As of May 6, I take delivery of a 2005 Catalina 310. Finally was able to get the boat out for a sea trial last Saturday. After a very windy springtime on Lake Erie, what did we get on Saturday? 3 knots of wind! Anyway, (after heading the boat into the wind) I noticed that the furling main was very difficult to pull out, and even having 2 guys at the mast for assistance, barely got the main back in the mast. I trust the rigging guy, and believe that he rigged the main correctly, and from what I've heard of in-mast furling, it should not be this hard to pull it out and back in again. Just wondered if this was an issue that could be corrected with Mclube, or is it more complicated than that. I did check the archives and found a little information. Just wondered if anyone might want to sound off with their viewpoint. Thanks in advance.
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Should be very east to pull out and put away. I can do my 350 with one hand. Sounds like something needs adjustment.
Should be very east to pull out and put away. I can do my 350 with one hand. Sounds like something needs adjustment.
Still at the dealer....
I am hoping that they can figure it out before Friday when I take the boat 8 hours back to my marina...
I am hoping that they can figure it out before Friday when I take the boat 8 hours back to my marina...
Usually the thing to do is:
take tension of the sail by going upwind and then slacken vang, topping lift and main sheet. If this fails you need to scream at the dealer.
take tension of the sail by going upwind and then slacken vang, topping lift and main sheet. If this fails you need to scream at the dealer.
try again; the usual thing to do is:
take tension off the sail by going upwind and then slacken vang, topping lift and main sheet. If this fails you need to scream at the dealer.
take tension off the sail by going upwind and then slacken vang, topping lift and main sheet. If this fails you need to scream at the dealer.
Furling Main Directions
When my boat was first delivered, I had the same problem because I was used to a standard main. Here are the directions from the Charleston Spar web site. Before furling, make sure that the boom is positioned slightly over the horizontal plane by means of the rigid downhaul or by the topping lift. Ease out the mainsail sheet Hold the furling control and while paying out, carefully control the foot tightness. Once you have rolled in the mainsail surface you wanted, secure the furling control and pull out the foot. Ease out the boom topping lift and tune the boom downhaul so that the mainsail leech is taut. As for the furling, the boom has be placed slightly higher than the horizontal plane by means of the rigid topping lift or the boom downhaul. Keep the boat facing the wind, with the mainsail sheet eased out. Hold the foot outhaul while checking on the unfurling process of the furling control Once you have unfurled the planned surface, secure the furling control and pull out the foot. Trim the downhaul so that the mainsail leech is taut. Bear away and sheet in the mainsail. Notice that the topping lift is used to hold the boom slightly higher than horizontal. The mainsheet and vang need to be loose. Try this and if it still doesn't work then something is wrong.
When my boat was first delivered, I had the same problem because I was used to a standard main. Here are the directions from the Charleston Spar web site. Before furling, make sure that the boom is positioned slightly over the horizontal plane by means of the rigid downhaul or by the topping lift. Ease out the mainsail sheet Hold the furling control and while paying out, carefully control the foot tightness. Once you have rolled in the mainsail surface you wanted, secure the furling control and pull out the foot. Ease out the boom topping lift and tune the boom downhaul so that the mainsail leech is taut. As for the furling, the boom has be placed slightly higher than the horizontal plane by means of the rigid topping lift or the boom downhaul. Keep the boat facing the wind, with the mainsail sheet eased out. Hold the foot outhaul while checking on the unfurling process of the furling control Once you have unfurled the planned surface, secure the furling control and pull out the foot. Trim the downhaul so that the mainsail leech is taut. Bear away and sheet in the mainsail. Notice that the topping lift is used to hold the boom slightly higher than horizontal. The mainsheet and vang need to be loose. Try this and if it still doesn't work then something is wrong.
Check if Correctly Rigged
Hi Tim: The furling main on our 310 is very easy to unfurl and furl. You should not have to exert the force you are talking about. Double check your owners manual to insure the the furling system has been rigged correctly. If all is correct try again with with the boom at a higher or different angle. The mainsail will never completely roll into the Mast. You will always have some sticking out. You will really enjoy the furling main system once it is working correctly. Good Luck and enjoy your new 310.
Hi Tim: The furling main on our 310 is very easy to unfurl and furl. You should not have to exert the force you are talking about. Double check your owners manual to insure the the furling system has been rigged correctly. If all is correct try again with with the boom at a higher or different angle. The mainsail will never completely roll into the Mast. You will always have some sticking out. You will really enjoy the furling main system once it is working correctly. Good Luck and enjoy your new 310.
Thanks to all...
I believe my problem has been corrected. I brought the boat across lake Erie (weekend before last), and everything seemed to work just fine. I'm guessing it had something to do with the Halyard tension. Thanks for the tips. This is my first foray into furling Mains, and your insights are appreciated.
I believe my problem has been corrected. I brought the boat across lake Erie (weekend before last), and everything seemed to work just fine. I'm guessing it had something to do with the Halyard tension. Thanks for the tips. This is my first foray into furling Mains, and your insights are appreciated.
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