Is My Main Furled Backward

Sep 22, 2021
292
Hunter 41AC 0 Portland, OR
I have been reading through the Selden Furling Mast Manual and I noted that it specifically indicates that the sail is to be furled onto the starboard side of the furler extrusion (with the extrusion rotating counterclockwise looking down from the top). It also says that the furling winch mounted on the mast must be turned clockwise when furling in the main.

Selden-Furler.jpg
On my 41DS, the main is wrapped the opposite way probably due to the fact that the two clutches for the furline line are marked "I" on the left and "O" on the right. Pulling on the "I" side furls in the sail but does so on the wrong side of the furline extrusion because it turns the winch hub counterclockwise..

Can someone with a Selden main furler confirm which way their main is furled and which furler line (left or right) they use to furl in?
 

Nodak7

.
Sep 28, 2008
1,256
Hunter 41DS Punta Gorda, FL
I have a 41DS and it is furled as described in the picture!
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Try pulling the sail out and pull the furling line in the way it should be and try grease I got the top and bottom gears.
I am guessing at some point the main was was furledthe wrong way.
Nick
 
Apr 2, 2021
416
Hunter 38 On the move
I recently had this issue. When I bought the boat I replaced the furling line and reeves it exactly as it was originally. Had ongoing issues furling in and out. Checked the manual. Found out that the two lines are supposed to sort of cross over from the block at the base of the mast to the on mast winch. Swapped them over.
Easy way to check, there is a switch on the mast winch that is free in one position and in the other prevents the sail furling OUT but let’s you bring it in. Once you have the lines set up correctly you can test the switch behaves correctly. You can get the continuous line in and out of that winch because there is a notch in it.
Have not sailed since so idk if it helps my furling problems yet.
 

Nodak7

.
Sep 28, 2008
1,256
Hunter 41DS Punta Gorda, FL
I recently had this issue. When I bought the boat I replaced the furling line and reeves it exactly as it was originally. Had ongoing issues furling in and out. Checked the manual. Found out that the two lines are supposed to sort of cross over from the block at the base of the mast to the on mast winch. Swapped them over.
Easy way to check, there is a switch on the mast winch that is free in one position and in the other prevents the sail furling OUT but let’s you bring it in. Once you have the lines set up correctly you can test the switch behaves correctly. You can get the continuous line in and out of that winch because there is a notch in it.
Have not sailed since so idk if it helps my furling problems yet.
Interesting! My furling line does not "cross over from the black at the base" and I have had no issues with furling. Where did you get that piece of information?
 
Sep 22, 2021
292
Hunter 41AC 0 Portland, OR
Found out that the two lines are supposed to sort of cross over [...]
The attached image was excerpted from the Selden furler manual (URL in an earlier post in this thread). It doesn't show the furler lines crossing over. On my boat, the turning blocks are attached to the mast base, slightly lower than depicted. From there, the two sides of the loop go through the port side deck organizer blocks and on to the clutches.

SeldenFurler.jpg

I'm going to re-label the clutches so that "Furl In" is the rightmost (facing forward). When pulled, that will cause the furling drum to rotate clockwise as the manual says it should.
 
Jun 22, 2012
35
Hunter 380 Seattle
Yep, my Selden really likes to be furled as the picture indicates. Note that the slot is slightly offset to starboard. That sets it up to furl more easily on a slight starboard tack, i.e. it doesn't have to make an acute bend once inside the mast when furling on a SLIGHT starboard tack.
 
Apr 2, 2021
416
Hunter 38 On the move
Interesting! My furling line does not "cross over from the black at the base" and I have had no issues with furling. Where did you get that piece of information?
There are two blocks at the base of the mast for the furling line. Coming off the clutches on the cabin top the line leads straight back to those blocks, but then the furthest outboard line goes to the opposite side of the winch drum. So the furling line sort of makes an X between the base of the mast and the winch. The blocks are arranged slightly differently on my '07 H38 than that picture.

The labeling on my clutches is correct per Hunter manual. Its easy to tell which side of the winch the "in" or "out" line runs to based on the behavior of the switch on the winch.