Selden mast track gate

[wcarpenter]

I'm trying to remove my main sail (been on since I bought boat last year) When I pressed in the gate to try and get the slides out they are much bigger that the gap available. Application of large screw driver did not help. The whole unit seems to be riveted on and I could drill off the rivet heads and remove, but I feel that is the last resort. Does anybody know of a way to remove the gate without such drastic action?? please

 

[Norman_E]

My mast gate also proved impossible to remove, and at first I could not get the batten cars out of the slot, as they seemed too wide. I found however that by opening the gate and then going to the other side of the mast I could pull the cars toward me so that they could be removed. If this does not work for you then leave the cars and slides in the track and remove the sail from them. If you have the snap together plastic shackles between the slides and the sail they can be forced open with two screwdrivers. Alternatively they are cheap enough to replace if you simply cut them with a stout pair of pliers.

 

[BlueChip]

The moving part of the gate is just a push fit and can be levered out quite easily. If you get that out you should have room to get the slides out.
I know this because we lost one overboard and the replacement just pushed in

 

[wcarpenter]

Thanks Norman, that would be worth a try, would give me more purchase and I might be able to force them out. Otherwise it is the hacksaw or drilling machine.

 

[wcarpenter]

Thank you Blue Chip there is some little knack I've missed. I will not give up.
I know that feeling, the sight of the little piece of equipement I've spent an hour trying to get in or out falling in slow motion over the side. They seem to jump the toe rail as naturally as a race horse!

 

[DanTribe]

Go to www.seldenmast.com
Click on manuals then look for "sail entry", there are some pictures of the gadgets. That may help to see whats going on.

 

[zefender]

Page 46 on the product manual. You may find the rubber spring block thingie might have moved up a bit, restricting your hinge angle. Anyway, a peek at the manual should explain how it works and you can then extract the gate without resorting to the drill!

 

[andy_wilson]

You could always convert to a fixed gate (which means it is removable using 2 screws).

I swapped when I found one of my sails had slides that sometimes escaped the gate on hoisting (or lowering, I forget now).

 

[newtosailing]

I haven't looked at the selden link but at first I had difficulty trying to remove the track gate. The knack is pushing the middle section in as well as down (at the bottom) this then gives rise to the gate slipping down slightly you are then able to take the whole gate out.

 

[wcarpenter]

Thank ,you all for your help and advice.