The furler for the headsail on my 1986 36 Catalina jams and I have had to use the wench to "unjam" furler. Can it be rebuilt or is there some other possible problem with furler that may solve problem if addressed.
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What flavor jam
Jams have different flavor. Theres the stainless jam when it jam on a corner of the drum; the fiberglass jam when it jams on the deck somewhere; or the infamous dacron to dacron jam when it overwinds on the drum. For the first 2, make sure the line leads to the furling drum at a 90 degree angle and does bind on anything else. Use all the eyes and stanchion blocks to make it right. If it is the latter, you have to much rope for the sail you're furling. Either go to a small line or de-core the first 1/3 of the furling line.
Jams have different flavor. Theres the stainless jam when it jam on a corner of the drum; the fiberglass jam when it jams on the deck somewhere; or the infamous dacron to dacron jam when it overwinds on the drum. For the first 2, make sure the line leads to the furling drum at a 90 degree angle and does bind on anything else. Use all the eyes and stanchion blocks to make it right. If it is the latter, you have to much rope for the sail you're furling. Either go to a small line or de-core the first 1/3 of the furling line.
may not be popular...
I have a continuous loop Hood furler. I haven't seen many like it but I have never had any jam problems like I did with the line and drum ones I've used on other boats. I have had a problem with the loose end allowing the rope to come out of the bite. I took care of that by securing it in a friction cleat. Hope you find a good solution.
I have a continuous loop Hood furler. I haven't seen many like it but I have never had any jam problems like I did with the line and drum ones I've used on other boats. I have had a problem with the loose end allowing the rope to come out of the bite. I took care of that by securing it in a friction cleat. Hope you find a good solution.
If your jam is of the override type, that may be solved by keeping a bit of tension on the furling line while unrolling the sail. One wrap around a winch drum should be sufficient. Matt
Careful Using Winch for Furler
Be careful using the winch on your furler line as if the jam is due to a bind on the forestay you could twist the forestay and bring down. The furler should operate easily without using a winch and if it doesn't there is a problem. Regular maintenance includes washing the furler drum after each sail to get salt and debries out of the bearings. The swivel at the top also should be checked for freedom of movement and cleaned periodically. It would be helpful to know what kind of furler, make and model, you have. Also, is there something that was done or changed prior to the problem? Furlers are not intended to be operated using a lot of force and a properly functioning unit should spin easily.
Be careful using the winch on your furler line as if the jam is due to a bind on the forestay you could twist the forestay and bring down. The furler should operate easily without using a winch and if it doesn't there is a problem. Regular maintenance includes washing the furler drum after each sail to get salt and debries out of the bearings. The swivel at the top also should be checked for freedom of movement and cleaned periodically. It would be helpful to know what kind of furler, make and model, you have. Also, is there something that was done or changed prior to the problem? Furlers are not intended to be operated using a lot of force and a properly functioning unit should spin easily.
using the wench to unjam...
...I'm not sure its a good idea to refer to the other half as "teh wench."
Anyway, if you can supply some detail on the make of the furler, and the nature of the jam, I may be able to help. Regardin ghte last reply, it is O.K. to use a winch on a furler if its designed to handle it. My Profurl is a roller reefing furler, and can stand the froce required to roller reef the headsail under load, which will require use of a winch. jv
...I'm not sure its a good idea to refer to the other half as "teh wench."
Anyway, if you can supply some detail on the make of the furler, and the nature of the jam, I may be able to help. Regardin ghte last reply, it is O.K. to use a winch on a furler if its designed to handle it. My Profurl is a roller reefing furler, and can stand the froce required to roller reef the headsail under load, which will require use of a winch. jvHalyard Wrap
If the halyard is attaching to the jib close to parallel to the upper swivel of the furler, it can grab the knot on the halyard and wrap it around. This happened to me and I started to unwrap my forstay wire after a few jams. Pulling harder on the furler while jammed, using a winch, can make the problem worse. Installing a horn at the top of the mast that deflects the halyard away from the upper swivel solved that. Schaefer makes one. Don
If the halyard is attaching to the jib close to parallel to the upper swivel of the furler, it can grab the knot on the halyard and wrap it around. This happened to me and I started to unwrap my forstay wire after a few jams. Pulling harder on the furler while jammed, using a winch, can make the problem worse. Installing a horn at the top of the mast that deflects the halyard away from the upper swivel solved that. Schaefer makes one. Don
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