I'm new to In-Mast and got my sail jammed inside the Mast. It won't come out and I wasted an entire day. I would appreciate any help. Thanks.
Mike
Mike
In-Mast Furling
- Thread starter 7sailing7
- Start date
Sorry, I can't help, but I'm surprised I read about so many issue with in-mast furling. It seems like a weekly occurrence on some sailing site...
Good luck-
If the sail is furled to loose it will jam in the slot when unfurled. Look at the slot in the mast that the sail furls into to see if the sail is doubled over on itself. if so it will jam. Furl the sail a little and then take a long stick, boat hook, or something to poke the doubled over portion back into the mast as you unfurl it. You may have to go back and forth several times to get the whole sail out. Just take your time and be careful not to tear the sail. Had the same thing happen to me once and was able to fix it this way. Then next time you furl the sail keep a little tension on the outhaul as the sail is furled. Some have also said to furl the sail while on a slight starboard tack instead of dead into the wind helps. Hope I described this in a way that makes sense.
I have had this problem. The sail wants to pull out more than one wrap. the extrusion inside the mast pulls against the slot and pulling on the outhaul pulls everything to the slot and it jams. Try going up on deck and pulling on the foot of the sail close to the mast. This usually works for me. You pull out a little, tighten outhaul, and pull out a little more. Sometimes you can work the the furling lines back and forth to tighten up the wraps, but the real key seems to be pulling on the foot of the sail close to mast.
-charlie
-charlie
Winch on mast
Try using the winch on the mast with a winch handle,I had never had
a problem with my inmast but one windlass day I decided to add telltails the day before a race and must have not done a good job rolling the sail back in at the dock.
On the day of the race as we were motoring out getting ready to race
I find out my sail is stuck and badly jammed and so with a winch handle at
the mast I used the winch handle to tighten the sail inside the mast and than
tried unfurling it out so back and forth and at the same time a crew member
pulled out on the outhaul and it did come out in time to race.
Try using the winch on the mast with a winch handle,I had never had
a problem with my inmast but one windlass day I decided to add telltails the day before a race and must have not done a good job rolling the sail back in at the dock.
On the day of the race as we were motoring out getting ready to race
I find out my sail is stuck and badly jammed and so with a winch handle at
the mast I used the winch handle to tighten the sail inside the mast and than
tried unfurling it out so back and forth and at the same time a crew member
pulled out on the outhaul and it did come out in time to race.
All the advice above is good. Just work it out of the slot, keep tension on the outhaul and tension the furling winch to try and get the sail rolled up tighter inside the mast. Then release the furling winch and try to get more sail out of the slot. Repeat if necessary.
I find it always furls and unfurls best if I keep a little tension on outhaul but loosen off the vang and the mainsheet so the boom can lift if it needs to, that way the sail has balanced tension on the foot and leach going in and out with no chance of a fold, it seems to go in and out more evenly this way.
Bob
I find it always furls and unfurls best if I keep a little tension on outhaul but loosen off the vang and the mainsheet so the boom can lift if it needs to, that way the sail has balanced tension on the foot and leach going in and out with no chance of a fold, it seems to go in and out more evenly this way.
Bob
Thanks neighbor I'll try that.....I know the outhaul pulls the clew across the boom but I'm not sure where it is on the deck ? I never had in-mast before and the manual sucks. Thanks again.Try using the winch on the mast with a winch handle,I had never had
a problem with my inmast but one windlass day I decided to add telltails the day before a race and must have not done a good job rolling the sail back in at the dock.
On the day of the race as we were motoring out getting ready to race
I find out my sail is stuck and badly jammed and so with a winch handle at
the mast I used the winch handle to tighten the sail inside the mast and than
tried unfurling it out so back and forth and at the same time a crew member
pulled out on the outhaul and it did come out in time to race.
Mike
Thanks Bob, I know where the outhaul is on the boom pulling the clew but need to find out where it is on the deck. The manual I received sucks ! Thanks.
Keep Tension
As said always keep tension on the outhaul as you pull the sail back in and I never use winch to furl in the sail and when sailing release outhaual and point to port and let the wind put pressure on the sail and it will help keep the sail from
going into the mast nice and tight.
Always keep tension on the sail when furling back into mast and watch it making sure pressure is on the sail and keeping it tight and making sure the sail is going in with out wrinkles,like rolling up a shade sort of and it has to stay nice and smooth and wrapping tightly,practice and watch the sail going into the mast
and keep a eye on it maybe have some one hold tension on outhaul as you pull sail into mast.
I own my inmast since 2007 and only once recently had it jam and because I did
not watch and make sure the sail went in tight.
Nick
As said always keep tension on the outhaul as you pull the sail back in and I never use winch to furl in the sail and when sailing release outhaual and point to port and let the wind put pressure on the sail and it will help keep the sail from
going into the mast nice and tight.
Always keep tension on the sail when furling back into mast and watch it making sure pressure is on the sail and keeping it tight and making sure the sail is going in with out wrinkles,like rolling up a shade sort of and it has to stay nice and smooth and wrapping tightly,practice and watch the sail going into the mast
and keep a eye on it maybe have some one hold tension on outhaul as you pull sail into mast.
