37.5 Headsails

[Bud Cook]

We have a 1991 37.5 with a Furlex furling system. I am having a major problem raising the sail due to high friction somewhere (the sail comes down very easily). Before stepping the mast I ran a piece of sail with the proper bolt rope up and down both head foil slots. No problem. I then sprayed these slots with McLube teflon spray. The sheaves at both the top and bottem of the mast run free, including all the turning blocks.My sailmaker thinks my 1/2" halyard is to large and I should switch to 7/16" or maybe even 3/8" Sta-Set X. My headsail is 135% dacron. Has anyone had a similar problem?Bud Cook

 

[Jack]

Same problem

Greetings,I too have a 1991 Hunter Legend 37.5, with the Hood furling system. My experience is identical to yours--seemingly losts of friction up, almost no friction down. I have found no reason so far.Jack

 

[Tim S.]

headsails

If you haven't already done so, you might visually inspect the sheaves. Have you tried a different halyard? Not over the same sheave, but a spinnaker halyard or spare jib halyard?In some cases, everything seems to move fine, until a certain amount of load develops(as in getting your sail up only so far). In these cases, it is not uncommon for a sheave to have broken or split over the years, and when a certain load is reached, it will bind up.

 

[Doug T.]

Interference

I don't have the same boat or furler, but I had a hell of a time furling my headsail until I figured out that my spinnaker halyard and the sheave at the masthead were interfering with the furler head piece. Get some binoculars and watch carefully as someone furls the sail.