Mast Gate Woes

[jviss]

@Sean K , maybe you can help me with this.

My mast gate, the widening of the slot for the sail slides just above the boom, is closed with a couple of mostly flat stainless steel 'gates,' I guess you call them. The slides don't fall out, but some almost always hang up in that area and require one to be on deck at the mast to raise the main. If they worked well, if the slides could pass that gate without local encouragement, I could raise and lower the sail from the cockpit, which would certainly make single handing better, and sailing that much more enjoyable.

Can you please tell me what kind of gate you have, and if it works well.

Anyone else with an Offshore Spars rig?

Anyone solve a similar problem?

Thanks!

jv

 

[Rick486]

Take a look here and see if one of these might be of help.

MetalMast Mainsail Gates

 

[jviss]

Take a look here and see if one of these might be of help.

MetalMast Mainsail Gates

Thanks, I'll take a look.

 

[Hayden Watson]

I have the same problem with my new mainsail but those shown at MetaMast would be worse than what I already have. Mine a pretty slim and work great for the typical white nylon slugs but at the bull batten pockets, I opted for AllSlip slides which have an outside support slide face and the gap between is too small to fit over the gate. I need something that doesn't extend outward past the mast. I remember seeing some plastic gates that fit inside the mast and are flush on the outside but cannot find them now that I need them.

 

[Hollyberry]

You'll probably need a rig-manufacturer-specific mast gate - unless you can get something custom made. We had a Selden rig on the last boat and that gate worked well, it's a 'spring loaded' keeper that aligns the slots unless you push it open to remove a slug. It's meant for the cutout on a selden rig, but could perhaps be retrofitted???

Another thing to look at might be to try a different design of sail slug/slider. I once had a used J105 Quantum main that had longer than normal slugs and seemed less likely to fall out (but also less easily pushed into the gate)

To have the sail jam up there every time would be very vexing!!

 

[Timm R Oday25]

I had the same issue . I solved it simply by using a small piece of aluminum door trim . Easy to cut with almost any saw . I have several spares in case
I loosen the thumbscrew just a little too far.It's been known to happen

 

[All U Get]

Picture please.