In mast main...
- Thread starter NYSail
- Start date
On my first boat, the system was flawless! Not so much my second boat. We've had numerous issues with the main getting stuck when unfurling it. Generally, you can shake it out by turning circles if you can't manually get it unstuck. It never has gotten stuck when furling it back in. A furling main is sensitive to proper mast tuning and bearing slightly off the wind to keep some pressure on the main when fuelingto get a tight wrap helps.
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Remember, comments here will be a matter of opinion. Some people love in-mast furlers, many have had issues with them, and many including me, wouldn't have anything to do with them. Mutphy dictates that they will malfunction at the most inopportune times.
The positives are convenience and ease of use when properly maintained. As hardware wears, furling lines begin to age, and sails get baggy, the furlers can become undependable.
A disadvantage is that many in- mast mains have no battens(some newer sails incorporate vertical battens). The overall sail is cut in a way that reduces sail area and shape compared to a conventional main.
The positives are convenience and ease of use when properly maintained. As hardware wears, furling lines begin to age, and sails get baggy, the furlers can become undependable.
A disadvantage is that many in- mast mains have no battens(some newer sails incorporate vertical battens). The overall sail is cut in a way that reduces sail area and shape compared to a conventional main.
In 10 years, my sail has jammed twice, Both times it was user error. First time is right after I bought the boat. The Main Halyard had stretched because it was new and the sail sagged a bit causing wrinkles that folded over and caused a jam. The second time was just this summer because with the high winds forecasted with storm Hermin
I rolled it in to far and it simply clogged the slot. Dumb but thats how you learn what not to do. Other than that the system has worked flawlessly.
I rolled it in to far and it simply clogged the slot. Dumb but thats how you learn what not to do. Other than that the system has worked flawlessly.
Love it now!
There are two key parts:
1) The Mechanism
2) The Crew
Both must work in harmony.
Once you understand the mechanism and make sure yours is maintained correctly it will work like any thing else on your boat. The Crew part falls into place once you train them how to work the mechanism.
We furl or unfurl in about 3 minutes and the foot of our main is ≈17 feet or about 35 revs on the wench.
Saves time, safer in foul weather to reef, & home for mud dobbers
I will insist on one on our next boat.
Jim...
There are two key parts:
1) The Mechanism
2) The Crew
Both must work in harmony.
Once you understand the mechanism and make sure yours is maintained correctly it will work like any thing else on your boat. The Crew part falls into place once you train them how to work the mechanism.
We furl or unfurl in about 3 minutes and the foot of our main is ≈17 feet or about 35 revs on the wench.
Saves time, safer in foul weather to reef, & home for mud dobbers
I will insist on one on our next boat.
Jim...
If the main furling sail is not triradial, I would replace it. We purchased the boat with a 6 year old mushy dacron sail. It had some cresent shaped wrinkles along the lower 4 feet of the sail. This was due to the belly of the sail being streched and it made the sail a pain to furl and unfurl with 2 seperate jams while taking her out within 1 year. We purchased a triradial laminate that will not stretch over the life of the sail. I understand you can get a triradial dacron sail also. The laminate is lighter and thinner than dacron and it furls and unfurls so easily that we can do it in under a minute, use no winch while furling though we do wrap one while unfurling so we can get the foot tight right away, and I can have a 90 lb. neice do it. The foot is 20 feet! Of course the rig must be properly adjusted, we have a Selden B&R mast, and the bearings need to be cleaned and lubricated. The laminate although battenless holds a very good shape.
@NYSail this is what you will get when asking an OPINION question. Varied opinions!
I don't like argue on opinions in a chat based forum, but I see things differently from the words typed, not the people.
Since in mast furling is "infinite reefing" and I don't race often, so battens offer no advantage. So to me it is an Advantage to have no battens.
My auxiliary power is a Convenience to pass the mile of canal leading to my marina and I make sure that diesel engine is maintained to overcome Murphy's Law and be dependable. So you must maintain your mast furling mechanism.
This perhaps the key to why most jamb. Some sails are not cut correctly and put too much Sail at the Foot into the mast. Mine is cut about 80° Luff to Foot angle versus say 90°.
This what got us at first and is part of the Mechanism (like the bearings and lines). About 90% of SBO posts are about maintenance and improvements.
Go kayaking if you like low maintenance.Jim...
Furling with portable drill
Since I started using my 28 vt. Milwaukee drill I have been able to keep tighter tension on the outhaul. Since I started this I have never had a jamb. Mine works best if I release my vang and main sheet.
Alan J. C400 S/V Skol Port Jefferon NY
Since I started using my 28 vt. Milwaukee drill I have been able to keep tighter tension on the outhaul. Since I started this I have never had a jamb. Mine works best if I release my vang and main sheet.
Alan J. C400 S/V Skol Port Jefferon NY
We love our inmast furling. In my opinion there is a learning curve with inmast furling and the shape of the main is also a factor. But even with a 19 year old bag for a main, we were always able to get it in or out with care. We never ever had it get stuck enough that it required anything more than reversing direction and then going on. NEVER! And that sail was terrible. The new one is a breeze. Those that have can only blame themselves because it is only operator error that can cause a non reversible jam.
