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Last update: 5/17/2012Home Page

 
 (patent pending)
This NEW Innovation marks a departure from age old problems of single-handed
reefing & deployment.

Even on cold wet windy days...


 




Sailors have switched to MastGates because:

1.  using sail-stops or bungee cords above sail slot made it a struggle hooking the reefing cringle.

2.  it is easier and safer to install or remove sail slugs singlehandedly.

3.  tools; screws and/or gate have jumped overboard.

4.  metal or plastic screws have loosened, broken or pried out of the mast.

5.  metal screws seized in the mast due to galvanic action.


6.  repeated screw use has worn out aluminum threads.

7.  using a Cotter-pin-stop ripped a new sail.


  MastGates are designed to work as an integral addition to the sail slot.  Its holding strength does not rely on strength of a screw.  Our marine grade shock cord and non-metal fasteners tether the gate to the mast to prevent loss.

 

Click here to see:
        > (Testimonial list )
         > ( List of masts using MastGates )
INTERNAL GATE, for Profiles: 1-2-3



MastsGates are made to fit many track channels:

MastGates come in two forms: Internal, (installed inside the track channel); or External, (installed outside the track channel), both forms have two variations: Hingeable, (easily opened or closed without tools); or Fixed, (caps off the sail slot permanently for seasonal or long term sailing.)

 Internal MastGates are most elegant in looks and style, with automatic closing feature.  The gate is self-closing for a hands free operation.

 External MastGates requires a single push to open or close the gate.

It sounds simple, and it is.

Now you can load the sail down to the boom, close the gate, attach the halyard and hoist away from the safety of your cockpit !
 
No more unloading sail for a missed slug, just insert the slug through the gate.


Testimonials:

 Hello Tom,
 
I keep forgetting to let you know how the MastGate for the C-22 worked out. 
 
It works perfectly - it does exactly what it says on the tin. I have used it for almost the whole sailing season now with no issues. You got the internal radius and external curve just right for the later model flat sided Catalina mast if that is a useful reference point for making future C-22 gates for other customers. The length worked out right too.

 David M. (Catalina 22) .

 
 

Hi Tom,

 My wife and I just returned from an 8 day shakedown cruise on our Ericson 27.  The MastGate worked so well that I literally forgot it was there most of the time.

All in all my wife and I are very happy with our mast gate and feel that it was an excellent and very cost effective upgrade to our boat.  I would not hesitate for a second to give my wholehearted recommendation to any other Ericson 27 owners out there who want a simple, effective mainsail slot controller!

 Thanks again for the great service Tom!

-Eric J, Ericson 27, Berkeley, CA

Hi, Tom,

 ... I ordered a MastGate from you a few weeks ago, I installed it per your instructions on my O'Day Mariner, and it has worked perfectly.  What a huge help - especially when reefing.  I certainly plan on spreading the word within the Association.
 
Thanks so much for your product.
 
Nate, Fleet Captain


Hi Tom,

Finally had a chance to try it out on the water today, and I found that it works just fine without the "notches", as my slugs and
gooseneck slide go up and down past the hinge smoothly, whether just raising the sail, putting in a reef, raising the boom to put up
the boom tent, or whatever ...

Thanks for a great product, and I'm telling all my sailing buddies about it!


Tim W. ( DM-284)


Tom-

The mast gate works great.  All sail slugs and gooseneck slide in, out, up,
and down smoothly.  Thanks again for your support.


Tom K. ( Precision 18).


  We haven't been able to properly reef the main in the 8+ years we've had the boat.  This is just what we've been looking for! 

Thanks,  Sally W. (Ericson 27)

Tom, I’m excited about being able to raise and lower my sail without making my son “babysit” the slides as they fall out of the mast slot!!!
... I can’t imagine anybody with sail slugs that doesn’t need one of these.
 
Thanks again,
 
Derek F. (San Juan 21)

Tom,
 I've been using the new mast gate for almost two months now.
Its a big improvement. The main sail is rigged and removed
much faster and easier. The sail is now reefed in under thirty
seconds. Your mast gate is the best. Thank you so much for
your mastgate, and the great service that came with it.

