Sliding mast plug

Question
I have an old Mistral Malibu.  The plug where you attach the base of the mast to the board is on a slider.  I cannot get the plug to lock on any setting as it will continue to slide.  It is on a pulley system but no end or cleat to stop the movement. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hey Chad,

At the aft end of the slider track, there should be a lever that will flip up. Normally, when you depress the lever, it releases the pulley system and allows the mast to slide forward or back. When you release pressure on the lever, it should lock the pulley system and hold the mast in place. On older models it may have been more of a button to depress than a lever.

Something in the lock mechanism is not working. You can remove the whole track system by taking out the phillips screws in the bottom of the mast track. Then there should be a pin or something holding the button/lever system to the track. You should be able to get the part off and maybe determine if something is loose or possibly broken. You may get lucky and find parts for the track system at www.oceanairsports.com. Look under windsurfing/parts/Mistral/view all/near the bottom of the page.

If you can't figure out how to fix it or it is just broken and can't be repaired, there is one other option. You can get an oversized slider nut that will convert your existing 'movable' mast track to a standard 'fixed position' mast track. Remove the mast track and remove all the inner working parts. Insert the oversized slider nut and put back the end parts of the track to close the gaps. A standard type mast base will screw into the slider nut and you position the mast where you want it and tighten.

Oversized slider nuts are available here;  http://www.chinooksailing.com/products/product_info.php?cPath=64&products_id=160

Hope this helps.
Keep on sailing,
Windlover