Doug,
I learned to sail on an old "Sandbagger work Catboat" I went up the
mast many time on the Hoops to free the Boom Jaw. It was my Job to keep
it Greased. If it stuck it was me that had to free it.
http://community.webtv.net/tassail/ThomPage
http://community.webtv.net/tassail/Pneuma