Problem lowering the main

[Rabe]

When lowering the main sail, the cars fall out of the track. The "stop" doesn't stay put allows the cars to fall out.

If you zoom in on the photo withe opened track area, you'll see a couple of dimples. These look like someone created them by taking a drill to the track. But these dimples don't create enough resistance to keep a single car from falling out.

If you look at the side picture of the stop, you see that thimble stands a little proud.

I'm thinking that if I drill a hole, the pin will fit in it and then the stop will have enough tension to prevent the cars from pushing past and falling out.

Any thoughts?

 

[JoeWhite]

I believe the stop bracket is upside down. If you can turn it upside down, then do that. Yes you can drill a hole in the mast and use a longer screw to keep the stop from moving down. Use a #10 screw.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Where does the boom's gooseneck sit when you drop the sail? I take it you are flaking the sail on the boom, but the boom isn't in the picture, so it sits below the track's slot? That would mean your sail slugs don't sit all the way down to the gooseneck?

It looks like what you want is a track gate to restrict the slot, but allow the slugs to come all the way down. Reefing will also be better with a gate.
Product Review: MastGates Sail Track Gates

-Will

 

[sailme88]

That appears to be a friction stop.. Drill a hole into the mast that would like the stop bolt to remain...

 

[Joe]

You need a "mast gate cover"

 

[Rabe]

That appears to be a friction stop.. Drill a hole into the mast that would like the stop bolt to remain...

Thanks! That's what I thought.

 

[RoyS]

Here are photos of my mast track gate. I have no idea where it came from.

 

[isaksp00]

If it were mine, I'd choose between adding a gate vs turning your existing stop upside down (to prevent any slides from entering the gate area and falling out) based on how the sail flakes when the stop is working. If the stop is too high to let the slides down to properly stow the main, and it looks like you could do so if they go as low as the lower track allows, I'd use gates.