DaySailer.org Forum

Greetings Fellows,
I have a new to me Daysailer, have been making some of the minor repairs, practicing stepping and unstepping the mast, etc. Got it ready, got to the lake, stepped the mast, put the sails on. The jib no problem. The main was another issue. The plastic bullet shaped things(sorry forget the name) fell out of the slot in the mast when the sail wasn't raised. So when it was time to raise the sail on the water, it was difficult to put them back in, while pulling the halyard.
Is there a way I can keep the sail attached to the mast when it isn't raised?

Thanks

I believe you may be referring to the sail slugs.

Search this forum for mast gates - those are the devices that will do what you want. There've been previous discussions on them.

You could get one of these slug stops (actually get several, as they have a tendency to go overboard, unless you figure a way to tether it to the mast):

http://www.drmarine.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DR20%2D90

You feed the slugs into the slot, then put in the stop under the bottom slug.

Or as GL says, you could get a mast gate. The DS mast uses an external gate:

http://www.mastgates.com/

You guys are awesome!
Thank You!

Or, you can drill a small hole across the slot in the mast and stick a cotter pin or some other pin through. That was how it was done on my Mariner.

Hey the mastgates look awesome. I don't need one for the daysailer (rope) but the Aquarius 23 would love one!

I had an external gate on the DS, since there is not enough room in the DS mast extrusion slot for an internal gate, and recently put an internal gate on my Spindrift 22. Your Aquarius 23 may have the room in the extrusion slot for an internal gate. As to ease of use, I find the internal gate *slightly* easier.