Man is that comp tip a subborn SOB :)

okay so have been trying to free an old broken comptip from my mast for a few weekends now and frankly it is not budging. Used heat, mallets, tension, curses and prayers, but no go. Someone once suggested grinding it out, but not sure I could get the inside clean enough to take a replacement comptip Any other thoughts would be really appreciated.

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1985 Prindle 16

More power!

Tie the mast base to a tree... the tip to your car bumper (or use a come-along) and pull. Never failed me.

Heavy line wrapped 4-5 times around the tip and also the base areas will prevent slipping and damage from any compression. Takes very little power from a vehicle. Idle in most cases. Pads under the mast to catch it and someone wiggling the joint to break it free.

Come along:

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Stupid question I'm sure but did you take the screws out?

No silly questions - just silly answers - I only saw rivets on the tangs where would the screws be located?

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1985 Prindle 16

Only the very early comptips used screws. The comptip was slightly shorter than the current design and the aluminum extrusion extended a few inches above the mast tang (rather than being cut off right at the mast tang as it is today). There was one screw on each side of the mast that held the tip in place. If they're there, you can't miss them.
If the aluminum extrusion is cut off flush with the top of the mast tang, then the only thing holding your comptip in is the mast tang rivets and adhesive. Did you nock the rivet shanks down into the mast with a punch after you drilled the heads off?

sm

Yes there seem to be no screws and I did knock the rivets completely through - I think it is just really stubborn - will be assaulting it again this weekend

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1985 Prindle 16

Last one I extracted was broke off flush with the upper end of the mast.
Used all the prescribed methods you have tried,and then in desperation,
started driving small flat blade screwdrivers in between the AL extrusion and edge of the tip
(on each side where the flat track and curved sides intersect)
Figured this would for sure disfigure and permanently dent the mast, so was going slow.
Just as I thought I was seeing a crease appearing, the epoxy bond "popped" loose and out she came.

I'd recommend not using this method.
(Thanks to Jeremy for that line )

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Sheet In...Max Out
www.fleet297.org
sailflatlands at gmail dot com

I have taken a few of these apart, one broken, the others not. I have used a tree and a car like Matt suggest, I have used heat to soften up the epoxy. Even with heat, it took a lot of banging and pushing and shoving to start the part moving (dead blow). Once it started, things kept moving, sometimes faster than you would like.

On the broken mast, I chunked out the foam and then chipped out the glass. Once a channel of glass was gone, the rest peeled out with ease.

Why are you taking it out?

Thanks folks - today is D-Day

I am removing it because the previous owner broke it off and I am replacing it

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1985 Prindle 16

SUCCESS!!!!!! I now have a mast minus comptip - Cant wait to get the new one from Jeremy, slap it on and get sailing Will be cleaning and painting the mast tomorrow. I guess an F250 an oak tree and some climbing rope saves the day

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1985 Prindle 16

In retrospect,who you rather have an older style mast without the comtip?I realize that the comtip is required for racing,but I think the all aluminum is stronger.
Bill 404 21SE and '81 16' too

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Bill 404 21SE

yeah maybe, but I prefer the operation of the comptip halyard and also the way the mast head looks (*Petty perhaps but....)

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1985 Prindle 16