In mast furling jamming

Loren hall · Jan 3, 2015

I mast furling TIP

I got my hunter 430 new in 1997. Always have had problems with the in mast furling. It's been a real struggle and all of the comments on this forum have been helpful. This time when I went down to the Bahamas and put my boat in the water, I had problems again. Struggle, pull a bit out, furl back in, back out, after about 45 minutes finally got the sail out. This time I tried something totally different. I'm surprised I didn't think of it before. The problem with the sail not coming out is that the Mast is not very roomy and there is friction with the sail against the internal aspect of the mast. So, I went up the mast in the boatswains chair with a can of silicone spray. I simply sprayed both sides of the mast internally, I suppose some got on the sail but I don't think that will hurt the Dacron sail. It was an easy job, I did about two thirds to three quarters up the mast . Took me about 45 minutes. Sail goes in and out easily now. Don't know how long this will last but I may end up doing this every couple of months. Wish I had thought of this one earlier. Would have saved me a lot of grief. I should add one other comment. These sails do not come out by simply yanking them out with the out haul. They work best when you have wind to pull it out. So I always have my wife point the boat about 10 or 15° into the wind and the wind will simply pull the sale right out for me.
Hope these comments will be helpful.

Loren hall · Jan 3, 2015

I mast furling jamming

I got my hunter 430 new in 1997. Always have had problems with the in mast furling. It's been a real struggle and all of the comments on this forum have been helpful. This time when I went down to the Bahamas and put my boat in the water, I had problems again. Struggle, pull a bit out, furl back in, back out, after about 45 minutes finally got the sail out. This time I tried something totally different. I'm surprised I didn't think of it before. The problem with the sail not coming out is that the Mast is not very roomy and there is friction with the sail against the internal aspect of the mast. So, I went up the mast in the boatswains chair with a can of silicone spray. I simply sprayed both sides of the mast internally, I suppose some got on the sail but I don't think that will hurt the Dacron sail. It was an easy job, I did about two thirds to three quarters up the mast . Took me about 45 minutes. Sail goes in and out easily now. Don't know how long this will last but I may end up doing this every couple of months. Wish I had thought of this one earlier. Would have saved me a lot of grief. I should add one other comment. These sails do not come out by simply yanking them out with the out haul. They work best when you have wind to pull it out. So I always have my wife point the boat about 10 or 15° into the wind and the wind will simply pull the sale right out for me.
Hope these comments will be helpful.

Loren hall · Jan 3, 2015

[/II got my hunter 430 new in 1997. Always have had problems with the in mast furling. It's been a real struggle and all of the comments on this forum have been helpful. This time when I went down to the Bahamas and put my boat in the water, I had problems again. Struggle, pull a bit out, furl back in, back out, after about 45 minutes finally got the sail out. This time I tried something totally different. I'm surprised I didn't think of it before. The problem with the sail not coming out is that the Mast is not very roomy and there is friction with the sail against the internal aspect of the mast. So, I went up the mast in the boatswains chair with a can of silicone spray. I simply sprayed both sides of the mast internally, I suppose some got on the sail but I don't think that will hurt the Dacron sail. It was an easy job, I did about two thirds to three quarters up the mast . Took me about 45 minutes. Sail goes in and out easily now. Don't know how long this will last but I may end up doing this every couple of months. Wish I had thought of this one earlier. Would have saved me a lot of grief. I should add one other comment. These sails do not come out by simply yanking them out with the out haul. They work best when you have wind to pull it out. So I always have my wife point the boat about 10 or 15° into the wind and the wind will simply pull the sale right out for me.
Hope these comments will be helpful.]

charliegrau · Jan 5, 2015

I had problems too. A new main improved the way the sail furled, and new running rigging made everything easire to handle, but the one thing that finally made it work well was (and this should have been obvious) - lubricating the furling winch on the mast using the selden grease applied with a small brush through the access hole.

KennyG · Jan 26, 2015

Hi! Good stuff, thanks.