Should a problem develop going in or out, the secret is to stop IMMEDIATELY and not try to force things. Go the other way and begin again.
We met a couple who hated theirs. The wife had to go aloft underway to get it in or out at times. They were so frustrated that they were considering changing masts. I suggested they take the sail to a sailmaker to have it recut. $200 later they love their inmast set up!
Unless one is a racer, there is no good reason not to have it on a boat. No more sail covers, slides, track, lazy jacks, sail ties and best of all one has infinite reefing. You can have EXACTLY the correct amount of sail out for the conditions, not just what your reef points allow.
Once you've mastered the system, you can furl or unfurl on almost any point of sail except a dead run and even then if there's no wind or you power down wind! No more heading up into the wind with your sail flogging trying to get it up or down.
In my opinion, operator error is the reason most hate inmast furling. Once one has mastered it, there is no better system for safe sailing.
Should a problem develop going in or out, the secret is to stop IMMEDIATELY and not try to force things. Go the other way and begin again.
We met a couple who hated theirs. The wife had to go aloft underway to get it in or out at times. They were so frustrated that they were considering changing masts. I suggested they take the sail to a sailmaker to have it recut. $200 later they love their inmast set up!
Unless one is a racer, there is no good reason not to have it on a boat. No more sail covers, slides, track, lazy jacks, sail ties and best of all one has infinite reefing. You can have EXACTLY the correct amount of sail out for the conditions, not just what your reef points allow.
Once you've mastered the system, you can furl or unfurl on almost any point of sail except a dead run and even then if there's no wind or you power down wind! No more heading up into the wind with your sail flogging trying to get it up or down.
In my opinion, operator error is the reason most hate inmast furling. Once one has mastered it, there is no better system for safe sailing.
I will make it simple and have had my inmast new since 07 and love and only 2 jams
in all that time due to my error and the most important thing is when furling back into mast the sail must have pressure on the outhaul or point to port and let the wind push against the sail so that the sail goes in without any wrinkles,the sail needs to go in like a shade wrapping around the rest of the sail with out wrinkles and that is how it jams if the sail gets bunched up and not wrinkle free.
That is what causes jamming wrinkles in the sail making the sail bigger than the round part inside the mast,unless if the sail is old and stretched out than that will cause jamming pretty much most of the time.
I still use my factory stock main.
Nick
in all that time due to my error and the most important thing is when furling back into mast the sail must have pressure on the outhaul or point to port and let the wind push against the sail so that the sail goes in without any wrinkles,the sail needs to go in like a shade wrapping around the rest of the sail with out wrinkles and that is how it jams if the sail gets bunched up and not wrinkle free.
That is what causes jamming wrinkles in the sail making the sail bigger than the round part inside the mast,unless if the sail is old and stretched out than that will cause jamming pretty much most of the time.
I still use my factory stock main.
Nick
Agree with others who say that you will have as many opinions as responders.
You might want to search the archives as there are previous threads on this subject.
Personally the furling main was on of the reasons we traded our previous boat for our Hunter 38. As we looked at it and wanted to sail until we are really old, the furling main was a way to make that possible. The ease of taking in or letting out sail without having to get out on a pitching deck was a big attraction. We find we adjust sail more because it is so easy. Without it there is tendency to wait too long to reef or to not put sail up because it's expected to blow.
Have never had trouble with it jamming but it does require care when furling to keep it rolled tight. And if the sail gets old and stretched it can be more prone to jamming
You might want to search the archives as there are previous threads on this subject.
Personally the furling main was on of the reasons we traded our previous boat for our Hunter 38. As we looked at it and wanted to sail until we are really old, the furling main was a way to make that possible. The ease of taking in or letting out sail without having to get out on a pitching deck was a big attraction. We find we adjust sail more because it is so easy. Without it there is tendency to wait too long to reef or to not put sail up because it's expected to blow.
Have never had trouble with it jamming but it does require care when furling to keep it rolled tight. And if the sail gets old and stretched it can be more prone to jamming
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I have sailed on several boats with in mast and behind the mast furling systems with varying degrees of success, but I have to say that the Selden Furlex system was flawless and if you get a good sail maker who knows how to build mainsails for in mast furling systems, the sail shape is very decent for cruising. If you want battens, you have to have vertical battens installed. Of course the real blessing of the in mast furling system is the ease of pulling the main out and pulling it in when done. No sail to fold or flake, no sail cover to afix. Pretty slick, if you ask me.
My 2007 H-36 has In-Mast and love it and took some time learning how to best
trim the sails for best performance and yes have won a few races here in Charlotte Harbor and have a few other Hunters with In-Mast that win a lot of races all over the Gulf coast area and a 42 Hunter with In-Mast that won the Tampa to Cuba race this year,just saying all that In-Mast and Hunter talk of how bad the performance with In-Mast ?????????.
Nick
trim the sails for best performance and yes have won a few races here in Charlotte Harbor and have a few other Hunters with In-Mast that win a lot of races all over the Gulf coast area and a 42 Hunter with In-Mast that won the Tampa to Cuba race this year,just saying all that In-Mast and Hunter talk of how bad the performance with In-Mast ?????????.
Nick