General question about Jib furlers?

[Hermit Scott]

PICS

This is the part that should be able to spin. But I am not sure that it does.
This slides up and down the foil.

EDIT: I bet that thing does spin but it it seized up inside!

 

[jibes138]

Yes that thing should spin freely

Scott,
That unit absolutely needs to spin freely or do not try to roll up your sail. Just hoist the sale in the luff groove each time until you can get a solution that works. Climbing a mast at sea to fix a jammed halyard is not a lot of fun unless you like being the weight on a pendulum 40 feet in the air.

I am concerned by your comment about your standing rigging that sounds jury rigged and your desire to climb your mast. Having worked in manufacturing facilities my entire life I have seen far too many accidents that were completely avoidable, some of which caused loss of life. One of these was a fall from ten feet where the person hit their head on the floor. Make sure if you are going aloft that you have a proper harness, bosuns chair, etc. made for the purpose. I always use a second line as a safety line, just in case. Plan it with the idea that you can not make a mistake and no second chances. If someone is hoisting you also be aware that you could drop a tool on their head, a hard hat or motorcycle helmit is a good idea, or once you are aloft and tied off get them out of the drop zone. I would not want to get hit with a screwdriver dropping from 40 feet. Not knowing what your rigging looks like I can't comment on the suitability to support you, only you can decide how much risk you are willing to take.

 

[catsailor]

A restrainer will help keep the halyard from even THINKING of wrapping

If halyard wrap is a problem, one can install a halyard restrainer. It happens when the head of the jib does not go high enough. The restrainer is put near the top of the mast to shorten the distance of exposed halyard. If you are getting wrap, even occasionally, you should install one as it will eventually probably cause your halyard to fail.

A fix can sometimes be achieved by adding another shackle at the tack.

Please see the masthead photo on this link: http://stiletto.wildjibe.com/portfolio/Port_2009/photo_8.jpg. As stock installation for this boat.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Casailor-where is the halyard restrainer in that pic?

 

[sailingdog]

It is in the lower left corner, with the screw next to it... and the white w/ red fleck halyard running through it.

Casailor-where is the halyard restrainer in that pic?

 

[Hermit Scott]

I really don't know what I am looking at. IS that the mast head? What is that almost horizontal bar at the top right of the photo?

Is that pulley we are looking at there a halyard for a chute?
OK the halyard restrainer is just to keep the halyard at the right angle so it won't easily be spun up on the furler?
I thought the restrainer was a piece of metal that grabbed the top portion of the slide that goes up the furler.

 

[catsailor]

Yes, the masthead.

I really don't know what I am looking at. IS that the mast head? What is that almost horizontal bar at the top right of the photo?

Is that pulley we are looking at there a halyard for a chute?
OK the halyard restrainer is just to keep the halyard at the right angle so it won't easily be spun up on the furler?
I thought the restrainer was a piece of metal that grabbed the top portion of the slide that goes up the furler.

The horizontal bar supports wind instruments.

Yes, the pulley is for the chute.

Yes, the restrainer is nothing more than a guide that increases the angle between the jib halyard and the furler.

 

[Ron20324]

I really don't know what I am looking at. IS that the mast head? What is that almost horizontal bar at the top right of the photo? I thought the restrainer was a piece of metal that grabbed the top portion of the slide that goes up the furler.

Hermit, do you have the cheapo version of the boater's encyclopedia- The West Marine Catalog? Alot of your questions could be answered there if you'll just look it up, and not having everyone else have to explain it to you.

 

[Hermit Scott]

The west marine catalog will explain the picture? It must be very inclusive.
I looked up manufacturer websites for furlers. They didn't help. I did a little home work but would rather have someone with experience explain what is out there and what is best.
Sorry I haven't got to this part of the boat yet Ron. And I don't believe anything from anyone that's trying to sell me something. That's a basic rule of being a shrewd consumer. "If only people would start with the basics"

 

[Joe]

The west marine catalog will explain the picture? It must be very inclusive.

