Furling Main

[Frank15188]

This is my first year with a furling main. Does anyone know where one can get information on the best way to deploy it, trim it, and bring it back in? I am able to do all these things in a basic way, but I think I am missing some important points as to how to do them in an optimum way. If it matters, it is made by Charleston Spar.

 

[Reid9377]

This is also my first year wit ha furling main (oceanis 281). I found some info on the us spars web site. They manufactured the furling system for Beneteau and some others

 

[Bill C320 Papillon]

I also have a US Spar furling main on my Beneteau 281. At first, I had trouble getting it deployed but I replaced the oversized outhaul and furling lines with the correct ones, had the main cleaned and rehabbed and now everything works very well. Many folks talk about releasing the vang, the main sheet,the topping lift and adjusting the halyard to help furl and unfurl. I haven't noticed that all that advice helped me any, as a matter of fact, I get better results with some vang tension, I think it puts the boom on my boat at a better (90 degree) angle to the mast. It also helps for me to have the wind to starboard because the sail gets a better entry angle into the mast. The other really important thing is to pay attention as the sail enters the mast (keep tension on the outhaul) so that you don't get any folds or creases. If you do, it will make it harder to deploy the next time. If I have furled the main in very windy conditions, I commonly unfurl and refurl the main after I get docked just to make sure that it is stored smoothly. It only takes me about 3 or 4 minutes and it is worth it. This still is easier than flaking the main and puting on the sail cover.If you can furl and unfurl it, what do you feel that you are missing? Are you having any specific problems?As far as sail trim, it is mostly on-the-job experience. I have found having the loose footed main gives me much more diversity with sail shape. For me, trial and error is the best way to learn sail trim but I am by no means an expert.Good luck

 

[Frank15188]

Bill, last weekend, I hard a very difficult time deploying the sail. It seemed to be stuck in the mast. I finaly freed it with successive tugs of the outhaul. I think I may have put it away incorrectly after the prior use. From your post, you put it away while on a starboard tac. I have not been doing this, so perhaps that will help. Another problem I have is when I sail with Jib only (winds >25 k) and close to the wind, the pressure caused by the jib causes the main inside the mast to rattle around. I suppose this could also be caused by not wrapping the main tightly enough when I put it away. The noise goes away on a reach or run. Thanks for the input.

 

[Bill C320 Papillon]

hard to deploy

I'm certain that your problem is folds and/or wrinkles when the main is furled. When I was getting familiar with mine, there were a couple of times that I, or someone else on those rare occasions that I am not single handing, had to go to the mast and actually pull on the sail to get it out of the slot because of wrinkles. You ought to look at the sail to see whether there are any "permanant" creases that may have developed with the sail stored in the mast improperly for a long time.As I said, I sent mine in and had it cleaned and rehabilitated. Came back wrinkle free. Now, if there is any wind, the sail unfurls itself just like the genoa.I haven't noticed any noise when sailing on genoa alone but w/ 25 kt wind, I'm not sure I could hear it anyway. My boat handles better in wind over 20 with both a reefed jib and reefed main out, I have trouble getting back into the wind after a tack on the headsale alone. The unlimited sail plan is one of the beauties of having both sails that reef/furl.

 

[Frank15188]

Bill, Thanks for the advice.