In Mast spindle off

[Shell]

We have a 1999 Beneteau 352 with in-mast main-sail furling.

The spindle around which the line to roll in the main is attached to the back of the mast by four nuts/bolts that attach from channels in the back of the mast to the spindle apparatus, two at the top of the apparatus, and two at the bottom.

The top two of the nuts & bolts ripped loose from the channel a week ago, and we thought we had a temporary fix by wrapping a line securely around the top of the assembly and the mast itself, tying the assembly in place where the nuts & bolts had previously held it in place.

Then the bottom two broke loose from the channel on our next sail...

Obviously, when the unit is no longer secured to the mast, the alignment of the roller furling is out of whack and it's nearly impossible to roll the sail in.

Has anyone else had this occur? Any solutions anyone is aware of (other than replace the entire mast (yuck!)?

Thanks. :cry:

 

[Bill C320 Papillon]

What brand of furler do you have?

 

[Barnacle Bill]

It would be nice to know what system you have. I think Beneteau's use Spar Craft masts. A call to your local dealer should help if they have a service department.

 

[John]

Can you provide any photos, or a schematic from the manual?

 

[jibes138]

I can't believe it

I can't imagine having a boat with an inside the mast furling system. I just picture being a hundred miles at sea and having the system fail just when a microburst was about to hit. For this particular problem I would recommend bolting on a t-track to the outside of the mast, having the sail modified to add sliders for the track and adding some way to shackle the tack of the sail to the boom. I can see the attraction of the furling mains for those that only day sail on nice days but the risk of a breakdown just seems too probable and the fix for a breakdown too difficult. IMHO. Any other opinions on this subject?

 

[Bill C320 Papillon]

Unlike Dave, I wouldn't have a boat without in-mast furling. But I don't sail the oceans. If your system is like the Z Spar system I had on my 1996 Beneteau, removing the 4 bolts you are talking about is the first step in removing the furling drum. There should also be a plate adjacent to the furling slot in the mast that are held on by rivets. Removing that plate is the next step. Once these steps are completed, the drum will pull out from the mast and can be disconnected from the foils running up the mast. You will have to replace the furling drum but certainly not the mast.

 

[jibes138]

Standard equipment

Don't anyone take my post as meant to be critical, it is just personal preference. I know many good friends that have in mast furling and it seems this is becoming standard equipment on new boats. I'm just looking for some pros and cons and maybe some other peoples experiences. I know they make an external mainsail furling system and an in-boom furling system. I prefer the KISS method and it seems like good old tracks on the mast or in the mast would be the least likely to fail when you least want it to.
Also the furling mains all seem to be loose footed except for the in boom type, the loose foot will allow some loss of efficiency by spilling air and creating a turbulent air flow. Granted at the foot of the sail the wind speed is low and this probably is insignificant for most sailors.
So who has in mast furling and would you buy it again? How do you protect the part of the sail that sticks out of the mast from sun damage, also how do you protect the amount of sail you can see inside the mast from sun damage?

 

[Bill C320 Papillon]

Dave,
Like in-mast furling, loose footed main sails are gaining in popularity. I've heard that some sail makers are building more loose footed mains that the traditional mains. A loose footed main gives you the ability to really play with sail shapes but with a tight outhaul, I don't think you lose much along the foot.

Back to the original post, if the system is a Z Spar, you can get info and parts from US Spars attention Julian.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Back to the original post, if the system is a Z Spar, you can get info and parts from US Spars attention Julian.

John from Alameda C36 posted a question yesterday or the day before about being unable to contact US Spars to help repair his mast. I don't recall any answer to his question. See: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=110079

 

[John]

A Spar - US Spar

John from Alameda C36 posted a question yesterday or the day before about being unable to contact US Spars to help repair his mast. I don't recall any answer to his question. See: http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=110079

There was no answer. Both I and the yard where my boat is had been trying to get in touch with US Spars for several weeks. I finally called them at 5:00 this morning (CA time). I got Rick on the phone. he said they had been having "personnel" problems, which are now resolved. He was quite helpful.

It sounds like from your description that the mast and furler are from Charleston Spar, but if you post some photos we might help better.

