Can't remove mast head - help

Can't remove H14 mast head. Ive drilled out the rivets completely, but no amount of hammering it with a a wooden block will make it pop off. Any tips or tricks of the trade out there? What could be holding it in? TIA

Are you sure that you got the rivets out entirely? Even a small piece can keep the casting from coming free. Best way to remove rivets is to drill the head off with an oversized drill bit (like 3/8” diameter), then use a 3/16” diameter punch to drive the rivet shank into the mast and clear everything out of the hole.

Aluminum or comptip mast?

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If it's stock, not badly corroded, and the rivets are clear, nothing else should be holding it. However, if it's an older boat with previous owners, there's no telling. They may have unnecessarily attached it with 5200, epoxy, or some other adhesive. Any signs of that? Solvents and/or heat may help loosen it but proceed with caution because those can do more harm than good...especially if it's a comp tip.

I've spent lots of time struggling with similar issues, and I feel your pain. Good luck!

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

After a long struggle I was able to get some movement by using a heat gun around the top of the mast. I had drilled out the rivets and knocked the residual into the mast, so no rivet interference. After I got it moving a little I used prying tools to ease it out. There was a coating of some kind that had been put on the joint for water sealing I guess, and that I what made it difficult to move. I think the heat gun maybe expanded the aluminum a little and softened the silicone or whatever it was to allow disassembly. Thanks for your input.

Glad you worked it out. In case you did not know, there is (supposed to be) a foam plug inside the mast just below the masthead. It should be intact and sealed such that there is no need to seal the masthead itself.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16