Furling line Q’s

Aug 17, 2013
1,019
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa/Gatineau
Hello all
Still trying to get my boat to a comfortable place to use.
My question is what hardware do you all use to secure the furling line at the cockpit?

I am also wondering if port or starboard makes a big difference in using it? ( probably not)

I am trying to better the exit angle from
The drum as the line is in the way of the anchor chain and rode.
I will take pictures next time at the boat, the pictures I have are before the add of of the anchor roller
 
Oct 10, 2009
1,045
Catalina 27 3657 Lake Monroe
I think the line exiting the drum perpendicular is best. Port or starboard depends on which side of the sail your UV cover is on. I kind of like an old fashioned horn cleat, so that I can use a half wrap to control unfurling.
 
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Jan 7, 2011
5,611
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
My furling line originally ran down the port side deck, through some blocks mounted on the stanchions. It terminated at a small cleat on the side deck next to the helm. It worked ok, but I found it hard to pull in the furling line while leaned over the side deck.

i had an open rope clutch on the port side cabin top, so I rerouted my furling line to the port side cabin top, moved one of the blocks so the line could run fair back to the clutch.

I find this to be a great “upgrade”. I can use the clutch to stop the furling line from running when I want to reef the jib, and pulling the furling line, even in 20 knot winds is so much easier when I can just pull it straight back and not lean over.

Greg
 
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colemj

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Jul 13, 2004
629
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
It doesn't matter which side the furling line is on, but it does matter which direction the furler turns. The side of your sail with the UV cover determines which direction the furler needs to turn, and once you pick a side for the furler line, you feed it either across the front of the drum or the back of the drum, depending on which way you need it to turn.

I prefer to pull toward my dominant side, so like the line on the starboard side. But it doesn't make that much difference, and we have two furling sails with a line down each side anyway.

The furling line needs to enter the drum perpendicular. You might need to lift the furler a bit with a link plate if it is interfering with the anchor.

Cleat or clutch works for securing the line. It greatly helps if you lead it near a winch, as that can be used for a snubber for better controlling the unfurling of the sail. A clutch is way more convenient than a cleat.

Mark
 
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Ward H

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Nov 7, 2011
3,787
Catalina 30 Mk II Cedar Creek, Bayville NJ
We enter our boat on the starboard side so I try to keep the starboard side deck as clear as possible. For that reason I chose to run the furler line along the port side. I also chose "outside" stanchion blocks. I have a ratchet block on the pushpit stanchion to turn the line back forward a bit to a horn cleat. The ratchet function helps to control the line when unfurling the sail.
 
Sep 24, 2018
3,414
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
You should be able to put it on either side so long as it's wrapped around the drum in the correct direction. My last boat had a standard cleat. My current one has a cam cleat
 
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Likes: fred1diver
Jan 19, 2010
12,572
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
You mentioned that the line is in the way of the chain and rode.

This is what I used on my H26 to control the line.

1753196447927.png


They allow the line to live "outboard" of the deck and cockpit. They come in many styles...
1753196476173.png
1753196686220.png
1753196815722.png


You should be able to exit the drum and take the line perpendicular to the gunnal and to a turning block and then through fairleads to the cockpit and put a cam cleat on the last stanchion.

1753196587872.png
1753196714268.png


--------Bow Pulpit ----------------------- Aft-Stanchion
 
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Jan 19, 2010
12,572
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Do a search for "Stanchion Mounted Fairleads" and you will get many choices.
 
Jul 5, 2011
747
Oday 28 Madison, CT
I start with a block assembly, mounted on the bow pulpit. That starts the furling line off in the right direction guiding it down to three turning blocks on the stantion bases, then back to a small cleat a couple feet past the port winch.
 
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Feb 22, 2015
14
Catalina 30 Redondo Beach
I orginally had fairlead blocks. When the rollers wore out, I replaced them. But the lines occasionally got in the way as they were threaded on the inside. A few years ago I replaced them with dyneema loops. I wrapped the loops around a stanchion forming two ears through which I threaded the furling line. Works perfectly. The lines are out of my way being threaded on the outside. Bonus: much less expensive. Simple to construct.
 
Aug 17, 2013
1,019
Pearson P30 202 Ottawa/Gatineau
I orginally had fairlead blocks. When the rollers wore out, I replaced them. But the lines occasionally got in the way as they were threaded on the inside. A few years ago I replaced them with dyneema loops. I wrapped the loops around a stanchion forming two ears through which I threaded the furling line. Works perfectly. The lines are out of my way being threaded on the outside. Bonus: much less expensive. Simple to construct.
Do you have a picture by any chance?