DIY Mast Gate Ideas

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nrmlspeed

.
Jun 6, 2012
72
Catalina 22 Lake Pleasant
I have been looking at external and internal mast gates for reefing. These little puppies are quite simple looking and cost more than I want to spend. Has anyone fabricated one? Just looking for some ideas.

This is basically a blocking plate to prevent the lower sail slugs from exiting the mast when reefing. Without it, you need to go to the mast to insert the sail slugs when removing the reef.
 
Last edited:
caguy

caguy

.
Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
I made mine for my Catalina 27 from: 1/16 inch flat stock. with a vice and hammer I bent them to fit. I used 6-32 screws to hold them in place. I only need to remove one screw for 10 inch open enough that I can remove the sail. There are a lot of different mast configurations so you will have to be creative when you make yours. The only advice I have to offer is that you avoid placing the screws or whatever fasteners you decide to use on the face of the track, because the slugs will hang up on them. Instead locate your fasteners on the side of the channel. Having add Drremel tool at the site to smooth the final transitions is helpful.
I'll post picts later.
 
StanFM

StanFM

.
Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
FWIW I made mine out of aluminum threshold from ACE hardware... just have one on the port side of the slot.

Stan
 

Attachments

W

watercolors II

.
Dec 23, 2008
771
Catalina 22 Central Penna.
perfect fit

As StanFM did I made mine out of a door threshold for carpet from the hardware store. You’ll have to make 2 for both sides of the slot on the second generation masts. Look at Stan’s photo, I added a third screw in the middle to keep from pulling a slug out through the middle when I use the outhaul excessively, this metal is very thin and will bend very easy but, it is the exact curvature of the mast at this location so it just needs to be trimmed and drilled for a perfect fit.
 
caguy

caguy

.
Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
StanFM said:
FWIW I made mine out of aluminum threshold from ACE hardware... just have one on the port side of the slot.

Stan
Click to expand
Stan, do the slugs hang up on the screw heads? Mine did and I would have to feed some of the slugs through as I raised the main. It wasn't a big deal on the C-27 because my main raises with a cable winch on the mast and I have to be at the mast to raise the main anyway. But if I ever wanted to run the lines back to the cockpit and raise it there it would be problematic I moved the screws to the sides and solved the issue.
 
StanFM

StanFM

.
Jun 26, 2012
276
S2 7.3 Lake Pleasant, AZ
Haven't had an issue with the screws per se, but that may be due to my slugs not sliding very smoothly anywhere on the mast! I should really make another gate, and this time use one on each side instead of the single which has to intrude more into the slot.

Stan
 
agprice22

agprice22

.
Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
I did the CD mast gaters, and I think I like Stan's better! The CD mast gaters have a thick wire top and bottom you have to trim and shape to create the transition. I guess they did it that way to make it easy, but it just ends up making it less smooth. Getting some aluminum stock from the hardware store or carpet stop seems satisfactory. All you need to know is the length of your mast slot.

Andrew
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom