Mine are just like yours. They were in the mast when we bought the boat, so I don't know how they got in. I'm pretty sure I could pull them out, but I'd need pliers to do it.
Mainsail settup
- Thread starter dobrosailor
- Start date
shouldn't have to resort to brute force-- two options looking at it from here. 1) relieve the opening a bit to let your stop slide in or 2) revert to a alternate slide (photos above) that would pass the opening. Sorry I don't have the mast track and my sail stop readily available for comparisons sake. I literally have never had to think about it in my particular instance.......
@Gene Neill may be on to the obvious-- quite possibly the slides came up from the bottom: given the fact we step often, the mast gate may not have been designed to take the slide direct....... (always knew he was a genius in disguise...)
@Gene Neill may be on to the obvious-- quite possibly the slides came up from the bottom: given the fact we step often, the mast gate may not have been designed to take the slide direct....... (always knew he was a genius in disguise...)
Sooooo....if that is the case, does anyone know a source for smaller round sail stops? The smaller Davis Stops #2351 are 3/8" FLAT. Would that work, or does it have to be a round stop?
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/davis-instruments--sail-track-stops--P002_068_001_505
Really? Pliers? That just made our eyebrows go up. Interesting. So not easily taken out-able. hmmmm....
You guys really are the best. I feel so silly to ask such simple mundane probably obvious questions, and I laughed at @pclarksurf when he said he literally never had to think about it. We haven't either.
It makes perfect sense to have them slide on easily from the bottom when the mast isn't already stepped. Thank you all for engaging me in this.
Siren....I'll stop by the boat tmrro and take a pic and measure what we have, couple/several sail stops there (flat, me thinks, that came w/boat) from PO...hang tight....but keep your pliers handy! You're gonna need 'em for other things anyway!
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AHA. It is becoming much clearer. All this discussion has been very helpful....we now think it is probably by design for the round 1/2" stopper to NOT easily slip out through the mast track opening, but supposed to be installed from the base of the mast prior to stepping. This makes a lot of sense. It would also make a lot of sense for some stops to be flat, maybe like @rpludwig 's. I can just see the P.O. going to West Marine or ordering from CD and having the same head scratching problem I am having, and then ultimately deciding to go with the smaller 3/8" flat design because it DOES fit in the mast track opening AFTER the mast is already up.
Whew. Time for a
. Let me buy a round for all of you...... @pclarksurf @Gene Neill @rpludwig @Jacktar @ScubaGuy2 - he gets 2 for tolerating my crazy mind today trying to figure out this simple problem.
Ummmm .....
Now that I think about it .... there is a cleat mounted in the sail track about a foot up from the bottom of the mast. If your mast is like ours, it's a pretty sure bet the stops were not installed from the bottom.
Do I still get a beer anyway??
Now that I think about it .... there is a cleat mounted in the sail track about a foot up from the bottom of the mast. If your mast is like ours, it's a pretty sure bet the stops were not installed from the bottom.
Do I still get a beer anyway??
That's funny you say that.....I noticed the boom vang hardware attached to the bottom of the mast tonight and thought the same thing. You still get a beer, just because you joined the conversation.Ummmm .....Now that I think about it .... there is a cleat mounted in the sail track about a foot up from the bottom of the mast. If your mast is like ours, it's a pretty sure bet the stops were not installed from the bottom.
Do I still get a beer anyway??
Oh, reallllly?? Interesting. So give it a little push, and it will pop right in....but how do I get it out? Pliers? I'm flattered you chimed into this discussion. Thank you very much for your input!!!
Was the slot different on the old pre 1977 mast vs the 1977+ mast ?
I've got a PDF of the later mast profile from Catalina. Hoping to get a PDF copy of the older drawing too.
I've got a PDF of the later mast profile from Catalina. Hoping to get a PDF copy of the older drawing too.
Were you ever able to get the 1/2" Davis stops to fit into the mast? I'm looking for sail stops as well and was about to buy the same 1/2" Davis stops myself.
Pull.That's funny you say that.....I noticed the boom vang hardware attached to the bottom of the mast tonight and thought the same thing. You still get a beer, just because you joined the conversation.
Oh, reallllly?? Interesting. So give it a little push, and it will pop right in....but how do I get it out? Pliers? I'm flattered you chimed into this discussion. Thank you very much for your input!!!
The round sail stop can be pushed-in and pulled-out with a good grip. But if it doesn't work for you, go flat..whatever you can make work.
@Hardhead - YES!!! I was!!! It works perfectly!! I feel like such a goober because I didn't figure it out the first time. It does just take a little push, and it goes right in. Don't be scared to really push. The 1/2" Davis stops work beautifully.
(and it's a good thing, because our local West Marine was sold out of the 3/8" Flat Stops.)
I built this mast gate as my new sail came with taller slugs and stacked higher than before. Quite effective and easy to build.