As foir the in mast furler syatem itself: I, personally, have mixed feelings about it. I think that the boat doesn't sail as well with it, although if it had the tall rig this might help. As far as the furler getting stuck - if the sail is out, it can ge lowered just like a regular sail, so if there is this problem out at sea, this would be the solution. I think they are pretty reliable if furled properly and maintained properly. Of course, it's way, way easier to raise, lower and reef. I know people who go for short sails who don't ever raise their main because it's such a hassle. Also, if we were sailing overnight, and somebody is on watch who isn't that experienced and it becomes necessary to reef the sail, they could easily do it themselves with the in-mast furling system. That's also a consideration.

Overall, I'd prefer not to have the in-mast furler, but my wife much prefers it, and that's a big consideration. I think I would prefer the in-boom furler, but that costs more.

 

[Shell]

Posted for a friend

Thanks for all the responses. I posted this for a friend. Please provide more help and suggestions after he posts some pics and other info. As to the debate between the inmast furler as to the slides. I have a slide. Our marina has over 300 hundred boats. Many sailboats with inmast furlers and not.

My observation is that the Beneteaus have many problems . Catalinas none. The Catalinas use a Johnston. Beneteas seem to use many differant kinds, Iso mat, Charelston, Z spar.

Depending on the model boat some have a bearing load outhaul car on the boom. some don't. This leads to many binding problems in heavy air..
I don't want to spark a debate between what boat or system is better, but this is my observation of sailing many types of boats in all kinds of air.

An imast is nice. No sail cover, not that I ever put mine on, unlimited reefing possibilities but unless it is not made properly, it leads to al kinds of problems when the winds pipe up.

Please continue to give suggestions for my friend Bill before his wife kills him. Just kidding Steph.

Thank you all.

 

[Shell]

Bill just sent me this email:

Thanks, Shelly, for re-posting our comment.
We got thru to Beneteau customer service, who promptly referred us to US Spars (www.usspars.com). Called them, and they have a fix with internal plates that are inserted after removing the drum. They also say the drum should be removed and rechecked professionally about every 5 years and they can do it.
I sent them an e-mail and awaiting more details.
Bill

 

[DSSdoc]

Bill here.
photos of before and after posted at my personal website:

top out, lashed with green line; bottom in place:
http://www.swq.com/b352/18jul09_5.jpg
http://www.swq.com/b352/18jul09_6.jpg
http://www.swq.com/b352/18jul09_7.jpg

top out, lashed with green line; bottom came out the next time we sailed:
http://www.swq.com/b352/18jul09_3.jpg
http://www.swq.com/b352/18jul09_4.jpg

top and bottom taped (with Gorilla tape), before applying clamps
http://www.swq.com/b352/18jul09_1.jpg

taped and clamped:
http://www.swq.com/b352/19jul09_2.jpg
http://www.swq.com/b352/19jul09_3.jpg

after two sails with tape and clamps:
http://www.swq.com/b352/25jul09_4.jpg
http://www.swq.com/b352/25jul09_5.jpg


After a few more sails, no change in appearance. I tightened the clamps a bit after the first few sails, but now they are tight as can be. (I check before and after every sail!).

The clamps are 7.5" diameter from Home Depot.

The stuff came from US Spars, and seems simple enough to do, but we're going to wait until the end of the season, as we'll be taking the mast down then...

 

[John]

Might be a loooong wait

Bill just sent me this email:

Thanks, Shelly, for re-posting our comment.
We got thru to Beneteau customer service, who promptly referred us to US Spars (www.usspars.com). Called them, and they have a fix with internal plates that are inserted after removing the drum. They also say the drum should be removed and rechecked professionally about every 5 years and they can do it.
I sent them an e-mail and awaiting more details.
Bill

I don't know who is responsible for replying to your e mail, but if it's Julian you may be in for a loooong wait - like until your second life. I can tell you all sorts of stories, but the long and short of it is that there are two guys there - Mike and Rick - who are very helpful and seem pretty efficient. As for Julian, well, his communication with the rest of the staff there leaves a little to be desired. My suggestion is to call them and, when you have your choice, dial any number but his extension.