Dave B, P-15

Tom: Your model works best of all. No problem Blakley to Bellingham. When I came out of anchorage at Inatti Bay it was blowing 15 kts or better, so important I get the sail up and trimmed in a hurry, no hang ups, sail up and trimmed and away we went. Sailed Tomalas Bay this past weekend, once again worked with out a hitch. The new installation did the trick.

Thanks Jim ( M15)

Hi Tom,
 
I saw Mastgates written up in Smallcraft Advisor, like it very much. A problem I have bitched about for as long as I have sailed, that is, since 1964.
 
ED H.


Worked as intended. Zero issues. Three trips out on Sunday and two on the 4th. Really glad I did not have a bolt rope to contend with!

Fred M.


I'm a 77yr old Monty 15 sailer with a neurological condition that limits my hand  strength and dexterity. I still sail frequently , with the majority of my sailing being  multi-day trips , up to two weeks on the water. Prior to Tom installing his MastGate, I had trouble in sail handling. The mast track opening was to high , I had to stand on the cabin top to feed the slugs into the slot or when I took  the sails down to reef or put the sails on the boom. Tom very cleverly closed off the existing wedged track opening and installed his MastGate in a lower and handier location. Once the sail slugs were fed into the mast track, I could raise and lower the sails from the cockpit. This made reefing and sail management much easer.  The installation of Tom's MastGate has made my sail management must easer, especially reefing in sporting conditions.

 Jim K, Montgomery 15


  Tom...I want to take this opportunity to thank you for my MastGate. I have used it now for almost one year on my Montgomery 17...what did I do BEFORE MastGate??...I struggled hoisting and dousing my main single handed....Your installation and invention of MastGate are first class!!...Thank You

Dan P  (M17 & M15e)
 

   Tom, I saw the video demo of your product on You Tube. Fantastic! - I only wish that I had seen it before I installed a Mast Gater from Catalina Direct...  I tried to solve the problem of screws and screw driver, which were dropped over the side while trying to get the sail in by attaching the gates... Ordering your Hinged gate to replace the lost gate.

David M, Catalina 22 (1980's)


 Tom, I thought your first gate outta the gate...so to speak...was fabulous in its effectiveness and simplicity.  The kits you're selling are brilliant!  I'm going to assess my needs, and while the doityurselfer in me leans toward your first gate I may well be ordering a kit for ease and no running around to find the right SS tube on my part.
Thanks for your work!!

Rich G / day sailer

Hi Tom,
....  After having the sail slugs fall out on me everytime I lowered the sail, I would have paid around $125-$150.00 for a gate installation.
After having viewed your video and put one on last night, on my next boat I would probably purchase the gate and drill the mast and install the gate myself.
 
I really appreciate your help..
Shane (P19)

I have been using the mastgate for two months now and its a major improvement in sail control. Adding or removing sail slugs is so easy, just a slight push on the gate and it opens or closes.  It is especially helpful when a slug needs to be removed in order to reef. My West Wight Potter 15 has a long top batten which bows when the sail is furled unless the slug at the end of the batten is removed from the track. With the MastGate that process is a "snap"

Don P. (Potter 15)

In Response To: Potter 19 (ColoradoPotter)
It only took one sail to convince me that something had to be done.  I just installed one of Tom Luque's external MastGates on my newly purchased 2000 P19. Now, problems solved, raising sail, lowering sail, reefing, folding sail onto the boom all have become simple. I recommend the product highly.

Posted By: laurymd (P19)(Trailer sailor blog site)

Tom,
 
I recently bought my first sailboat, a WWP19, brought it home, and went through all the systems there before putting in the water. It was immediately obvious that raising, lowering, and reefing the main was not going to work efficiently. Those sail slugs certainly have a mind of their own and the sail, of course, was all over the place. While researching the internet, I found Tom's website and videos. Without further ado I towed the boat to Tom's house and had him install the external MastGate. Now that I've had the boat in the water a few times I can't imagine trying to sail without a gate and this one is simple to install and operate.
 
Laury L. (P19)


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