Association Forum - mast gates

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

mast gates

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

AADIVER
Admiral

Member Avatar

USA
966 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/16/2006 : 20:17:25

Will this work on 250's?
(quoted from http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2358/f_rigging_tips/f07.html}

"The original configuration for attaching the mainsail, as shown at right, has one side of the kerf (mainsail track) cut out to insert the mainsail slugs. It has a retaining pin installed across the kerf, just above the cut out, to keep the slugs on the mast. The problem with this configuration is that your slugs cannot be stowed right down on the boom nor can they be lowered to the gooseneck for a reef. There's also the potential for the mainsail to snag on the end of the protruding retaining pin, resulting in a nasty tear. OUCH! Depending on your sail cover, it might not be able to go over the high sail. See alternate solution.
SOLUTION - On Panache I created two opposing clam shell gates from sheet aluminum to accept and retain the slugs. This way the slugs can be lowered right to the boom, using the full length of the kerf down to the goose neck. The image at left shows the starboard gate. The port gate is identical. Each gate is held in place with two 3/4" long stainless steel screws threaded into the mast. My reasoning in creating two gates was to open the slot wide enough to insert the slugs without removing the screws. This way the WHOLE WORKS DOESN'T DROP OVERBOARD! The screws are not long enough to interfere with the internal halyards.

It is critical that the inside of each gate aligns PERFECTLY with the insides of the upper and lower track sides. The joint must be perfectly flush on the inside. This prevents the slugs from jamming, which will probably happen at the worst time. It takes lots of patience to bend, file and fit the gates properly.
USE - To insert the mainsail slugs, back off each screw about 1/2", spread the gates apart and then insert each slug, starting with the top one, pushing them up the mast as each is installed, and working your way down to the three bottom ones which can be pushed down. The last few are dropped down because I get tired holding the mainsail up and I don't want them popping off the mast. After all the slugs are in, snug up the screws and you are ready to hoist the mainsail. Don't strip the threads in the mast, OK!. In seven years with this system, the screws have never come loose. At any rate, the mainsail tack can now be lowered to the boom for effective reefing.
If the boom isn't already on the mast, insert the goose neck first, pushing it down on top of the stopper."

Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 20:28:30

Yes Frank, they will work on the 250. I installed a set a couple months ago. You can get them at Catalina Direct, they call them [url="http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1014"]Mastgaters[/url].

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 22:49:47

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2006 : 23:49:57

Don, that shot is your starboard gate. I assume the other gate is on the port side slot?

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 04/17/2006 : 11:12:46

Just checked my slug slot. It's a single, not a double so I only need one gate. Last night I ordered from CD for a pair for 32 bucks plus shipping. I've e-mailed 'em I only need one so I hope they'll ammend the order and ship me one for less bucks.
After I ordered they called and told me they're not in stock, have to be back ordered. Also, they're only sold in pairs. Hurry up and wait time.

Edited by - AADIVER on 04/18/2006 00:11:47

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.