Fouled Furler

[capta]

We have a ProFurl on the head stay. Today when we were trying to bring down the Yankee the head swivel fitting would not pass the joint in the foil. We tried numerous times and even went aloft to see if something was visibly wrong. Nothing apparent. And yes, the halyard was loose with plenty of slack.
I've been told that this could happen raising the sail, the two pieces get out of alignment, but with the sail up, the tape is in one of the grooves and should prevent this.
I would hope that there is an easy fix for this, as it sucks having the sail half down, or up if you are a pessimist. I have absolutely no thoughts on this one.
Anybody had this problem or had someone they know have it?
Thanks

 

[rardiH36]

Several months ago, my head sail wouldn't come down. Also a Profurl.

But before I struggle with attempting to coherently describe my issue/fix, a question to identify if we may have the same thing. My headsail wouldn't come down at all, not even an inch. (And yes the halyard definitely was slack at the head shackle.)

You describe "won't pass the joint in the foil" -- of which you would have several. Does the sail go up up/down normally until then? If so, I didn't have this problem, but I have read and been told that if one of the allen screws at the extrusion joints backs out, maybe even to little to readily see but could feel with a finger, the swivel head can't pass beyond it.

If are you referring to the joint between the black anti-wrap stop and the extrusion at the very top and the sail won't budge at all from there, I'll post how I got mine freed.

Installation manuals for the profurls are available on line. From memory, Winchard has now got the ProFurl license and that I think is where I found the manual.

 

[victorhoisington]

I had a similar problem with mine this year. I discovered after really looking at things that the headsail had jumped out of the groove at the last joint prior to reaching full hoist, so I sailed most of the year with about 5' of headsail not truely in the furler.

When it came time to remove the sail for storage I could not get the swivel to go past that joint. It took a while but, by twisting the foil while trying to lower the swivel (you will need a helper), I was eventuially able to get the swivel past the problem joint. You have to raise and then lower the swivel while twisting the foil (try clockwise first and if no success then counter clockwise). It took about 20 minutes of very frustrating work but evenutally I got the swivel to pass.

Seems if the foils get out of alignment or the set screws come out, the swivel just had to be in the right spot at the right time to get past the misalignment in the foil sections.

Not sure if this helps but, good luck either way

Captain Victor
French Temper
Hunter 28

 

[capta]

Thank you both. We will try your suggestions.
The joint is about 1/2 way down and yes the sail goes up or down to that point, but not below.
Thanks again.

 

[capta]

Thank you both and we have it fixed. It was the allen screws at the extrusion joint that had backed out and as a tall ship captain for the last 15 years or so, I have not sailed with roller gear in quite some time.
Regards, gentlemen and thank you again.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I had issues with my Profurl on my boat that were similar. There is a tiny set screw in the top swivel that came loose on mine and jammed.

I talked with Profurl about this. They were most helpful and they sent me the parts under warranty. It cost me shipping and that was all. If I had to buy the parts it would have been expensive. They also sent me a cut piece of extrusion to replace the piece that was damaged.

Contact them!

 

[Stu Jackson]

I had the same issue with a screw coming out of the extrusion connection pieces - the idiot rigger didn't use locktite!

I also had to re-tap that set screw on the top furler.

All this happened in 2003 within 2 months of original installation of an LCI32. Been fine ever since.