40.5 Furling Mast removal

[svAtargatis]

Hi all,

I have a 1993 40.5. I have the boat in the yard and the mast off. We have a Forespar EZFurl furler on our boat. This furler has been getting stuck, and fighting us a lot. We are planning to service it while the mast is off, but the boat yard was worried about getting parts. On top of that we don't love the furling main, and would be happy with a good old stack pack. This furler looks like an Aftermarket bolt on add on that could be easily removed. Both the boat yard, riggers and sailmakers I talked to seemed to think this makes sense. i wanted to learn more before diving in:

My questions here are:

1. does any one know if hunters came factory with ezfurl mains from forespar?
2. Does any one else have a 40.5 with ezfurl on it?
3. Has anyone removed an ezfurl or other after market furler?

Looking at the Attached pics it looks as if the furler housing could simply be removed from the side tracks and then we could Drill those rivets out to remove the side tracks. there appears to be a standard slot for slugs on the mast under the furler housing.

Thoughts, concerns, experience doing this?

thanks!

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

My recollection is the Hunter didn't offer a furling mast option in 93. Others will hopefully correct me if wrong.

Regardless, the thing in the pictures looks like an aftermarket add-on. Not a fan of either the look or the performance plus I dont like furler surprises at the worst possible time simply because it is sometimes convenient.

 

[Tally Ho]

Definitely not Seldon in-mast furling….

Maybe you can have it removed and go back to a traditional main.

I wonder how much all of the rivets weaken the mast (and if there is a way to re-strengthen it). I looked an O’Day 39 that something similar…I was trying to determine if I could remove the add-on furler…there were a lot of rivet holes in the mast.

Greg

 

[svAtargatis]

Agree that would be a lot of holes. The riggers suggested filling the holes with Monel rivets to counter act the loat structure.

 

[dkinzer]

You might talk to someone who is skilled in TIG welding as to whether filling the rivet holes with aluminum filler rod would or would not be a good idea. I doubt that filling the holes with rivets would affect the structural integrity either for better or worse.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Agree that would be a lot of holes. The riggers suggested filling the holes with Monel rivets to counter act the loat structure.

Not sure how that makes sense. I my mind expansion of a rivet in a round would weaken the surrounding metal further degrading the structure.

 

[jssailem]

I know that a mast in Everett maybe 2-3 years ago had a similar issue. They removed the attachment and had the holes welded.

Issue is that Seldén makes a great anodized aluminum mast with a surface coating. Looks pretty for a long time.

To weld it will not play well with that surface. Likely you will be into painting the mast... Now it becomes a maintenance issue.

Really no easy answer that does not involve a dozen or so boat bucks.

 

[svAtargatis]

Issue is that Seldén makes a great anodized aluminum mast with a surface coating. Looks pretty for a long time.

i wonder also my mast and boom are zspars, is that original to the hunters?

 

[jssailem]

A French mast... not Swedish.

 

[artboas]

My 40.5 had the first in-mast furling factory installed. It was Zspar
I told Hunter I’d buy the boat if they put a furling mast on it. Two hours later they called back, and said they would do it at no extra charge.
Perfect! Bought it an hour later.

 

[JamesG161]

I have seem that type of main furling, but in is NOT in side the mast type.

It is an external to the mast furling or mounted on the outside of the mast. [This was on a ketch]

The top issues on most furling sails, not important which sails on a sloop [head and main sails]
1) the upper and lower swivels maintenance
2) The Halyard tensioning being too loose or too tight. [ find the sweet spot]
3) Age or how much your sail has stretched.

Looks like his could be removed and fixed back new.
Jim...