27 Mast Gate Options

[shank]

I have an 82 Catalina 27 and I have trouble reefing the mainsail because I can't pull the sail down low enough to the boom without the slugs falling out of the mast slot.

I bought the "Mastgater" from Catalina Direct but couldn't get it to work because it was pinching the slugs too much and the sail wouldn't move freely.

I also contacted Tom at Mastgate.com who sells different products but doesn't have anything for the 27.

I've also read that others have had some luck with fabricating one out of a piece of aluminum carpet trim. I don't know how this would work on the 27, however, because the mast track protrudes from the surface of the mast creating a little lip or ridge.

Anyone have other ideas?

Thanks

 

[danooxnard]

Can you use a dremel tool to elongate the holes that hold the mastgate to the mast? That would allow more adjustment to the slot size.. Dano

 

[Apex]

lots of options via the googles.....stingy sailor image looks interesting, and the elastic held units are a ready to purchase option I thought was a good design.

 

[shank]

Looks like I'll have to try and make one. The mast on the 27 is a unusual in that the track protrudes from the mast and these commercial options won't work with it.

 

[Tally Ho]

Yeah, it looks like you need something to cover the sides of the slot, and still let the slugs slide past.

Greg

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Buy a new mast? Probably not an option ... homemade and sell the patent to mastgate.com!

 

[shank]

The sail slot design on the 27 is kind of dumb. I think the carpet trim hack is going to work for me.

 

[Indysailor]

You could rig jack lines on the luff. It will require a little work by a sailmaker, but it functions very well on mine. No need for a mast gate.