Head Stay Hood Furler Hunter Well

[steveebryant]

I have a Hunter 30. There is a headsail furler well in the bow of the boat. I have purchased a new Hood furler “Sea furl 5.” The furler drum is a little larger in diameter than the original furler that was on the boat when I purchased it; hence, the freedom of movement within the confines of the well, more specifically, the vertical adjustment, is critical. This ability to adjust the vertical length within the furler well is the basis of my two questions presented later in this message.
This new furler will connect to a point different than the connecting point of the original furler. The new connecting point is 3 inches lower and 1-3/8 inches aft of the original connecting point within the furler well.
According to the math, this new location will result in an additional 2.5 inches length needed in the head stay. The original head stay was damaged and is going to be replaced. I am not certain where the original turnbuckle was positioned on the original head stay. I will be sending the rigger the original, damaged, head stay and ask them to build me a new one only 2.5 inches longer in keeping with the new furler head stay attachment position. The final length of the new head stay will also take into consideration the length made up by the furler body itself. All of the above should be no problem for the rigger; however, the following presents a problem to me:
I want to keep the furler drum in the furler well as the boat was original designed rather than above the deck. I believe that will be possible if I can find a toggle that will fit on the end of furler and to the new connecting point in the furler well; due to the confines of the furler well and the dimensions of the furler drum, it is necessary that the toggle measure 188mm i.e., not more than 7.5 inches from pin center to pin center. 3/5 inch pins.
Here is an important point of clarification:
The connecting point, in the furler well, is a horizontal 3/4 inch bar about 2.5 inches long.
Two questions:
1. Can I purchase a toggle of these specific dimensions, i.e., 188mm pin center to pin center?
2. Can I purchase a ¾” turn buckle that can be adjusted around the critical 188mm limitation of my furler well?
Thanks,
Steve---405-401-5369; steveebryant@att.net

 

[Nereussailor]

Hey Steveebryant, I don't really have an answer for you, but I do have a Question. What furler did you have on your boat before you got the new one?

Dave

 

[richk]

You probably won't like to hear this, but when my below deck Hood furler on my Hunter 35 died I opted for an above deck furler. One of the reasons was the boat had problems with water intrusion before I bought it and which were fixed. The cause was the deck penetration for the line from the furler. So I patched the penetration and ran an above deck system. The down sides of doing this:
cost of furler and having new jib cut. Also, I didn't do the work myself, I paid a rigger.

 

[Steve Dion]

Steve: The problem that Rich mentions is a common problem with all of the boats that Hunter built with those below deck furlers. Assuming that you have not had the problem and repaired it, I would suggest that you take a look at repairing that through deck feed. It can cost several thousand of dollars to make the deck repair if water gets into the core.

There is something to say for the above deck furlers. You can always see what is going on with the unit.

 

[saltygator]

Re

My Hood died on my H-30 and I replaced it with a Harken Mark IV. By far the best money I have spent. Sail furls when I want it with very little effort. Also, fit below deck with zero modifications except for a new headstay.