The picture in the WM catalogue may not satisfy you but you can certainly visit the Harken display at most larger west marine stores to get an up close and personal understanding of how a quality furler works. Plus you could study these links for enlightenment.

http://tradeonly.harken.com/pdf/7311FS-cruisingfurling_product-brochure-LR.pdf

http://www.harkenstore.com/uniface.urd/scpdinw1.ShowProd?409Z56LC7EKVI

http://www.harken.com/rigtips/29-34cr.php

This link will give you an explanation of the different types and designs of roller furlers. Very interesting. http://www.myboatsgear.com/newsletter/2008228.asp

 

[Hermit Scott]

Thanks Joe. I read through those and I figured out what some blocks were that I found the other day. It's a boom vang.

 

[bffatcat]

furler comments my 2c mainly about CDI`s

most furlers are hoisted with a standard jib halyard attached to a swivel. Sometimes they
bind up when furling or unfurling. It helps to have two people when changing a jib on a profurl. harken etc: one to hoist back at the winch and one foreward to make sure the sail dosent jamb on the feeder or the slot. Some posters with CDI`s say they have problems with the halyard on the CDI and dont change sails for that reason. Here is my method for changing sails on a CDI it takes me about 5 minutes at the mooring. and shouldnt give any trouble. Its almost impossible to bind up a CDI because the part of the halyard that binds up on other furlers is inside the foil. on the CDI
1. To change sails on a CDI the hoist must be the same length for all sails If not a lanyard must be added to the luff of the shorter sails to make the hoists all the same length
2. Have a messenger line with a snap hook on the end. The messenger line should be about 10 ft longer than your head stay.
3. Attach the halyard to the jib with a bowline. Tie a permanent loop to the other end of the halyard the part that comes out of the foil about 4' from the end
4. Snap your messenger line into the loop and hoist with one hand. use your other hand to
feed the sail into the slot.
5. After the sail is hoisted remove the messenger line and tie the halyard end to the D shackle on the drum. Tie the tack of the sail on to the other side of the drum.
It seems complicated at first but after you do it a few times its not much different than any other furler

 

[bffatcat]

Additional comment to my post on CDI furler hoisting

About the loop in the halyard on the inside of the foil I said about 4 ft from the end. But I neglected to mention that this is where the loop should be with the sail hoisted. Obviously
the loop will be near the top of the mast when the sail is dropped. Dont forget to attach the messenger line before you drop the jib.

And finally when hoisting the jib up the foil. Keep the messenger line straight. If the foil moves straighten the line out. Do not let it twist or move around the foil.

 

[txtowman1]

questions

I tend to want to ask questions when I think of them. And unlike myself a lot of people have some idle time at work and can use the computer without being noticed, but dragging out a boat catalogue is frowned upon.

And the advice here is ten times more useful, and explained in understandable terms.

I am also new to sailing, so I read every post on this site.

Sometimes a search comes up empty because the thing I am looking for has a name and its not spelled right or just hard to describe.

Thanks for helping us new guys.

 

[txtowman1]

mast climbing

I believe that is the swiveling device in your pic, make sure that it is in excellent working condition.
It can really mess you up in heavy weather if it gets stuck.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Listen to Joe. He explained how the ProFurl wrap stop is incorporated into the system. Halyard retainers are used on other types of furlers, such as Harken and Furlex. Not so with ProFurl. CDI is a different animal all together when it comes to the Flexible Furler type. Comments about CDI's have no bearing on your ProFurl.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Bill-do you know what kind of furler I have that's in the pic in the post on the second page (this page) at the top?

 

[garylinger]

It looks almost identical to mine - someone last summer identified it as a Streamstay furler (out of business but parts supported by RigRite). Mine was 'frozen' and I had to lubricate with spray (WD40) and 'work it' to loosen it up. There are bearings inside the top portion and it will swivel free from the 'shank' that comes down out of it.