[C320-list] New Main sail & Mast gate

[Ken Danko]

Annie:

A couple of years back I took Grace to the yard with the reputation for 
the best metal work and had them make a new, thick stainless luff gate. 
It was well worth it, the slides never stick.

When I bought new sales I explored the option of slides with built in 
ball bearings but couldn't find any that would fit without adding an 
external track to the mast. If anyone has found one that works without a 
new track, I would love to hear about it.

Ken Danko
Grace, #802

On 7/16/10 9:00 PM, Annie Bennett wrote:
> Has anyone else had difficulty with the mast gate?
>
> Following a tear in the original I DID get a new mainsail (with lazy
> jacks & a boom bag which I think will take some getting used to after
> the Dutchmans).
>
> On a test sail with the sailmaker the sail looked great but
> it was awkward getting the slides past the gate on the mast,
> particularly the heavy duty slides with wheels like little roller scates
> he had used adjacent to each batten.
>
> I asked a shipwright to adjust the gate. The shipwright's adjustments
> turned difficult into impossible He said he could manage using a lot of
> force. There are now obvious scratch marks on the mast.
>
> Neither I nor my husband were strong enough to force the wheeled slides
> past the gate so gave up and went home as we could only get the sail up
> to the 2nd reef position.
>
> The sailmaker has come back & replaced the wheeled slides with normal
> slides. The gate stuck out just a few milimetres too far. The sailmaker
> said he has improved it with a soft hammer. I haven't seen it yet but
> hope that when I get to the boat next week I will be able to hoist the
> sail.
>
> Annie Bennett
> Topcat 1073
>
> On 17/07/2010, at 2:47 AM, "Jeff Hare" <catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
>
>> Sounds like an effective technique for justifying a new mainsail. :)
>>
>> I think mine's ripping also... As we speak. :)
>>
>> -Jeff
>>
>>
>>
>> ------Original Message------
>> From: Chris Burti
>> Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>> ReplyTo: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] New Main sail
>> Sent: Jul 16, 2010 12:22 PM
>>
>> I think some had one listed in the for sale section of the C320 IA
>> Association website.
>>
>> On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 7:14 PM, Max Ruddy <maxruddy at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello All:
>>>
>>> Mainsail ripped today on reefing point-- anyone have any suggestions
>>> on an
>>> affordable replacement or used sail.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Max
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Chris Burti Farmville, NC
>>
>>
>