Inmast furling and windlass problems

[kaico]

Hi everyone

I just bought my 1997 Beneteau 411 last season. My biggest problem is my inmast furling keeps getting stuck. I believe this is the original sail. Any suggestions

Also, my windlass is an Horizon Express. I just replaced the anchor chain, it is 5/16 , and I think it is sized correctly for the windlass, but it jumps all over the place. It is missing the Rode Management Module which I will order, but is this just to help the rope or does it help keep the chain down ?

Also, there is a part called a Fleming, what role does this play in the windlass ?

Thank you for any replys

Eddy

 

[Gunni]

Eddy;
My 411 windlass runs 3/8" chain, and I think this boat merits 3/8" chain. Jumping the gypsy is a sign of incorrect chain size. The Fleming strips the rode off the gypsy and I think you will find it is specific to the chain size and/or rope rode you are using. The previous owner may have set it up for a different rode than the one you are using. Talk to the Lewmar folks.

 

[Mike B]

Check the gypsy to if it's marked with the chain size it's built for. The Quick brand we have is marked that way.

 

[Ron M]

I have a 2003 331. The previous owner used 5/16 chain (with wrong link type also) and I was experiencing the similar problems. After some research I found that my Lewmar Concept with a 003 gypsy requires 3/8 G40 chain. Called Beneteau.... the tech rep said that all their installed windlasses require 3/8 chain.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

What kind of mast do you have? Manufacturer?

 

[sailrj]

The sail on our 351 will jam in the mast if the main sheet and the vang are not loose when furling the main. The foot of the sail needs to be able to ride up in the mast and not pile up on top of each turn.

 

[njsail]

A couple tricks with in mast furling. We have a Seldon in mast furler and it used to jam a lot when I first started using it until I learned to do the following.
- make sure the halyard is tight enough (not too tight) so when you wrap the sail on the furler it doesn't crinkle or crimp.
- Keep some tension on the sail either by keeping tension on the outhaul or fall off slightly from irons.
- raise the topping lift slightly to lift the boom up (you need to find your mast/boom) sweet spot.
- don't furl the sail with the sail dragging over the edge of the mast entry slot while with a lot of pressure on the sail. It will put extra wear on the sail.

You might want to open the sail at the dock in no wind and check the halyard tension and make sure it's rolled into the furler properly.

Regarding the windlass. You need to look at the chain gypsy on the windlass and see what size chain it was forged to take. I had to replace my gypsy due a poor forge. After replacement the chain has never slipped once.