How do I fit a gate on the mast

Quidi Vidi

Quidi Vidi

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Hi again, my 2nd query is about a mast gate, basically I don't have one and all the slides fall out of the track whenever I lower or raise the main unless I feed them across with one hand whilst trying to pull the halyard with the other. I have no idea what make of mast it is so I assume I will have to try and fashion something using my limited DIY skills. Could anyone advise me on making one and where to start with this project please? IE what metal to use, how to fasten to the mast, any snags I should avoid etc
 
The simplest way if there are not any fittings currently, is to drill two holes just above where the slot narrows to the track and insert a split pin. Ties the pin on with a bit of cord so you don't lose it. You may find your mast already drilled if it does not have a gate.
 
That's simple, drill a small hole thro the "lips" of the slot near the bottom (just above where it opens out for the slides to come out) & slip a split pin thro it.

Open the pin legs VERY SLIGHTLY before you put it in so that you can pinch them shut to insert it but it opens enough to hold it in place while sailing. Tie the eye of the split pin to a short thread & tie it to the gooseneck fitting so it doesn't go missing.

My Pentland has this on the Mizzen & it is very effective.
 
There is also a little metal slider that slides into the mast groove, tightened by a knurled nut. This is perhaps a little easier to get in than a pin in a bouncy sea. But be sure to tie it on as well - otherwise (here I speak from experience) your overpriced little purchase will last about 45 minutes and then become just another votive offering to the sea gods.
 
Thanks everyone, the pin is a good idea however the gate/ opening is well above the goose neck so when I raise the main most of the slides start below the opening. I then have to feed them across as I hoist, I suppose I could feed them across 1st and then hold them above the opening with the pin prior to hoisting, is this what you mean? Then lower them onto the pin and feed them across manually upon lowering the main prior to tying it to the boom?
We are down the boat tomorrow so will try and take some photo's
 
The split pin has worked well for me on the mizzen, secured with waxed whipping twine, which seem to last for ever. An alternative, I have wondered about a drop-nose pin, but that would be a much more expensive solution.
 
I suspect most of the posts so far have misunderstood the problem. As did a boatyard when I asked them to fix the same issue on my mast (while they were doing another job), and they made a slug with a knurled nut which blocks the track, as would a split pin or drop nosed pin through. This is useless as it locks the sail either up or down, when the issue is wanting it easily moved from up to down and vice versa.

I guess the OP has the same issue as us. The slot in the mast opens up wider a couple of feet or so above the boom for about six inches. Probably originally designed to take a rope luffed sail. Now, sail slides can be fed into this slot as you hoist the main (if you have three hands), but when you lower the main they tend to fall out, whereas you want them to continue to slide down so you can leave the sail on the mast while down. When you hoist the main, even if you start with the slides in the slot, they tend to jump out as they are passing the wider opening.

So what is needed is something to close the wider gap to the same as the mast slot generally, while having some sort of 'lockable' opening to get sail slides in or out when needed

On a previous boat, the issue had been addressed as follows. A strip of stainless steel about inch and a half wide and about 2mm thick was pop-rivetted in place up either side of the slot, effectively closing the slot to the same width as the rest of the mast. On one side only, the strip stopped short of the bottom of the wider opening, just enough to get one sail slide in at a time. This small gap is then closed, once the slides have all been fed in and sail is hoisted, by a small rectangle of the same stainless plate. This pivots on a screw or rivet, and has a slot in through which a bolt with a wing-nut or knurled bolt protrudes, so that the plate can be pivoted open or closed. When closed it is clamped in place by tightening the nut. Once closed the sail will slide up and down without falling out of the slot, and if needed (for reefing, or to remove the sail altogether) the small gap can be opened again by undoing the nut or bolt and swinging the small plate to one side to get the slides out. Sounds complicated, but if only I had a picture you would instantly understand.

I have seen fancy hinged gates on some masts, but guess they are made to fit particular masts.
 
Tranona said:
The simplest way if there are not any fittings currently, is to drill two holes just above where the slot narrows to the track and insert a split pin. Ties the pin on with a bit of cord so you don't lose it. You may find your mast already drilled if it does not have a gate.
Click to expand...

