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BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2025 11:43 am
by krum
Hello, I bought a new loose foot mainsail from BWY last year, what is preventing me from putting it on my 2001 MACX is the fact that I need to close the opening for the sail on the mast. I also purchased the kit to do that, however it requires that I pound the opening almost closed with a hardwood dowel and then cut a section of the mast open in order to insert and raise the mainsail. My question to you folks is has anyone done this? And 2 are you satisfied with the result? And finally 3 any unforseen problems I should avaoid? I really do not want to botch this. Any hints, work arounds or tips you can share with me?
Thanks for any info I may receive.
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2025 3:46 pm
by rsvpasap
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 2:17 pm
by Highlander
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2025 9:06 am
by 45Plus+
Nice
I had been thinking a mast gate cover would be relatively easy to make....might even be cheaper than the $38 US (ie plus CDN to US exchange and any tariffs in place til Sept 1) though only if I don't factor my time into it. But hey, I'm retired so my time comes pretty cheap these days
.
Did you simply screw into a slightly smaller hole you drilled into the mast or did you use some sort of anchoring nut? I tend to think that even if one has to remove a screw once a year to open the gate to take off the sail, a threaded nut-rivet might be better?
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2025 4:01 pm
by Ixneigh
I used small machine screws which thread into the metal and are short enough to not protrude into the sail slot. I had to grind those screws to size.
Ix
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2025 7:00 am
by beechkingd
My boat had a sail stop with a thumb wheel lock that stopped the sail from falling out of the track when I bought it. When I purchased a BWY sail, I just pounded the gap closed with a mallet and a block of wood. I cut a notch just big enough for the sail slugs to go in as low as was practical and used the sail stop to prevent the slugs from going down to the notch. I never made a cover and never needed it.
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2025 7:01 am
by March
I simply use a string tied around the mast at the base of the slot. Cheap and efficient.
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2025 12:40 pm
by Highlander
I already had an old piece of Alum flat bar left over from a previous mod i used for the gate cover & I believe used a piece of old plastic cutting board cut to fit as the filler 3 holes in cover r tapped threaded for s/s screws to hold the filler in place flush so as not to interfere with the slugs, 2 end holes on cover were drilled just slightly bigger than the screws for a snug fit mast gate holes in the mast were tapped threaded also screws were cut for a flush mount inside the mast slot , Dielectric grease was applied to all 5 s/s screws threads to prevent corrosion on the threads
J
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2025 1:59 pm
by 45Plus+
Very helpful details, thanks for that.
Re: BWY MAST OPENING MOD
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2025 10:28 am
by kmclemore
Just saw this posted by Alex Shyshkov on FB, and it may be of interest to all here:
Mastgate v20 is released
(This is an insert into spread opening of the mast that lets sail slugs to slide through. Replaces sail stop which I kept losing overboard, helps with reefing and flaking mainsail)
Since last version v17 I went through a few iterations of the design. V18 and 19 have been extensively tested this summer. Published v20 was the result of fine tuning, but not tested at sea yet.
I noticed earlier version let slugs passed smoothly when sail isn't under load, but in a breeze the sail slugs are forced on a side and getting stuck. V20 has a slightly wider channel which tapers out. See the pics.
The design file for 3D-printer is available on Thingiverse, search for "mastgate" by TarpanXt or follow the link
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6415918
By the way, I have added "tip a designer" link there as people been asking, couple folks sent me beer $$.
Thank you
I been getting reports that the mastgate fits all MacGregors models (25, 26C, X, M). In a few cases, on M’s mostly, the model had to be scaled down slightly.
(If you don't have access to 3D printer, send me a PM)
Happy sailing
Thank you 
