Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
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- Chief Steward
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2022 5:10 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Toronto ON
Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
I ordered the reefing kit from BW yachts but I need a mast gate for the kit to work properly. I have a 2006M which has the mast with the "spread opening" and I'm having a hard time finding a mast gate. BW yachts doesn't sell one for a spread opening. I'm not interested in making one because the boat is in the water on a mooring and makes getting tools and electricity difficult.
- dustoff
- Engineer
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 6:25 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Stevensville, MD
Re: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
On the older M masts i believe the opening is lower and closer to the mast base. In lieu of a custom fabricated mast gate (that would require a local fabricator), I believe the solution is a sail stop installed in the track to prevent the mainsail slugs from coming down to the opening. With the opening lower, this should allow your doused sail control system to work. I'm not sure if that would work if you still are just using the mainsail boltrope.
v/r
v/r

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- Chief Steward
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2022 5:10 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Toronto ON
Re: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
I think they stopped selling them.Russ wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 8:46 am Maybe these guys have a solution.
https://mastgates.com/
Here's a video of a 26M like yours.
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- Chief Steward
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Tue May 28, 2019 8:38 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: PLATTE CITY, MO
Re: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
Just so happens I was looking for a mast gate for my X. The video on u-tube is for the the original model. This is the email for the inventor who makes them. They cost about $150 . He is still making them.
[email protected]
[email protected]
- NiceAft
- Admiral
- Posts: 6589
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- Location: Upper Dublin,PA, USA: 2005M 50hp.Honda4strk.,1979 Phantom Sport Sailboat, 9'Achilles 6HP Merc 4strk
Re: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
A sail stop works quite well. The only problem with them, is they can slip out of one’s hand and go overboard. The solution is to attach a wire. One end on the sail stop, and the other to the mast.
Ray ~~_/)~~
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- First Officer
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 5:13 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Dallas Ft-Worth Texas
Re: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
I used the plastic mastgates.com.
Worked for a while, then deformed and started blocking the channel.
My solution = add a sail track.
Our masts were made for bolt-ropes anyway, so only partially work with slugs.
https://www.tidesmarine.com/shop/track- ... sailtrack/
NOTE: I paired this with a new sail with full batton's designed for the track.
Worked for a while, then deformed and started blocking the channel.
My solution = add a sail track.
Our masts were made for bolt-ropes anyway, so only partially work with slugs.
https://www.tidesmarine.com/shop/track- ... sailtrack/
NOTE: I paired this with a new sail with full batton's designed for the track.
26X in Dallas Fort-Worth area Texas
Slip at Eagle Mountain Lake

Slip at Eagle Mountain Lake

- NiceAft
- Admiral
- Posts: 6589
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:28 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Upper Dublin,PA, USA: 2005M 50hp.Honda4strk.,1979 Phantom Sport Sailboat, 9'Achilles 6HP Merc 4strk
Re: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M
I don’t believe an X mast is comparable to an early M mast; I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.
Ray ~~_/)~~
- jimmy alonso
- Engineer
- Posts: 195
- Joined: Mon May 02, 2005 9:27 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Puerto Rico, 2004 26M,Yamaha 50
Re: Looking for a mast gate - early 26M

I 3d printed this one. I found it on thingiverse. It didn’t work because when inserted in the mast slot it would squeeze it. And the sail slug wouldn’t go through it. I printed another version a bit narrower will be checking it out next week.