Gooseneck slot in mast too tight?

My Hobie 14 gooseneck is a pain to insert after hoisting sail. I just got the plastic gooseneck bearing kit hoping this would help but is actually is a bit worse as it in very hard to start the gooseneck slide into the mast slot. I wonder if the mast slot is just a tiny bit too tight. Or should I file/sand off some material on the side of the bearings?

If you file the bearing, then it won’t be effective. The idea is that the plastic bearing should be slightly larger than the metal gooseneck slider so that there is no metal-to-metal contact.

Is it only difficult to get the slider started in the opening of the track, or is the slider tight throughout full travel of the downhaul?

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As srm wrote, I'd leave that gooseneck bearing alone. Some other ideas below. Sorry if they seem too obvious, but simple is often better. Don't mean to offend, but first things first...

Are you sliding the gooseneck into the track with the outhaul loose? Tight outhaul forces boom forward cocking gooseneck at an angle, and even that slight additional friction can make it a PITA.

Any sign of track being pinched so that it's too narrow?

Perhaps there's some galling inside the track from the bearingless gooseneck's prior resistance to being forced through there? If so, I'd sand out those burrs (wrap paper around a pencil/dowel or such), clean it up good, and hit it with some dry lube.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16

Turns out the slot was too narrow. It was almost impossible to install the gooseneck fitting when removed from the boom. I carefully pried the slot open until I could put it easily. Yesterday I took it out and it was sooo easy!! What a difference.

Nice! (After posting, I realized that I should have recommended you test the fit with the gooseneck detached.)

From time to time, I've seen the luff track slot get pinched closed/mangled from a fall, traiering cushion failure, etc. (I always trailer mast with the track upwards). Can leave a sharp edge and/or cause difficulty raising the main. First I've heard of it occuring down where the gooseneck goes.

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Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16