Mainsail mast entry gate issue

[Sinc]

We took the main off yesterday for the first time since buying the boat and had some trouble removing the sliders. The mast gate has a spring loaded centre which moves inward to let the slides out - nothing unusual here - but the bottom of the gate moves in giving plenty of room whereas the top has limited movement. There was a new mast fitted about 10 yrs ago and I wonder whether the gate has been fitted upside down. The Selden site is pretty inconclusive. Can anyone with a similar gate throw any light?



Thanks, Graham

 

[Yngmar]

Yep, it's upside down. You also can just remove it entirely when you want to take the sail off - all the slugs will then just fall right out as they come down. It's mainly helpful when putting the sail back on, because the spring-loaded tab keeps the slugs from slipping out the bottom, but lets you insert them easily.

 

[Sinc]

Thanks Yngmar. That was the implication from the Selden site but the pics aren't clear enough to be sure.

Do you by any chance know how to remove it. Again not obvious to me and I was reluctant to apply too much force.

 

[Yngmar]

It's just held in by some plastic tabs on the sides and should come right out if you pry with a flat screwdriver at the top (the bottom on your upside down one).

 

[Sinc]

Thanks for that - I'll try it this week.

 

[Quandary]

Push the top inward and up (provided it is the right way up) a broad screwdriver helps here, then pull down and out,bottom first . Put it somewhere safe when you get it out, not too safe in case, like me, you can not find it in the spring.

 

[Poecheng]

Yes that appears to be upside down.

Having said that, in your particular circs, I am not sure that it matters as it is so near the boom.

If you google Selden mast gate and click on 'images' there are a couple of diagrams showing how to get it out but it is as Quandry says. Press in the 'pressable' end then slide the whole thing up (in your case down) the mast track and out it comes.

The 'spring' is closed cell foam and can easily be lost down the track so you might want to put something to block the track immediately above the boom.

I don't think you will need it but for others who may look at this thread....
I lost the 'spring' on one occasion and tried with all sorts of foam to get it to work.
Every time I hoisted the FB main, the battens would exert a pressure on the spring-loaded gate and compress it in enough to prevent the slide's smooth transfer to the mast on the upper side of the gate. It meant I had to be at the mast to joggle the slide on and over the mast gate. Not ideal at all.

I tried everything but it seemed to be that a mast gate insert with sufficient spring power to withstand the compression of the battens on the hoist could not actually be inserted into the mast gate fitting.

This summer I was determined to get jobs like that resolved and eventually found that Selden had addressed this recognised problem - FB main compressing the gate and stopping going any further - and came up with a solution which is a retrofit solid piece which is screwed in and out. Part #505-516-01
See for example, http://www.getrigged.co.uk/sail-entry-gates-104-c.asp

I got hold of one and got it fitted that day and, bingo, it is perfect. Now, to get the sail off I just have to remove a couple of allen screws and the solid fitting comes out and out come the slides.