Splash!!! Kemp (Selden) mast mainsail feeder?

[Quandary]

It was one of those little tapered black anodised slot feeders with nibs at the top and a bit of rubber as a spring at the back that at you put directly in to the enlarged slot in the mast after you have fitted the sail, nearly every boat I have owned has had one . It bounced once on the deck before committing suicide. I have been googling for a replacement and have looked for it in the Selden catalogue without success, the available version seems not to have nibs, anyone know if they are interchangeable? There seemto be two sizes of some offerings but the online chandler's description seem to be quite vague. A search in here indicates that someone replaced it with two alloy plates screwed either side of the opening. I would have a go with that as a last resort if i can not find the real thing. Surprised it is a problem, surely I am not the only one who has had these things jump out and dive in.

 

[pvb]

Ask a Selden dealer, they're very helpful.

 

[adamlang]

Do you mean this thing:

Selden Sail Entry Gate Tongue - Jimmy Green Marine

Lost mine a few years ago in a similar way, bought two, still got both. Think the bit of rubber can be bought, but also more cheaply made with a strip of the right stuff.

 

[adamlang]

Here's the rubber thing

Seldén Sail Entry Rubber Pad @Technical Marine Supplies

 

[Dan Tribe]

It was one of those little tapered black anodised slot feeders with nibs at the top and a bit of rubber as a spring at the back that at you put directly in to the enlarged slot in the mast after you have fitted the sail, nearly every boat I have owned has had one . It bounced once on the deck before committing suicide. I have been googling for a replacement and have looked for it in the Selden catalogue without success, the available version seems not to have nibs, anyone know if they are interchangeable? There seemto be two sizes of some offerings but the online chandler's description seem to be quite vague. A search in here indicates that someone replaced it with two alloy plates screwed either side of the opening. I would have a go with that as a last resort if i can not find the real thing. Surprised it is a problem, surely I am not the only one who has had these things jump out and dive in.

I'm about to replace mine because I'm changing to fully battened cars. As you say, the the descriptions are vague. Selden page 34 gives 501-501-01 [large] or 503-503-01 [small] but no indication of how large is large or how small is small. Mine is 165mm mm, [stop sniggering!]
You're welcome to my old one but it will be a few weeks before my new sail is ready, so probably not much help.

 

[penfold]

Sounds like it needs to be on a piece of string if it's not positively retained.

 

[Quandary]

Do you mean this thing:

Selden Sail Entry Gate Tongue - Jimmy Green Marine

Lost mine a few years ago in a similar way, bought two, still got both. Think the bit of rubber can be bought, but also more cheaply made with a strip of the right stuff.

Thanks, That looks slightly different, it does not seem to have the little recessed nibs at the top which allow it to pop out flush and the bottom seems to be rounded, it would be good if it was interchangeable, I will see if Jimmy Green can advise me on monday, meantime I will try to get out to the boat and measure the aperture.

Dan, I am fairly sure mine was less than 165mm so that helps as it looks as if I need a small one.

 

[BabaYaga]

If you have, or intend to get, a full batten main with roller batt cars, then the suitable type of mast gate (for an older Seldén mast) looks like in this photo . Also come in two sizes, 505-516-01 (large) and 505-524-01 (small).

 

[eddystone]

Sorry I don't have part numbers but the one with nibs is incompatible with cars, as opposed to sliders. I recall I had to change both the plate which is riveted into the mast and the moving bit as they are mutually incompatible between nibs/no nibs.

 

[adamlang]

Selden's sailmaker's guide offers some help maybe, on page 22, in terms of the sizes.

https://support.seldenmast.com/files/1615194164/595-542-E.pdf

Section Series E122/85–274/185 & D109/88–160/132:
The sail feeder is fitted with a removable gate to permit the mainsail to be fitted with either a luff rope or with slides. See fig. 3.8.1.b. Length of outer oval casing of 505-501-01 is 160 mm, 505-503-01 is 130 mm.

Section Series E126/85–239/162 & P73/53–188/137:
From 1977 to 1979 inclusive, these sections were fitted with the sail feeder gate mentioned above. Earlier sections have a dilated luff groove just above the gooseneck fitting to allow either luff rope or slides to be fed in. An extension tube, see fig. 3.8.1.d (part number 505-514-01) is obtainable as extra equipment for these masts. This allows slides to move down the luff groove to the upper edge of the gooseneck fitting, and permits reefing in the same way as in fig. 3.8.1.a.

It then goes on to talk about the gates for fully batten sail cars.

 

[Quandary]

A hunt on the MOA website suggests the removable part for the S31 is no.505-502 so I have ordered a rather beat up second hand one on Ebay, if it proves to fit I will order another on the advice that you rarely lose stuff if you have a spare.
As usual, I am impressed with the effort you guys have put in to help me, if it fits or otherwise I will come back and report.
My thanks for taking the trouble to find and pass on the information I needed to eliminate and identify.

 

[Dan Tribe]

If you have, or intend to get, a full batten main with roller batt cars, then the suitable type of mast gate (for an older Seldén mast) looks like in this photo . Also come in two sizes, 505-516-01 (large) and 505-524-01 (small).

Thanks. That confirms what my sailmaker says, but I wanted to be sure.
It would be a big help if Selden put dimensions in their catalogue, not just, "large" or "small"

 

[BabaYaga]

Agreed. If it’s any help the one in the photo is 156mm top to bottom.

 

[Quandary]

An update on the outcome just in case anyone has a similar problem
The housing in the mast (98 Moody S31) was Selden part number 505-501, Mk. 2/93, the replacement removable tongue that I acquired was part 505-502 Large,
This is used for a mainsail with slides and slugs but not with full length batten cars, it is found on most Kemp and early Selden masts from the mid seventies to late nineties
The replacement tongue did not have the little cutaways at the top of the fork (nibs) that allowed the top to lie flush with the mast track but this was remedied easily by reducing the thickness of the front top of the fork by almost half, for an area about 5mmx4mm. using a small grinding wheel on a Dremel. It was easier to match the cut outs accurately by removing the housing, it is just held in by two monel rivets. This adjustment means that the slides should not jam when the sail is coming down.
I found it difficult to source a sufficiently compressible bit of rubber for the spring, most was too hard making the tongue difficult to fit, in the end I cut a bit from the centre of a dense foam orthapeadic insole, about 6-7 mm thick and 12mmx 20mm. I tapered the top edge a bit to help it slide into place without catching and getting pulled off ast it slides into place, contact adhesive.
So hopefully sorted now but awaiting a chance to get the sails up and go out to complete the adjustment and tensioning of the rig.

Again, thank you for the help and information offered.

 

[ip485]

I assume it didnt drop into the water in a marina?