside the mast at this bolt position and directly under the area of the spreaders. Does anyone have any ideas on why this is a problem and what can be holding it? I can rotate the bolt with wrench and removed the nut with no difficulty. I put a wooden block on the end of the bolt and rotated it while smacking it with a hammer and got it to come out about a 1/4 of an inch. Thoughts?

[JoeRobertJr]

I wonder if the force that bent the spreader bracket also bent the shaft of the bolt. Having nothing else to go by, I would be tempted to keep at it with that same technique that got you the 1/4" so far. Best wishes!