All,
Over the last year I have run into an issue that has surfaced again and again and I think it is due mostly to the age of the fleets.
The aft outhaul sheave in the boom of any of your boats from 2009 and before is now 10 years plus old. This Delrin sheave is in the weather 24/7 has age hardened and I have come across a LOT of them that are cracked, split, broken, jammed and otherwise not working. And this leads to significant issues in being able to furl your mainsails as if it's any of the above, the outhaul will not really be working in the way it should and instead compounds the friction in system.
The sheave replacement by and large is a simple fix; US-Spars has them in stock. You or a rigger can easily install a new one prior launching this spring.
And I'd bet if this hasn't been replaced, nor has the inhaul and outhaul lines...10-20 years old maybe? Stiff,unyielding, hard on the hands? Well, they also add to the difficulty in furling and all of these small things add up to furling issues.
So replace them as you would tires on your car, get new line, a new sheave, scrub the outhaul track with a green srubber, clean and smooth. High pressure the outhaul car bearings and when everything is dry, give a quick shot of mclube.
You'll be happy you did.
Bob Pattison
Neil Pryde Sails Int.
Over the last year I have run into an issue that has surfaced again and again and I think it is due mostly to the age of the fleets.
The aft outhaul sheave in the boom of any of your boats from 2009 and before is now 10 years plus old. This Delrin sheave is in the weather 24/7 has age hardened and I have come across a LOT of them that are cracked, split, broken, jammed and otherwise not working. And this leads to significant issues in being able to furl your mainsails as if it's any of the above, the outhaul will not really be working in the way it should and instead compounds the friction in system.
The sheave replacement by and large is a simple fix; US-Spars has them in stock. You or a rigger can easily install a new one prior launching this spring.
And I'd bet if this hasn't been replaced, nor has the inhaul and outhaul lines...10-20 years old maybe? Stiff,unyielding, hard on the hands? Well, they also add to the difficulty in furling and all of these small things add up to furling issues.
So replace them as you would tires on your car, get new line, a new sheave, scrub the outhaul track with a green srubber, clean and smooth. High pressure the outhaul car bearings and when everything is dry, give a quick shot of mclube.
You'll be happy you did.
Bob Pattison
Neil Pryde Sails Int.