Harken Roller Furling System Problem

[lnranch]

I have a new Harken furling system that I installed about a year ago on my O'Day 28. The problem with the system is the way the spool is attached to the foil. You use loctite to keep the screws in place. Vibration can cause them to come out with the result that you can not furl the sail. This could be a real problem for a single or short handed crew. We first had it happen on a trip from Marathon to Key West and had to go forward in heavy seas to drop the sail. I spoke to Harken and they told me others have had the same problem and their solution was to cover the screws with tape. They sent me some new screws along with loctite and I replaced them. We were returning from the Bahamas and the same thing happen. I spoke with a young man, I met in Bimini, with a O'Day 27 who had sailed it from Maine to Ireland and was on the way back and he said the same thing happen to him.I guess I will put tape over the screws. Maybe Harken should send a roll of duct tape with the system and show the tape in their ads.Ned YoungS V Dream Weaver

 

[Vic]

Gee ... I have an 18 yr. old harken ...

and haven't had to touch it once ... I wonder what the constant improvements are all about?I would tell them to fix the stupid thing or buy it back.Vic

 

[lnranch]

Hope Tape will fix it

Vic,The problem would be I would have to reinstall and this is not a easy job.

 

[John Visser]

Try Loctite again

Loctite is pretty good stuff. It could be that it was applied incorrectly. There is a correct temperature range, and there is also a primer available. They have a web site, see link.

 

[Vic]

Of course if loctite doesn't work ... and you have

tried it twice ... you could epoxy it ... and never have to worry about it ... just drill it out if you need to dismantle it ... but that is a kind of fix you generally feel better doing with 10 year old equipment you picked up for pennies on the dollar.Still remains a decent problem for harken to resolve!Vic