In mast furling problem

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Sep 1, 2009
69
2003 Hunter 326 Lake Erie Ford Yacht Club
Took first sail this last weekend. Very light wind on lake so I thought I would raise my mainsail. Steeped mast this winter and had not put sail up yet. Hooked up halyard and entered sail into feeder in the luff extrusion. Had son slowly pulling up halyard when sail got stuck about 1/3 the way up. Very hard to pull back down, but it came eventually. Tried again and same problem. I took off sail and tried raising halyard swivel without sail, it too got stuck. Looking up the mast at the luff extrusion it appears their are bends in the track almost like a giant screwdriver was jammed in and torqued on it. Mast was lowered this winter and sat on sawhorses. It was never touched and I was their both times and nobody wrenched on it or stuck forks in it. Any thoughts or am I going to have to lower, take apart and buy a new luff extrusion. Bust Out Another Thousand. Great start to summer.
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Up the Mast

Before jumping the gun I would go up the mast and check out the track more and see what is going on,sounds like some thing damaged the track but I would get a closer look and maybe get a second person of expert to check it after you look closer.
Nick
 
Sep 1, 2009
69
2003 Hunter 326 Lake Erie Ford Yacht Club
Fruling mast problem

Was it laid track up or track down?
Mast was laid on its side. Did not look at Luff extension inside mast. I am sure it was on its side also. Just can't figure out what could get inside the mast to luff extension and bend extrusion. It is aluminum and opening is barely large enough for my fingers.
 
Jun 4, 2004
292
Hunter 49 123
The luff extrusions have bearings in between and are held with set screws. On one of my previous boats a set screw came loose on my jib roller furling (engine vibration??) and jammed the swivel bushing. Trying to force it up or down just makes it worse. If this is the case put a little loctite blue on th threads on the set screws to prevent them from coming loose again. If the swivel bushing is scored inside it nees to be replaced.

V49
 
Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
So the halyard sticks? Perhaps I don't understand your setup but the halyard and swevel don't even run in the luft extrusion do they?
I have an external luft track and have seen the screws back out and cause the same problem as the track cars can't get past the screw ticking part way out. I would think the luft extrusion to be part of the mast and intergal with it when the thing was made so probably no screws holding it to the mast.
 
Jun 2, 2011
347
Hunter H33 Port Credit Harbour, ON.
I have been hanging around in the bushes for the last couple of years. (not registered) I have never had anything constructive to offer that wasn't already presented. So today I have registered to offer some input to your problem.
Our local dealer (Angus at the time) had told me that they had damage to the furling foils on masts that were set on saw horses with a sag in the middle. The damage was created by water in the foil and the resulting freezing during the winter. The suggestion was to have the mast sit one end high to stop the accumulation of water. Since the marina handles the masts and it is not always possible to make this happen, I have found that wrapping the entire mast with shipping stretch wrap stops water from entering the foil. I have had no issues since 2006 and I assist 3 other hunter owners every year.
Hope this helps. Keep us advised about the actual damage.

Cheers, Jake
 
Sep 1, 2009
69
2003 Hunter 326 Lake Erie Ford Yacht Club
The water freezing and thawing inside the mast sounds possible. Because the luff extrusion looks like something twisted it or pressed it out of plumness. I am sure the marina will not take responsibility for this.
 
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