Mast Track Gate
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 385/388
Forum Description: 385/388 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15015
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:40
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mast Track Gate
Posted By: Jonw
Subject: Mast Track Gate
Date Posted: 10 March 2025 at 06:51
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Hi Helpful People On my 385, I'm putting the sails back on, after a tidy up and clean at the sailmakers. On my main sail, I (possibly wrongly!) removed a bolt from the mast track gate when removing the sail, in order to let the sliders 'escape' (see photo) After putting the mainsail back on, I brought out the bolt and tried to screw it into the mast, only to find that the hole was larger than the bolt. So - possibly I am using the incorrect bolt (seems unlikely, matches my photos, in the right place etc) or possibly there was a 'backing plate' that this bolt went into, and perhaps I was only supposed to screw the bolt in towards the mast (ie make less long) and by removing I have dropped the backing plate. Have you any knowledge of this? And any suggestions as to how I stop the cars from sliding down into the mast track gate? Many thanks Jon    |
Replies:
Posted By: samuel
Date Posted: 10 March 2025 at 09:04
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On my mast there is a short length of rod that sits in the groove. The bolt that you show screws in to the rod & through it. This rod fills the entire gap in the mast track. It pushes against the back & clamps the rod in place. When one loosens the bolt the rod drops down to the gooseneck level, where it is stopped by the bolt sticking out. If one were to remove the bolt the rod would drop right down to the bottom of the mast track. Perhaps this has happened to you & the rod is just hiding from you.
------------- Daydream Believer- Hanse 311- No GBR9917T- Bradwell Essex |
Posted By: Jonw
Date Posted: 10 March 2025 at 19:14
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Thank you Samuel, this might be the case.. I've had a look around in the track, and found a (slightly broken) piece of plastic, and on the bit I've found it certainly appears to be able to slide into the mast track, and perhaps the missing piece of it had the option for the screw to wedge it in place, as you mention.  I've made a temporary solution to stop the cars falling into the gate, and I'll see if I can fashion something more permanent along the lines of the piece I've found, and add something to it! If there are any photos of the gate with the device these would of course be very welcome!
Many thanks Jon |
Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 10 March 2025 at 22:27
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Jon: Funny that you posted this. I just had to replace our "Z-spars flat side mainsail sail gate" as it was broken like yours. Part is Z3522. I found them at a place in France. Could not get them in the U.S. If you contact Pascal at this e-mail address (pcamenen@technique-greement.com) he will take care of you. They were about 30 euros. You are correct in that the bolt does not screw into the mast, but merely sits in there and is held in place by the piece of plastic that has a nut built in. It is not the most robust system, and a little crazy, but it is what was used. ------------- Andy Moonraker River Dunes, NC |
Posted By: Captain Cook
Date Posted: 11 March 2025 at 06:50
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I manufactured this insert to make it possible for my (pretty large) Frederiksen cars to slide longer down on the mast.   ------------- Freya H400 #27 (2006),2-cabin, 40HP 3JH4E, 3-blade Flexofold, Aries LiftUp Windvane, Exturn 300, Jefa DD1,Simrad NX40,Icom M603(VHF)+M802(SSB) |
Posted By: samuel
Date Posted: 11 March 2025 at 08:24
Jon You do not need any complicated shape. I am assuming that the inside of the mast groove is actually round like virtually every mast. Just cut the head off a long bolt so you have a rod that fits inside the round section inside the mast groove. It needs to be long enough so that when you put it in the void it engages with each end. But not so long that you cannot angle it into the inside of the track. It has to be slightly less than the inside diameter of the mast groove to allow you to insert it. Drill & tap it for 2 No 4mm set screws & then insert 2 socket head bolts that go through the rod & push against the back & force the rod against the front inside face of the track. The rod will stop the sliders falling down. There is no need to worry about filling the groove at the front. Being metal it will not break like plastic will
------------- Daydream Believer- Hanse 311- No GBR9917T- Bradwell Essex |
Jonw wrote:Posted By: Brufan
Date Posted: 11 March 2025 at 10:35
On my former 32' yacht there was only a tiny hole drilled at the bottom end of mast track with a split pin put in with a piece of thin rope to grab it (and avoid losing the pin) . This was very simple & efficient ------------- Bruno hanse 355 - 57 S/Y Spicy Ginger White hull, 2 cabins, Volvo D1-30, Selden rig, removable mainsheet track system, Simrad (now B&G)-Jefa autopilot. |
Posted By: samuel
Date Posted: 11 March 2025 at 11:05
KISS ------------- Daydream Believer- Hanse 311- No GBR9917T- Bradwell Essex |
Posted By: Jonw
Date Posted: 11 March 2025 at 17:58
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These are all really great and useful suggestions. I'll work through and find a (simple) solution which works for me. Many thanks
Jon |
Posted By: AndyS
Date Posted: 12 March 2025 at 02:35
One more idea . . . I bought this as a back-up and it works well. $17 on Amazon. It's the Davis Flat Large Sail Track Stop https://www.amazon.com/Davis-Flat-Small-Track-52134/dp/B00LAHBEWU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NHRW5IQGIDNM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7bbx80RkW0WwLPWPdhW5sltxoZHmdSZsOxR4ddJ5acJoh0-B-i0URLtVGsCiwnvwd0kzIUTkg6XckdeWtHigR1TgG8daczb8uf6aHi6ajm2zWQZ8WG1xHL8ze409GS9b-xA3cRZ-ZMiOYp7hr5uNYT36exjv9cORAMPeM9DOVfWbH_8TMVmmn9EgHvRRUyp1vOs17ViDl0GgqWiFpENirl1kA1iHTFZZGOPRs3F-gSriNnh0qNjlFIIOgc7q0aLzzw7yygosQataf5W9m-2fi8aMePTvVA3bQu5wYEkgSmw.Prw7JRZYCVjkTZPBQPfs51yX-EGnj5ZPiV71aFez8DU&dib_tag=se&keywords=sail+track+stop&qid=1741746950&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=sail+track+stop%2Csporting%2C82&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow - https://www.amazon.com/Davis-Flat-Small-Track-52134/dp/B00LAHBEWU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NHRW5IQGIDNM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7bbx80RkW0WwLPWPdhW5sltxoZHmdSZsOxR4ddJ5acJoh0-B-i0URLtVGsCiwnvwd0kzIUTkg6XckdeWtHigR1TgG8daczb8uf6aHi6ajm2zWQZ8WG1xHL8ze409GS9b-xA3cRZ-ZMiOYp7hr5uNYT36exjv9cORAMPeM9DOVfWbH_8TMVmmn9EgHvRRUyp1vOs17ViDl0GgqWiFpENirl1kA1iHTFZZGOPRs3F-gSriNnh0qNjlFIIOgc7q0aLzzw7yygosQataf5W9m-2fi8aMePTvVA3bQu5wYEkgSmw.Prw7JRZYCVjkTZPBQPfs51yX-EGnj5ZPiV71aFez8DU&dib_tag=se&keywords=sail+track+stop&qid=1741746950&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=sail+track+stop%2Csporting%2C82&sr=1-1
------------- Andy Moonraker River Dunes, NC |
Posted By: Jonw
Date Posted: 12 March 2025 at 08:08
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Thanks Andy, this makes sense, is simple, available, and aluminium, so I've ordered! Jon |