[C320-list] Sail Slide gate

[Jeff Hare]

I re-tapped the sail gate holes to accept a different size bolt.  I used the same size and thread pitch as the shaft zincs use.  Some I keep the Allen head bolts from those zones, I have an endless supply.  Keeping some Tef-Gel on them, they don't corrode.  The stock thumb screws are crap and seemed to snag a webbing loop from time to time Ion our boat.Jeff Hare#809 woodbine ii
-------- Original message --------From: Crosby Roper <VMDatSEA at hotmail.com> Date: 11/25/20  8:06 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: C320-list at catalina320.com Subject: [C320-list] Sail Slide gate Hi all and Happy Thanksgiving. I just replaced my mainsail and managed to strip one of the holes in the aluminum mast that fastens the small metal gate over the area into which the slugs (slides?) are inserted. Whoever initially placed the holes misfired so there are actually two holes very close together horizontally. I am planning to re-tap the holes to a slightly larger size but am wondering if there is anything I could fill them with that would be hard enough to accept tapping and a bolt. I spoke with a marine metal fabricator and he suggest welding the area, but that seem a bit extreme. Has anyone else had this issue? Any Fixes?Crosby  Roper VMD