THis is how my mast is set up - cheap and easy :)
 
Bower15 said:
Thanks everyone, the pin is a good idea however the gate/ opening is well above the goose neck so when I raise the main most of the slides start below the opening.
Click to expand...
Does seem that it was designed for a proper mast gate.
Google Selden Mast Gate for an example. With these you push it in to allow the slides in. When it has popped back the slides can travel up and down through the gate.
 
LittleSister said:
On a previous boat, the issue had been addressed as follows. A strip of stainless steel about inch and a half wide and about 2mm thick was pop-rivetted in place up either side of the slot, effectively closing the slot to the same width as the rest of the mast. On one side only, the strip stopped short of the bottom of the wider opening, just enough to get one sail slide in at a time. This small gap is then closed, once the slides have all been fed in and sail is hoisted, by a small rectangle of the same stainless plate. This pivots on a screw or rivet, and has a slot in through which a bolt with a wing-nut or knurled bolt protrudes, so that the plate can be pivoted open or closed. When closed it is clamped in place by tightening the nut. Once closed the sail will slide up and down without falling out of the slot, and if needed (for reefing, or to remove the sail altogether) the small gap can be opened again by undoing the nut or bolt and swinging the small plate to one side to get the slides out. Sounds complicated, but if only I had a picture you would instantly understand.

I have seen fancy hinged gates on some masts, but guess they are made to fit particular masts.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. I too have the exact same problem and need exactly this solution. I was planning on approaching a chap I know to make me a similar thing. Do you have a photo anywhere, or could you possibly take one for us to look over? Sounds ideal.

Thanks again.
 
Here's a couple of phots. Not very good, but best I can do for now.

The photos show the strips fixed in place either side, but the opening/closing plate is mising from the bottom right hand side. (Note the screw holes you can see for this plate are in inappropriate positions for pivoting it out of the way, which was making it difficult for us to replace it. I now plan to either make an opening/closing plate that slides in places from below, or make new strips and put the opening on the other side) The arrangement I had on a previous boat was similar, but more neatly done.

Hope this helps.
 
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LittleSister said:
I guess the OP has the same issue as us. The slot in the mast opens up wider a couple of feet or so above the boom for about six inches. Probably originally designed to take a rope luffed sail. Now, sail slides can be fed into this slot as you hoist the main (if you have three hands), but when you lower the main they tend to fall out, whereas you want them to continue to slide down so you can leave the sail on the mast while down. When you hoist the main, even if you start with the slides in the slot, they tend to jump out as they are passing the wider opening.

So what is needed is something to close the wider gap to the same as the mast slot generally, while having some sort of 'lockable' opening to get sail slides in or out when needed
Click to expand...

My issue as well - like the OP (and you) I have an old boat that at sometime has been converted from bolt rope to slugs, but where the mast opening is about a foot or more above the boom....

At the moment I use the pin and just accept that the sail furls some way above the boom - I have a sail cover that has been customised to account for this....

What I want, and I think the OP does as well - is a detachable mast gate that can be fitted into the opening so as to close it once I've bent the sail on, but which has a slot so I can still raise and lower the sail....

I have pictures of one but it was custom made (and my mast is old enough that I'd have to do the same) and the person who sent it to me told me it was expensive..

IMG_0004-trimmed.jpg
 
Bower15 said:
Hi again, my 2nd query is about a mast gate, basically I don't have one avoid etc
Click to expand...

Hi
The slider gate gap on your mast may look like this below, measure the two 'widths' (internal and external) and 'depth' and 'Height' and you should be able to buy a gate lock at most decent chandlers OR take a sail slide in with you as that will help them also.

Mike

DSCN0926.jpg
 
Fantasie 19 said:
I have pictures of one but it was custom made (and my mast is old enough that I'd have to do the same) and the person who sent it to me told me it was expensive..

IMG_0004-trimmed.jpg
Click to expand...

Those plates, with their knurled nuts, are like the single opening/closing plate on my previous boat, but that also had the closing strips fitted above, similar to my photos. I can't think it would cost very much to have such a thing made, the only problem is getting the boat and the metalworker in close proximity!
 
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