I have an in mast furling system. It seems that it takes more force than it should to furl and unfurl the main. Should winching be necessary to unfurl/furl the sail?
In mast furling
- Thread starter PaulM317
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The first thing that comes to mind is the possibilty of bad bearings (or the need for lubrication). Of course it could also be something as simple as halyard tension.
I'd suggest playing with the halyard tension first.
I came across a similar situation on a Jeanneau 51. The bearing were so shot we had to use the winch to furl and sometimes to unfurl. This is NEVER a good sign and shouldn't be done for any extended period of time.
I'd suggest playing with the halyard tension first.
I came across a similar situation on a Jeanneau 51. The bearing were so shot we had to use the winch to furl and sometimes to unfurl. This is NEVER a good sign and shouldn't be done for any extended period of time.
I have a Selden in mast furling on my Hunter 326, the admrial pulls it out with one hand.
Recomend isolating where the issue is.
Pull the sail out by the clew; if it's hard there then checking your grease points top and bottom; need to look at the manaufacture site for those.
Look to see if it's binding in the mast; you need to keep tension on the outhaul as you retract the sail; to loose and it will bind.
Does the outhaul car slide easily on the boom.
Hope this helps
Recomend isolating where the issue is.
Pull the sail out by the clew; if it's hard there then checking your grease points top and bottom; need to look at the manaufacture site for those.
Look to see if it's binding in the mast; you need to keep tension on the outhaul as you retract the sail; to loose and it will bind.
Does the outhaul car slide easily on the boom.
Hope this helps
Battens
Good suggestions so far... one to add:
If you have vertical battens, check to see if they are entering the mast parallel to the mast, or if they are tilted one direction. If they are not parallel, it will make the furling and unfurling more difficult and the sail may need to be reseated. In extreme cases, the mast may not be installed to manufacturer's specifications resulting in binding of the apparatus in some areas.
Good suggestions so far... one to add:
If you have vertical battens, check to see if they are entering the mast parallel to the mast, or if they are tilted one direction. If they are not parallel, it will make the furling and unfurling more difficult and the sail may need to be reseated. In extreme cases, the mast may not be installed to manufacturer's specifications resulting in binding of the apparatus in some areas.
I have the Selden in mast furling also. Recently, I noticed that when the sail furls it wrinkles going in and then is very difficult to pull out. When fully in the sail actually bubbles out between the mast slot and the sunbrella covering on the clew. No matter how I adjust the halyard, keep tension on outhaul when furling, only furl facing the wind, etc, it's the same. I have to sometimes use the boat hook to push the sail back into the mast and this allows me to pull it out. I would never, however try to winch it out. Someone here at the marina tried that a few years ago and pulled the clew right off the sail. Is it possible that the sail has become too baggy? I had them cleaned and serviced ove the winter and it didn't help.
Based on what you describe is happen with sail once it is furlled.
and assuming you are keeping a slight drag or tenchion on the out haul while furlling?
Check the stiching on sail. Especailly at the luff tape. The luff tape may have also partially came out of the track. Mine did this once. Hint try useing fresh water as a lubrcant to help in getting the sail out of the mast. Maybe even a little soap. So you can pull the sail out to trouble shoot the problem.
Has your rig been tuned recently? The selden system works best with a very straight mast with a minimum of "pre-bend" where the middle of the mast curves towards the bow.
When I first bought my last boat I had lots of furling troubles of the sort you describe. It turned out the PO had tuned the mast with a lot of pre-bend. After a rigger retuned to a straighter mast, the furling problems were gone.
Carl
When I first bought my last boat I had lots of furling troubles of the sort you describe. It turned out the PO had tuned the mast with a lot of pre-bend. After a rigger retuned to a straighter mast, the furling problems were gone.
Carl
Sailm I was told on a Port tack
but I really do not think it makes a whole lot of difference as long as there is some tension on the sail as you furl it in. Luffing the sail as it is retracted is the very worst thing you can do. Love the system though.
I relooked at the Instruction Manual after reading your post and mine does not state either tack. It states under the Furling section "The leech should be kept fairly taught when reefing or furling......Keep slight tension on the outhaul while doing this."
Additionally the mast should not be "straight". The rigging manual states that "the prebend should be 1% of the distance from the masthead to the gooseneck".
Additionally the mast should not be "straight". The rigging manual states that "the prebend should be 1% of the distance from the masthead to the gooseneck".
Most likely your boom angle
I also have the in mast furling and any issues with furling and unfurling have always been do to the angle of the boom. If the sail does not unfurl easily or all the way, then there is most likely too much tension, so raise the boom slightly to relieve tension. If you look in your manual, it should tell you the optimal angle. Likewise when furling the sail. Take a look up the mast as the sail is being furled, and try to see where the tension is in the sail and adjust the boom accordingly. Halyard tension, can also play havoc with sails furling with folds and wrinkles.
I also have the in mast furling and any issues with furling and unfurling have always been do to the angle of the boom. If the sail does not unfurl easily or all the way, then there is most likely too much tension, so raise the boom slightly to relieve tension. If you look in your manual, it should tell you the optimal angle. Likewise when furling the sail. Take a look up the mast as the sail is being furled, and try to see where the tension is in the sail and adjust the boom accordingly. Halyard tension, can also play havoc with sails furling with folds and wrinkles.
I've had furling main and jib on two Hunters--my 380 and now my H27. I had problems with both mains which was corrected by a sailmaker. The main on my H27 was terribly hard to furl at first and we found out that the sail was not cut correctly. So we sent it to the Doyle factory in Florida where they recut it and it has worked since.
In my two boats you can furl either on port or starboard or down wind. We do keep a little tension on the sail but not much and by myself I sometimes forget. I do use a Winchrite to unfurl and furl my main so the job is fairly painless. In and out.
I suggest you have a sailmaker look at your sail. They've got the knowing eye.
In my two boats you can furl either on port or starboard or down wind. We do keep a little tension on the sail but not much and by myself I sometimes forget. I do use a Winchrite to unfurl and furl my main so the job is fairly painless. In and out.
I suggest you have a sailmaker look at your sail. They've got the knowing eye.
I have found that if a sail rolls up CW it does so better on starboard tack and if CCW on port
On my Stoboom the topping lift height makes or breaks the furl and 1/4" is a big deal in getting the best furl (which is easy if you mark it)
As much tension as possible to keep it tight as it will not even fiit if it goes lose and will then BIND going out
On my Stoboom the topping lift height makes or breaks the furl and 1/4" is a big deal in getting the best furl (which is easy if you mark it)
As much tension as possible to keep it tight as it will not even fiit if it goes lose and will then BIND going out
We have an issue with the furl in/furl out line. Where the manufacteur spliced the line cause the line to get jammed somehow. We need to check it out....
Thanks for the response. I learned on Friday that the top swivel on the furling unit is toast. The up side is that the part is available. The down side is that the mast has to come down to repair the unit. Probably done for the season :-(
The continuos line jumped out of the winch at the mast. How do I get the continuos line back into the winch?
Thanks
Thanks
there should be a notch in the drum to let you start the line in-work the line in at the notch, then turn the drum by hand to feed the line in
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