I'm getting ready to buy a 2004 Hunter 420 for my retirement home. (We're gonna retire and run it up and down the east coast, following the warm weather! ;-) I'm thinking it'll need a new main. The furling main on Hunterowners.com prices out at just over $3,000. How much more for something fancy, like you're describing?

Thanks for your reply.

charliegrau · Jan 27, 2015

KennyG said:
Hi! Good stuff, thanks.

I'm getting ready to buy a 2004 Hunter 420 for my retirement home. (We're gonna retire and run it up and down the east coast, following the warm weather! ;-) I'm thinking it'll need a new main. The furling main on Hunterowners.com prices out at just over $3,000. How much more for something fancy, like you're describing?

Thanks for your reply.

If you're asking me, I didn't do anything fancy with the new main...no battens or slick treatments. But the old sail was baggin in the middle, it developed creases as it rolled into the mast and, therefore, took up too much room inside the mast. When unfurling, multiple wraps would try to come out at once causing a jam. The new main ensured that the sail furled tightly inside the mast, but the level of effort to furl it still seemed to high. I lubricated the gears on the furling winch at the mast and lubricated the shafts of all the under deck sheaves. Now I can furl the main hand over hand without using a winch. This makes the furling process much quicker.

seadaddler · Jan 27, 2015

In-mast

In-mast jamming is always been a discussion and I have 07 H-36 and for most years have never had any problems with jamming but yes a few times I have goofed and not watch or make sure I keep tension on the out haul properly and than had trouble pulling it out but with help from the winch on the mast in & out
with the sail and unjamming it.
I have seen many problems that sailors have had from new having problems with the sail and having to have a sail loft or the maker of that sail come and recut the sail because it was not made right and yes it seems that some sails do get baggy sooner than others and than a baggy sails is always going to be a problem for sure,also check the mast and rigging for proper setup as in the selden inmast tuning setup manual.
Maybe sail makers that make sails for Hunter are cutting back and that sail is not made as well as other sail makers and they don't last long or maybe the way the boat is used,don't know for sure what is the answer.
My UK sail has been very good since 07 and hoping it will last long and for the last few years having been racing and been winning some races so my sails are still good,my crew have been sailing & racing many years and tell me my sails are good.
But if and when I do need new sails I will have a local sail loft recommended
come to my boat and check things and also check the rig for proper setup
and this way if there is any problems I can have them come back and get things done properly with good results and not shopping for cheap price.
Nick

Steve D · Jan 27, 2015

I had that problem too. The sail was jambing where the leech came out of the mast. Bunching up.

The solution was adjusting the car stop for the outhaul. As it was, the foot of the sail pulled out, but the top did not at all. Then, as the sail was pulled out it twisted and bunched up as the leech was not pulled out evenly.

I moved the car stop forward and solved the problem. The sail pulls out evenly and much easier.

Good luck.

charliegrau · Jan 28, 2015

Steve D said:
I had that problem too. The sail was jambing where the leech came out of the mast. Bunching up.

The solution was adjusting the car stop for the outhaul. As it was, the foot of the sail pulled out, but the top did not at all. Then, as the sail was pulled out it twisted and bunched up as the leech was not pulled out evenly.

I moved the car stop forward and solved the problem. The sail pulls out evenly and much easier.

Good luck.

That's a good tip!

Richandhelen · Feb 12, 2015

KennyG said:
Hi! Good stuff, thanks. I'm getting ready to buy a 2004 Hunter 420 for my retirement home. (We're gonna retire and run it up and down the east coast, following the warm weather! ;-) I'm thinking it'll need a new main. The furling main on Hunterowners.com prices out at just over $3,000. How much more for something fancy, like you're describing? Thanks for your reply.

My main jammed badly on my sea trial. So part of the purchase agreement was a new main. I chose NOT to get a full roached/battened main to avoid jamming problems. I paid $2600. Contact Eamonn DeLisser at Doyle Miami. 305-649-6001.