Mainsail Gates and Slide Stops

[troppo]

Lowering or raising my mainsail is a bit tricky. To raise, I stand at the mast, feed a sail slide into the track, pull the sail up a bit using the halyard, feed another slide in and pull the sail up a bit etc. Or when lowering, the sail slides fall out of the track so I have billowing sail below the boom. Very interesting for me since I go solo.

I think a mainsail gate or slide stop is the answer. What has your experience been with these little gadgets? Any hints on making up a gate?

[bewitched]

I have a bolt tapped into the track.

Once all the slides are in, screw in the bolt.

when the sail is lowered, it rests on the bolt

works for me

[daddle]

Yup, you want a gate. You can then insert all the slides, close the gate, and then hoist. A stopper can work too, but the slugs must then be loaded top-down...which is no fun.

[boatman61]

I find slide stops at the mast great... they stop the slides and prevent the main spilling over the deck when reefing or lowering... a real pain it the butt, especially in a wind... (dumb statement... thats why he's reefing... Duhh).
Anyway... you should be able to get one from a chandler as mast groves tend to be fairly standard up to a certain size boat...
Alternatively... using one of your slides as a pattern cut a peice of metal to fit, drill a hole in the middle then thread it and fit the appropriate bolt... hex head is best I've found as you can loosen and tighten adequately just using your fingers..
Worked for me.... But someone else may know better

[Surrymark]

Do you have a gate? If so, does it keep flopping open? If so, look to see if there's a teeny hole in it that would take a cotter pin. If so, get all the sail slugs in, close gate, put in cotter pin, take it out when you want to remove the sail.

[troppo]

I have looked at this site and it's been helpful. MetalMast Mainsail Gates

With a stop as opposed to a gate, the lowest sail slide would be 220 mm /8 3/4" above the boom. I was thinking a gate would be better to keep the sail down lower but does the 8 3/4" actually make any real difference?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by troppo

I have looked at this site and it's been helpful. MetalMast Mainsail Gates

With a stop as opposed to a gate, the lowest sail slide would be 220 mm /8 3/4" above the boom. I was thinking a gate would be better to keep the sail down lower but does the 8 3/4" actually make any real difference?

You'll maybe need a higher neck on your sail/boom cover

[Blue Stocking]

You could use a luff jackline through the bottom few slides. When the sail drops the slacked line will let it go to the boom.

[troppo]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

You could use a luff jackline through the bottom few slides. When the sail drops the slacked line will let it go to the boom.

That's a new idea for me. Thanks.

[troppo]

Originally Posted by Surrymark

Do you have a gate? If so, does it keep flopping open? If so, look to see if there's a teeny hole in it that would take a cotter pin. If so, get all the sail slugs in, close gate, put in cotter pin, take it out when you want to remove the sail.

Unfortunately, no gate at all.

[WillJacocks]

I have heard of some using a piece of aluminum to cover the gate to have the track closed all the way down to the boom. 2 screws to keep the part on once you load the main. This would be good for boats that have the main stored on the boom until it is time to dry dock. I might be doing something like that with Vamos.

[scubastu]

I use a rubber strap - it was supposed to be a temporary measure,however its been on the boat for a couple of years now. Cost about a dollar 1.50
This is the type of thing here
The Original Bungee Co - Wholesale Bungee Cords, Tie Downs, Slings and More!

[perchance]

Mine came with a threaded pin but I have to remove it to allow the slugs to spill out to get the cringle onto the rams horn. I'm always paranoid about loosing it over board as it is not captured.

[Irie]

Couple days ago after lowering sail I found a sail track stop laying on deck (didn't know what it was until next time I dropped sails). I reinstalled sail slides on sail track. I didn't know where to put the 'stop' but I figured it had to be above the gate where sail slides slide back on the track. When I tightened it up with a allen wrench the track on one side broke off. I made a bunch of wraps around the mast with 5/8 nylon rope til I had a place for the sail slides to land when I next dropped the sail.
My question is how can I possibly Identify the item when they stopped making this boat 15 years ago? It has a unstayed carbon fiber mast. Is a sail stop a generic item? Where on the track does it get installed? If I found a place to order, where do you take the measurements?
I have photo attachments and I hope it works.

[WeeHope]

I cut a piece of stainless steel shaped to cover the cut out in the mast, hammered a curve into it so it sat flush on the mast, aligned the straight edge with the sail track, and used one sheet metal screw to hold it in place. This method, for me, allows the sail slugs down far enough so the sail covers fits correctly (I put in additional slugs).

Chris