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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Mast gates

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Tahoe Cruiser
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/06/2013 : 23:07:48

So I ordered the mast gate to try and lower my sail slugs while reefing. I received one gate which I thought was odd. I called catalina direct and they said my 250 was only cut out on one side of the mast for sail slug installation. Well I am out on my boat and I see that both sides are cut out and it looks as if one won't do the trick. As I held the one gate in place it looks as if it will stop the slugs from coming past the top of the mast entry point. This seems to defeat the purpose of the mast gate. My catalina 22 had two sides to the mast gate and allowed the slugs to come all the way down to the boom.
I have a slug stop ready that holds them just above the mast opening. Does anyone else have these same gates? If so am I missing something?

1998 250 WK/TR #355 "Trail Break"
Lake Tahoe California

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2013 : 10:51:09

A mast gate isn't needed on a 250 if the stopper is screwed in and the lower two slugs are setup on a jack line. Such allows the slugs to migrate away from their 'normal' positions when reefing and rest above the gate stopper, while still allowing the sail reef points to be brought down to the boom.

A stock 250 sail may or may not have been set up with it. I had my second reef added and the sail maker may have set up the jack line... I don't recall. If someone had the second reef added, a jack line may or may not have been setup.

A jack line for the lower two slugs is a simpler way to go than fooling with mast gates especially on a boat where the main is removed regularly.

Wish I had a picture to make it clear.

Edited by - on

Tahoe Cruiser
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2013 : 12:52:40

Thanks for the reply. I do have jack lines for both reefs. My catalina 22 had just metal covers that allowed the slugs to travel the whole distance which is another 9 inches or so and then jack lines which allowed the sail to flake a bit better and not bunch up when the tack reef was being set. The 250 gates are doing exactly what my stopper is already doing. Guess I should have asked before wasting $12.00. Live and learn.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2013 : 13:22:00

If you could post a picture, it would really help with the diagnosis.

I have a jackline which works great for the first reef, but I added the mast gate to accommodate a second reef because I did not want to have the sail modified for a second jackline.

My C250 has the slot on only one side, and the mast gate fits perfectly, but only after grinding down the ends to fit the length of the slot. The instructions for my mast gate made it pretty clear that this was necessary, and I assume that you did this. If not, that might be the problem.

Our boats are very similar vintage, so I am very surprised that your slot is on both sides. If each of your slots is half the thickness of my slot, then the rod part of the mast gate is probably too thick and blocks the track. But I have never heard of a C250 with slots on both sides, so that puzzles me. (FWIW, apparently many C27s had slots on both sides, so it's common to find mast gates sold in pairs.) Would it be possible to grind your rod down to half its thickness?

The only other thing I can think of is that your sail is not the OEM sail, and has track slugs that are thicker and therefore a previous owner widened the slot by grinding the other side. But if this was the case, your mast gate should fit the original (starboard) slot (but only after grinding down the rod's length to correspond to the length of your slot).

My wordy response demonstrates why posting a picture would really help get to the bottom of this.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2013 : 14:21:14

C250WB #841 has the slot cut on both sides of the track.

Paul

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2013 : 14:28:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 C250WB #841 has the slot cut on both sides of the track.

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I assume a WB model would be standard rig, right?

If so, then it's not a TR/SR thing. Maybe they switched to duel slots shortly after making my boat?

I thought that the single slot was pretty standard, especially since CatalinaDirect now sells only a single for the C250. They used to sell them in pairs with a warning to C250 owners that they would only need one of them. (It was the same item as for another model boat, and they apparently did not want a second SKU for the C250.)

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Tahoe Cruiser
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2013 : 21:04:03

My mast is definitely cut out on both sides which would require two of them not just one. I can now see how two would work if I just grind it down a bit. So your gate does allow your slugs to go all the way to the boom? My first reef is fine just wanted to get things a bit more compact for the second reef. I am not sure it is even worth dealing with.

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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/07/2013 : 21:32:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tahoe Cruiser
 ...So your gate does allow your slugs to go all the way to the boom?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes, that is the only reason for having the gate. If the slugs can't move down through/below it, you might as well just use a sail stop above the slot.

Edited by - TakeFive on 09/08/2013 06:21:35

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2013 : 04:04:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TakeFive
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tahoe Cruiser
 ...So your gate does allow your slugs to go all the way to the boom?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes, that is the only reason for having the gate. If the slugs can move down through/below it, you might as well just use a sail stop above the slot.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

????

Paul

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2013 : 06:22:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TakeFive
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tahoe Cruiser
 ...So your gate does allow your slugs to go all the way to the boom?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes, that is the only reason for having the gate. If the slugs can move down through/below it, you might as well just use a sail stop above the slot.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

????

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Typo. I meant cannot.

Edited by - on

Tahoe Cruiser
1st Mate

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USA
72 Posts

Response Posted - 09/08/2013 : 20:22:58

Well I guess I will order another gate so I can do it properly. Was out for a sail today and noticed my second reef tack does not have a jack line. The gates will allow the tack to get a bit lower so I can even it out with the clew. Thanks again for the insight.

Edited by - Tahoe Cruiser on 09/08/2013 20:23:49

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