Good Afternoon,

The local rigger has now completed all rigging on Dancer and went through it with me this week.
I just wondered if everyone had this type of mast gate?

I have found that its coming out of position and the slides are getting jammed. I could attempt to do it up really tight with some grips, but I have a feeling it will come loose again. So, I was curious to see if this was standard for 325/335?

https://www.force4.co.uk...oBb_Y0JIdaIaAqgOEALw_wcB 

The Z-spars mast gate is similar but not quite the same, it screws into a hole in the base of the sail slot to stop it from sliding down..
Assuming you have a Z-spar mast, it might be worth getting in touch with them. I have found them very helpful in the past.

Hi Andy

I can't speak for anyone else but mine is quite different: it's a plate that screws onto the back of the mast. A loathsome thing that is for ever catching the slides as they go past. Z Spars do make a slug with a screw rather like yours which I tried but didn't work but you might have more luck. It's worth asking them - Matthew the spares guy is extremely helpful.

Peter

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Andy,

My mast gate was just like Peter's and I should think you could get a new one from Z Spars if you ask them - they are quite helpful with requests for old spare parts.

However, I agree with Peter's observation that it does have a habit of catching the sliders as they go past and it is made of quite thin (bendy) metal. I had a very slightly modified copy made in stainless steel by a local fabricator which was a lot stronger and designed so it didn't catch the sliders so easily which was much better.

Unfortunately I can't find it at present (I use a totally different system now) but if I do manage to dig it out I will send you a photo.

Jonathan
P325 No 23 Tilikum

Thank you all very much for your replies to my question.

I am going to head to the boat and look more closely at the mast and gate. Then I can hopefully get a better solution from Z-Spar.
I need to put the main up to make some room and its been super windy here these last few days.

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Went to the boat today and remembered to get a picture of the mast gate hole.

I assume all of our boats had the same Z-Spars mast?
Sent an email today to their Sales department, so hopefully they will be able to recommend something for me.

The mast gate of my Z-spars mast looks like this (see below) and it works fine

I think what this shows is that not everyone has exactly the same mast (and or gate in the track). I have seen at least one 325 with a mast from a 31 - presumably left over from the previous production run.