I have in mast furling on my Hunter 42. How can I work the sail to get it to come out of the mast, it is apparently folded over (maybe several times) some where along in the mast. The sail was furled in a good blow by a strong, less knowledgeable crew member and the sail was flapping wildly and there was no tension on the outhaul. Any suggestions….. I have tried cleating the outhaul and taking in the inhaul to tighten up the sail in the mast…but this has not worked. Thanks everyone..... Jack@Rudolph.net 214-679-5225
Furled mainsail is stuck in mast
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Try This
Just below the boom fitting where the furling line attaches there is a lever, or actually a small knob, in one position the furling line works, in the other position you can attach your winch handel, and manually turn the furling rod. You will want to furl it "IN" so as to tighten the sail and get the folds out. Once this is done you should be able to unfurl it. Best of Luck Jeff
Just below the boom fitting where the furling line attaches there is a lever, or actually a small knob, in one position the furling line works, in the other position you can attach your winch handel, and manually turn the furling rod. You will want to furl it "IN" so as to tighten the sail and get the folds out. Once this is done you should be able to unfurl it. Best of Luck Jeff
Same Here
I had the same problem yesterday I followed the procedure given by Jeff. However, I also had someone winch the outhaul at the same time, helping to pull the sail out In addition I contacted Seldon today and they sent me a procedure to increase the luff extrusion tension that is not in my Seldon manual My boat is 5 years old and I feel the extrusion is moving to freely inside the mast I will do the adjustment tomorrow evening and let you know how it goes John
I had the same problem yesterday I followed the procedure given by Jeff. However, I also had someone winch the outhaul at the same time, helping to pull the sail out In addition I contacted Seldon today and they sent me a procedure to increase the luff extrusion tension that is not in my Seldon manual My boat is 5 years old and I feel the extrusion is moving to freely inside the mast I will do the adjustment tomorrow evening and let you know how it goes John
Share it
Hi John, I'm having the same problem as I suspect a lot of other people are too. Can you share the info with the rest of us? Jack
Hi John, I'm having the same problem as I suspect a lot of other people are too. Can you share the info with the rest of us? Jack
We had a similar problem on a Gibsea.
We encountered a similar problem on a chartered Gibsea last year. It took us about 45 minutes to extract the sail from the mast. Our process was to beat on the sail as we hauled it out of the mast. It was caused by a stretched sail. The charter company ultimately replaced the sail and all was reported to be fine. It just confirms my suspicion that the in mast furling may need to be perfected before I would consider on. I think that an in boom furler is a little easier to deal with.
We encountered a similar problem on a chartered Gibsea last year. It took us about 45 minutes to extract the sail from the mast. Our process was to beat on the sail as we hauled it out of the mast. It was caused by a stretched sail. The charter company ultimately replaced the sail and all was reported to be fine. It just confirms my suspicion that the in mast furling may need to be perfected before I would consider on. I think that an in boom furler is a little easier to deal with.
a possible solution
1. ease topping lift and tighten mainsheet to increase leech tension. (get the boom as low as you can to the arch.) 2. unwind sail from top down, exerting more pressure on the leech than the foot.
1. ease topping lift and tighten mainsheet to increase leech tension. (get the boom as low as you can to the arch.) 2. unwind sail from top down, exerting more pressure on the leech than the foot.
