Isomat mainsail gate
- Thread starter Sefuller
- Start date
I would guess the slot in the gate is so the gate can be slid across the mast slot and close the slot. Perhaps use a #10 threaded into the mast with a thumb knob to tighten it? Then you can loosen it, slide it back, and open the gate when you want? If it does not slide far enough, perhaps widen the screw slot in the gate?
I understand that I need to install the thumbscrew to make my gate functional, so when the gate is pushed toward the center the slides will not be able to pass. When the gate is pushed to the side, the slides can pass (as they need to do in order to reef) however as they pass they can also pop out, because although the gate is covering half the slot, the side away from the gate is still open, so the slides can pivot out of the track. Does anyone with an Isomat mast have a similar arrangement?
Our 1985 Isomat mast had the cutout only on one side, and had the movable plate on the other side. Unfortuately the plate was held to the mast by a stainless thumbscrew, which welded itself to the mast and could never really get tight enough to keep the plate in the right place. Maybe Isomat was iterating its design through the years.
I wonder if you could get a second plate for the other side to keep the slides in place?
I wonder if you could get a second plate for the other side to keep the slides in place?
A friend of mine who worked for Kenyon Isomat in Charlotte when in business once told me to take two pieces of aluminum long enough one for each side making sure the edges were round and screwing them in place to keep the sail slides from popping out making sure when dropping that the sail slides did not rest there when reefing. He said how often are you going to remove the mainsail? Food for thought.
Catalina sells this exact item! Not easily removed, but then again...
I have used it. It allows all the slides to fall all the way down.
I use a thumbscrew stop now, just above the gate, and it works fine too, but it holds the slides above. No big deal. The sail still fits in the cover.
Sef,
I had a similar problem on my C30 & my new main several years back.
Here's a simple fix pal.
Drill-n-tap your mast 1" above the top of the slot opening with a 1/4-20 threaded hex head bolt-n-washer. If the track is too narrow for this, drill your hole near the top of your slot with a washer that fits & will not allow the slide to pass by. Be careful that the tap is threaded properly.
I use a 1" long S.S. bolt & oversize washer in my track. Remember not to over tighten the bolt so as to avoid stripping the threads (this is where the Never Seize or Lock tight comes into play). Position your hole so that the oversize washer will bottom flat across the track when tightened or if in the slot, the washer is sized to not allow the slides to pass. Coat the threads also because you are working with dissimilar metals. This is called Galvanic Corrosion & S.S. will corrode aluminum over time if not sealed and/or coated properly. This can also quicken when in a salt air environment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion
At times, you will remove & replace this bolt/washer when taking off & putting on your main.
I have also done this for friends on their boats & now, nobody drops slides unless they want to.
Just my opinion if you want an easy project & a simple fix without the grief pal.
CR
I had a similar problem on my C30 & my new main several years back.
Here's a simple fix pal.
Drill-n-tap your mast 1" above the top of the slot opening with a 1/4-20 threaded hex head bolt-n-washer. If the track is too narrow for this, drill your hole near the top of your slot with a washer that fits & will not allow the slide to pass by. Be careful that the tap is threaded properly.
I use a 1" long S.S. bolt & oversize washer in my track. Remember not to over tighten the bolt so as to avoid stripping the threads (this is where the Never Seize or Lock tight comes into play). Position your hole so that the oversize washer will bottom flat across the track when tightened or if in the slot, the washer is sized to not allow the slides to pass. Coat the threads also because you are working with dissimilar metals. This is called Galvanic Corrosion & S.S. will corrode aluminum over time if not sealed and/or coated properly. This can also quicken when in a salt air environment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion
At times, you will remove & replace this bolt/washer when taking off & putting on your main.
I have also done this for friends on their boats & now, nobody drops slides unless they want to.
Just my opinion if you want an easy project & a simple fix without the grief pal.
CR