I own my inmast since 2007 and only once recently had it jam and because I did
not watch and make sure the sail went in tight.
Nick
I had trouble with my sail jamming until I discovered that if I used the out furling line to actually push the sail out and not pull it out with the outhaul line. I always winch my sail in with the In furling line with a bit of wind in the sail keeping it tight. No more spending 4 hours with a wooden spoon standing on the boom trying to unjam the sail. I now love my in mast furling.
I have a AC 41. Check the Selden manual about adjustment of the furling foil. Most are too loose and need to be tightened up. The foil should not be banging around when the sail is off.
The only time I have had a furling issue is when the sail is wound up loose with no tension on the out haul.....or when the hallard was backed way off.
The only time I have had a furling issue is when the sail is wound up loose with no tension on the out haul.....or when the hallard was backed way off.
On the sea trial of my 2006 H44 the sail became hopelessly jammed in the mast. It took four experienced sailors a half- hour extricate it. It was consensus that this eight- year-old fully vertically battened sail was probably getting baggy and either needed to be replaced or recut. Discussions with Doyle and Selden led me to a new non- battened sail ($2600). I certainly lost a tiny bit of sail area but I'm not racing or doing long voyages. I am perfectly content to have an in- mast furling system that works smoothly in all kinds of wind.
I had many problems with my Hunter 45CC with a 4 yrs old Doyle sail.
My sail was stretched out and folding over when furling out.
In the end I got a new sail from Mack Sails and have no more problems.
What helps:
- always keep tension on the outhaul when furling in, stay on slight port tack.
- when furling out, stay on slight port tack, let the wind help you, pull on outhaul but keep also tension on furling in line.
-I have no more problems now, often the sail comes out by itself!
- Going to the mast and pull in and out repeatedly in short jerky motions the furling in and out line may help.
- If the sail is severely stuck you may have to send somebody (not your admiral!) up the mast and pull the sail out by hand.
Good luck!
Viktor
My sail was stretched out and folding over when furling out.
In the end I got a new sail from Mack Sails and have no more problems.
What helps:
- always keep tension on the outhaul when furling in, stay on slight port tack.
- when furling out, stay on slight port tack, let the wind help you, pull on outhaul but keep also tension on furling in line.
-I have no more problems now, often the sail comes out by itself!
- Going to the mast and pull in and out repeatedly in short jerky motions the furling in and out line may help.
- If the sail is severely stuck you may have to send somebody (not your admiral!) up the mast and pull the sail out by hand.
Good luck!
Viktor
inmast sail
It seems to me that the Doyle sails do not last as long as the
UK sails which seem less baggy problems after years of use.
Just asking this question.
Nick
It seems to me that the Doyle sails do not last as long as the
UK sails which seem less baggy problems after years of use.
Just asking this question.
Nick
One further thing that you might want to check is the position of the outhaul pulley on the top of the boom. If it is too close to the mast it will pull the tack of the sail "down" rather than "out" of the mast. If it pulls the sail down it will exacerbate the jamming of the sail in the mast. I placed mine right above the vang/boom connection. This gives the outhaul line more "out" pull and less "down" pull on the furled sail.
If it's the original dacron sail, probably Doyle, I would wager it's stretched. There are most likely crescent shaped wrinkles in the sail along the foot. You always need to keep light tension, both furling and unfurling, on the clew (outhaul). This will help keep it tight and prevent jams. But most likely it's new sail time as it will only get more prone to jamming as it ages. Do not replace it with a cross cut dacron sail as they will always stretch. Find a reputable local sail maker and ask all the questions. They should be happy to help.
In-mast
even on my Hunter 38, when they handed it to me, I had the same problem. Due to my inexperience and ill-advised by the sailmaker, I made the decision to remove the slats. I later discovered that the problem is in the form of small battens and the luff of the tree.
My advice is this: always wrap the mainsail upwind, changing the battens with the slim form. Never round battens.
I hope my advice do you solve the problem.
good wind
Tango Six (Dante)
Hello,
even on my Hunter 38, when they handed it to me, I had the same problem. Due to my inexperience and ill-advised by the sailmaker, I made the decision to remove the slats. I later discovered that the problem is in the form of small battens and the luff of the tree.
My advice is this: always wrap the mainsail upwind, changing the battens with the slim form. Never round battens.
I hope my advice do you solve the problem.
good wind
Tango Six (Dante)
Furling in mast Main
Have never had any problems with the in mast main on my 2005 H44. No battens. Lot of good info above however I always keep the boat on starboard tack when furling as that aligns the sail properly as it wraps around in a counter clockwise direction in the mast. I think that the Selden manual recommends starboard tack.
Have never had any problems with the in mast main on my 2005 H44. No battens. Lot of good info above however I always keep the boat on starboard tack when furling as that aligns the sail properly as it wraps around in a counter clockwise direction in the mast. I think that the Selden manual recommends starboard tack.