Roller Furling Main Stuck
I've had this happen a few times on my 450. NEVER let an inexperienced person furl your main!!! I've had a few really bad binds and was able to undue them by unfurling as far as possible, then refurling a bit, then unfurling again many times. I had to put a tremendous amount of pressure on the out haul and main sheet to maximize leach tension. I even had 2 people hang on the end of the boom in an effort to get some movement. If you play with is long enough and sweat and curse enough it will come undone. It is likely that your current bind has created a crease in the sail that will lead to future binds. Once the sail is out, take it down and try to undue that crease to avoid future binds. Good luck. Fixing this is a real pain in the a**
I've had this happen a few times on my 450. NEVER let an inexperienced person furl your main!!! I've had a few really bad binds and was able to undue them by unfurling as far as possible, then refurling a bit, then unfurling again many times. I had to put a tremendous amount of pressure on the out haul and main sheet to maximize leach tension. I even had 2 people hang on the end of the boom in an effort to get some movement. If you play with is long enough and sweat and curse enough it will come undone. It is likely that your current bind has created a crease in the sail that will lead to future binds. Once the sail is out, take it down and try to undue that crease to avoid future binds. Good luck. Fixing this is a real pain in the a**
Me too
Count me in as having this problem from time to time on my H356. I have let out the topping lift, increased main sheeting, increased "Vang", moved the boom via the traveler to port, hung on the boom, executed a big ugly power jibe, tightened the leech line, tighten/slack outhaul and "Inhaul", sail with it close hauled, reached, ran, cursed, sweated and pretty much always got it out. You do need a good tight furl and it is a rare crew member who understands the difference between applying some resistance to furling and preventing it. Most of the time I have had the problem after furling in wind. Our SOP now is put the boat on autopilot and unfurl and furl the main using two of us tending the inhaul and outhaul in a controlled manor. There is usually some yelling.
Count me in as having this problem from time to time on my H356. I have let out the topping lift, increased main sheeting, increased "Vang", moved the boom via the traveler to port, hung on the boom, executed a big ugly power jibe, tightened the leech line, tighten/slack outhaul and "Inhaul", sail with it close hauled, reached, ran, cursed, sweated and pretty much always got it out. You do need a good tight furl and it is a rare crew member who understands the difference between applying some resistance to furling and preventing it. Most of the time I have had the problem after furling in wind. Our SOP now is put the boat on autopilot and unfurl and furl the main using two of us tending the inhaul and outhaul in a controlled manor. There is usually some yelling.
A tip
Just a tip...I now pull the sail out a little bit while still at the dock. I know that if I can get it started at 6 to 12 inches (and leave it out), then I'm pretty sure I won't have a problem once I'm out. Once it's started, it usually comes right out the rest of the way when I get out on the water. If it doesn't start coming out at the dock, then it's "A NO-GO" It's better to sweat and curse at the dock than on the water.
Just a tip...I now pull the sail out a little bit while still at the dock. I know that if I can get it started at 6 to 12 inches (and leave it out), then I'm pretty sure I won't have a problem once I'm out. Once it's started, it usually comes right out the rest of the way when I get out on the water. If it doesn't start coming out at the dock, then it's "A NO-GO" It's better to sweat and curse at the dock than on the water.
Been There and Done That!
Yes, we have had all of these problems. On our 36 we first understood to always furl it in from the same direction, I believe clockwise - the sheet closer to the companionway. Next, do not put the inhaul on a winch. Be sure to release the tension on the sheet for the boom and allow the boom to move to the side of the arch were the wind blows it because then the boom can be at a better angle with the mast. When you take in the main it can go in wrong and at the wrong angle. Also I now know that I need to keep tension on the vang to keep tension on the boom when I am bringing it in and taking it out. I also have a short wench handle to put in the wench on the mast when it does get stuck. Until, I knew all of these issues, it was stuck more often than not and was always a hassle. I also had to put a new furling line in because the original one broke because I put it on the wench and over time it just wore out too soon. I have had much less or no trouble when I follow all of these instructions. Good luck!
Yes, we have had all of these problems. On our 36 we first understood to always furl it in from the same direction, I believe clockwise - the sheet closer to the companionway. Next, do not put the inhaul on a winch. Be sure to release the tension on the sheet for the boom and allow the boom to move to the side of the arch were the wind blows it because then the boom can be at a better angle with the mast. When you take in the main it can go in wrong and at the wrong angle. Also I now know that I need to keep tension on the vang to keep tension on the boom when I am bringing it in and taking it out. I also have a short wench handle to put in the wench on the mast when it does get stuck. Until, I knew all of these issues, it was stuck more often than not and was always a hassle. I also had to put a new furling line in because the original one broke because I put it on the wench and over time it just wore out too soon. I have had much less or no trouble when I follow all of these instructions. Good luck!
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