Where can I get a plastic mast gate for a 1987 Westerly Falcon, please?

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NealB

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It looks like the attached somewhat dodgy pics (ideally without the crack).

I've tried several local riggers, without success.

Is it the sort of thing that can be printed?

Thanks for your thoughts.
 

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Thanks for the suggestions in #2 and #3, though I obviously need to keep looking to find an identical replacement.

Thanks also to Neeves ..... but you've not seen any of my sculpting work, I think!
 
Is this element that prevents sliders to come out when lowering the sails? Is so I believe it could be printed using Petg or maybe nylon - with carbon or not. What is wrong with this one?
 
Concerto said:
If there is a part number on the broken mast gate then this will make a replacement much easier to find. If not, measure it accurately and that should help sorce the correct one out.
Click to expand...

Thanks: there's absolutely no sign of any part number.

I've emailed the pics to Selden to see if they recognise it.
 
slawosz said:
Is this element that prevents sliders to come out when lowering the sails? Is so I believe it could be printed using Petg or maybe nylon - with carbon or not. What is wrong with this one?
Click to expand...

Thank you.

The current one is split: you can see it in the second pic. A previous attempt at a glued repair, has failed.

I've a couple of ongoing enquiries about printing.

One asks if I've got the STL file for it: hmmmm ....... that's a new one on me. I haven't found an STL for a mast gate online (though I don't pretend to have done an extensive search yet), and I've no idea what's required to make one eg can an STL file be converted from a picture file (yes, quite possibly a daft question)?

Without an STL file, I'll need CAD, about which my realistic ignorance is, sadly, equally profound.
 
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As it seem that it is the main bit that that goes into the mast that is broken, allowing it to break free, could you do a pin and glue job on the broken bit, refit to mast and use a couple of small pop rivets to hold in place ? This would mean that the lugs are not required but help with alignment.

If it is the bit you push in to allow the slides to enter ignore the above ....
 
Boathook said:
As it seem that it is the main bit that that goes into the mast that is broken, allowing it to break free, could you do a pin and glue job on the broken bit, refit to mast and use a couple of small pop rivets to hold in place ? This would mean that the lugs are not required but help with alignment.

If it is the bit you push in to allow the slides to enter ignore the above ....
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts, Boathook.

You're right, it's the "main" bit that's broken, ie the outer piece, so it'll be worth a bit of experimentation to see if it can be glued, and riveted.

Oh yeah ..... in for a penny ........ do you know if the two pieces are put together properly, as seen in the right hand pic in post #1, please? That's how they were positioned when taken out, but they look neater, and more secure, if the inner piece is swung through 180 degrees, so the two rounded ends (one on the inner, one on the outer piece) sit one above the other, as per the pic attached to this post.

Finally ..... in for a pound ....... which way up is it meant to go: with the 'vane' type bits of the outer piece at the top or bottom?

Sorry ....... pushing my luck here, I know!
 

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CAD is not as hard to learn as you think - with Youtube and Fusion 360 community you can be surprisingly fast. But its not an option for everyone.
I am bit of a fan of 3D printing - I see the big advantages of this technology, but yet, it still remains a curiosity for many.
Anyway, what is the current status of this part - I understand you got it removed from the mast and probably you have something of a rope to secure the sliders or so? How does the part fit - by the look, I would say its just a tight fit, isn't it?
I could help you with this, but with all my commitments it would be rather lenghty process, as I have little time.
 
slawosz said:
CAD is not as hard to learn as you think - with Youtube and Fusion 360 community you can be surprisingly fast. But its not an option for everyone.
I am bit of a fan of 3D printing - I see the big advantages of this technology, but yet, it still remains a curiosity for many.
Anyway, what is the current status of this part - I understand you got it removed from the mast and probably you have something of a rope to secure the sliders or so? How does the part fit - by the look, I would say its just a tight fit, isn't it?
I could help you with this, but with all my commitments it would be rather lenghty process, as I have little time.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you're right about CAD: it's just something that, as yet, I've never needed, or particularly wanted, to know anything about.

The mast gate hasn't been fitted since before I bought the boat (in 2017). I haven't sailed her for 3 years now (a long story, previously told!) , but I am determined to get her launched this year.

Yes, previously, I've just made a lashing to stop the sail slides falling out of the track (which, of course, makes achieving a tidy, well-covered, stow something of a challenge).

Another, 'yes': the fitting seems to be just a push fit into the cut-out in the mast (and not a particularly tight one).

I really appreciate your thoughts: that is more than enough commitment. Thanks a million!
 
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Boathook said:
The bit you push in for the slides to enter the mast track is at the top so the slides can be pushed up the mast. Which way round the main fitting should be I'm not sure on !!
Click to expand...

Thank you!!

You've confirmed my own thoughts (I think!) ........ Hmmmm........ except I think that pushing the moveable bit in, will stop the slides going in the track. It'll need to be pulled out, to enable the sail to be hauled up (which seems how it should be ..... I think!)

I obviously need to keep an eye out for another Falcon, and see if I can take a look at theirs.
 
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NealB said:
Thank you!!

You've confirmed my own thoughts (I think!) ........ Hmmmm........ except I think that pushing the moveable bit in, will stop the slides going in the track. It'll need to be pulled out, to enable the sail to be hauled up (which seems how it should be ..... I think!)

I obviously need to keep an eye out for another Falcon, and see if I can take a look at theirs.
Click to expand...
If you are a WOA member, have a chat with Ian Bartlett (contact details in handbook) as he has a Falcon and is Ipswich based. He was the former chairman of the East Coast branch.
 
NealB said:
Thank you!!

You've confirmed my own thoughts (I think!) ........ Hmmmm........ except I think that pushing the moveable bit in, will stop the slides going in the track. It'll need to be pulled out, to enable the sail to be hauled up (which seems how it should be ..... I think!)

I obviously need to keep an eye out for another Falcon, and see if I can take a look at theirs.
Click to expand...
There’s one in the berth next to me. Should be there in a few days time and will try to remember to take a few pics .
 
Thank you, thank you!!

That's very similar, but very different, to the one that was in ours.

eg ours is plastic, with squared ends, rather than alloy with rounded ends.

I need to do a bit more investigation on board, but, sadly, that'll probably have to wait till next week now, due to other commitments.

Thanks again!
 
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