CDI warns that if your fairlead is aft and not pulling equally on leech and foot the furler may lift off the drum. Has anyone ever had this happen?
CDI furler
- Thread starter Quoddy
- Start date
- Status
Never had a problem with that.
I've been using a CDI furler for 3 years now and have never experienced the problem you describe. The only issue I ever had was that the screws that hold the U-shaped bracket to the bottom of the drum came loose. It was very hard to repair while in the water. Now I just check them monthly. Otherwise, I've been very happy with the furler.
On our CDI the drum can lift up out of the stainless cup. We've had this happen a couple of times and the furling line has gotten caught underneath the drum within the cup, effectively jamming the furler. Not sure why this happens as our furling line leads at a 90 degree angle out off of the drum, down to a block at the inboard end of the bowsprit, and then to a fairlead on the rail. Easy enough to fix - just lift up on the luff extrusion to free up the jammed line - but it does happen (not so easy when the furler is on the end of a 3' bowsprit in 5' seas, as was our experience, though).
A separate problem has been that the furling line diameter is absolutely critical, so make sure you're using CDI's recommended diameter - we had lots of problems with the line getting jammed within the cup because, when the jib was deployed, the size of the wrapped line exceeded the diameter of the drum, leading to binding of the line on the insides of the cup. Once we checked line diameter and swapped it out for the correct size, no more problem.
A separate problem has been that the furling line diameter is absolutely critical, so make sure you're using CDI's recommended diameter - we had lots of problems with the line getting jammed within the cup because, when the jib was deployed, the size of the wrapped line exceeded the diameter of the drum, leading to binding of the line on the insides of the cup. Once we checked line diameter and swapped it out for the correct size, no more problem.
Quoddy,
I installed a CDI furler seven years ago on my H34 and have never had a problem caused by the quality of the system. I purchased the largest one, I think it's referred to as the F9 or something like that. I did all of the installation myself except for the part where you slide the extrusion over the forestay. For that part I had one other person help. It was easy to install and for my sailing (mostly solo in the Chesapeake) it has worked flawlessly. Like Mike I did have a problem with the the furler line because I was using the wrong size. Once I figured that out its been great.
Joe Mullee
I installed a CDI furler seven years ago on my H34 and have never had a problem caused by the quality of the system. I purchased the largest one, I think it's referred to as the F9 or something like that. I did all of the installation myself except for the part where you slide the extrusion over the forestay. For that part I had one other person help. It was easy to install and for my sailing (mostly solo in the Chesapeake) it has worked flawlessly. Like Mike I did have a problem with the the furler line because I was using the wrong size. Once I figured that out its been great.
Joe Mullee
I had the drum lift out of the cup. I even called CDI to no avail. It turned out that there was a pin or bolt missing that holds the drum down. Look for a hole just above the drum. After inserting a pin through it no problems. Before that...it was a nightmare with the drum popping out of the cup all the time and the line jamming.
CDI Furlers
Ive had one for 3 seasons no problems. You said fairlead aft? Im not sure what you mean. Are you talking about the halyard? Are you talking about the blocks you feed the drum line through?
Ive had one for 3 seasons no problems. You said fairlead aft? Im not sure what you mean. Are you talking about the halyard? Are you talking about the blocks you feed the drum line through?
Jib sheet alignment.
If you have your sheet blocks set to far aft, it puts pressure on the foot and no down force on the leech. That will cause the drum to lift. It also means your jib trim is not correct.
r.w.landau
If you have your sheet blocks set to far aft, it puts pressure on the foot and no down force on the leech. That will cause the drum to lift. It also means your jib trim is not correct.
r.w.landau
Many sailors remove the core from the forward section of furling line that wraps on the drum. That way it can lay flat, similar to webbing, as it spools on, creating a more compact fit and allowing you to use a larger diameter line for a more comfortable hand on the working part.
CDI twist
Thanks for response. To clarify; I meant if you put a lot of twist in by moving the sheet blocks back or reefing a lot and not moving the blocks forward, CDI seems to say the whole unit (drum and luff extrusion) can slide up the forestay enough to lift the drum off its bearing. I wanted to experiment with excess twist for lowering the COE and power instead of reefing and didn't want the furler to jam as a consequence. I have not had this happen so far and I wondered if anyone had actually had it lift this way?
Thanks for response. To clarify; I meant if you put a lot of twist in by moving the sheet blocks back or reefing a lot and not moving the blocks forward, CDI seems to say the whole unit (drum and luff extrusion) can slide up the forestay enough to lift the drum off its bearing. I wanted to experiment with excess twist for lowering the COE and power instead of reefing and didn't want the furler to jam as a consequence. I have not had this happen so far and I wondered if anyone had actually had it lift this way?
Re: Never had a problem with that.
Yes, i had the same problem as you with the machine screws on the anti-rotation bracket (as its called) loosen and come off. THAT is a major problem since it allows the forestay turnbuckle to come apart. I agree with you that its a difficult repair on the water.
Yes, i had the same problem as you with the machine screws on the anti-rotation bracket (as its called) loosen and come off. THAT is a major problem since it allows the forestay turnbuckle to come apart. I agree with you that its a difficult repair on the water.
It is not the lifting that is the problem
It is what it does when it lifts and tries to set back down.
The furler line can be cut on the stainless drum housing as it lifts.
It can also wrap under the drum because the stainless washer misaligns when the drum raises and the drum will not set all the way back in place until that washer is realigned.
Realigning the washer can be very dangerous because you have to stick your fingers under the drum while reseating the drum. In a heavy wind everything is moving.
I had a friend almost lose a finger while realigning the stainless washer because the drum turned and set on his hand pinching fingers between the rotating drum and the stainless housing. Lots of blood and and a bad wound.
Don't get me wrong. I have an FF4 and love it. The only sailing problem I have had was once when I did not tail the furler line when I was unfurling it and reefed a 150 genoa at about 100. When I went to furl it, the line had tightened into the windings on the drum fouling it like a fishing reel.
r.w.landau
It is what it does when it lifts and tries to set back down.
The furler line can be cut on the stainless drum housing as it lifts.
It can also wrap under the drum because the stainless washer misaligns when the drum raises and the drum will not set all the way back in place until that washer is realigned.
Realigning the washer can be very dangerous because you have to stick your fingers under the drum while reseating the drum. In a heavy wind everything is moving.
I had a friend almost lose a finger while realigning the stainless washer because the drum turned and set on his hand pinching fingers between the rotating drum and the stainless housing. Lots of blood and and a bad wound.
Don't get me wrong. I have an FF4 and love it. The only sailing problem I have had was once when I did not tail the furler line when I was unfurling it and reefed a 150 genoa at about 100. When I went to furl it, the line had tightened into the windings on the drum fouling it like a fishing reel.
r.w.landau
Last edited:
- Status