Jib furling difficulties on my 170

[txjim]

I have problems operating the furling jib on my 170 and hope someone can offer advice. I've searched the archives (thanks to the Mods for bring them online!) but have not found a solution.

The first problem is that, when rolling the jib in heaver winds, the jib wraps tighter and I run out of furling line wraps around the drum before the jib is completly rolled up. This leaves the clew beating in the wind which is only partually controlled with the sheets.

I also notice that the foot of the sail will wrap several times before the head will start wrapping. The 170 is the first roller jib I've used so I don't know if this is normal or not. This appears to be the source of the incomplete furling problem above.

Finally, I have difficulty getting the leach sunsheld completly covering the sailcloth. The lower portion of the sunscreen will overlap 75% or more while the upper portion will leave gaps after it starts wrapping. I keep the boat rigged on a trailer during the season and want to keep the Texas sun off the sail.


I've done the following to try to correct these problems:

- I've tightened stays to assure I have appropriate forestay tension. I don't have a Loos gauge but, for test purposes, the tension is more than I'd normally expect to maintain.

- I normally start off with the jib sheets wrapped around the jib 2-3 times to "pre-load" the drum before deploying the jib. I'd try more but would run out of furl line and would not be able to fully unwrap the jib.

- I generally am head to wind before rolling the jib and control tension using the sheets

So, I have a few questions for the 170 pros:

1) Is it normal for the foot to take several wraps before the head starts wrapping? If not, what is generally the problem?

2) I have the full 15 feet of furl line that Hunter specifies but my next step is to try a few more feet. Has anyone else resorted to this?

3) Anyone else have exposed sailcloth after rolling the jib?

On the plus side, we've had great weather in North Texas the last few weeks and hope to be on the lake next weekend to try any and all suggestions.

Thanks to all...

 

[Ray T]

jib furling

Jim, The first thing I would do is take the several wraps off the jib sheets wrapping the jib. If you want this you should get it with the furling line by taking more wraps around the drum. You may need a longer furling line to do this. If you take more wraps with the furling line you may not be able to completely unfurl the jib before you run out of line. My advice is a longer furling line to give you the flexibility you want. As far as furling the jib you might try furling while you are sailing on a reach, this will give you a better sail shape and a more even wrap on the fore stay. With the setup on a 170 it is normal for the bottom of the jib to start turning before the top, this is just one of the characteristics of a fore stay that is inside the luff of the sail. Proper shroud tension always seems tighter than you think it should be and you should use a gauge to adjust it, this will pay off in a more controllable and faster upwind boat. One last thing, check the swivel on top of your furler to make sure it is turning freely. Hope this helps you . Ray T

 

[txjim]

Re: jib furling

Thanks for the advice, I'll give your suggestions a try.

Jim

 

[john6206]

Hi Jim,

I am probably the poster of many of the threads you found in the archives. I have been having fits with my furler for so long that I am thinking of buying a different boat - or seeing if I can figure out how to exchange the furler with a hank on jib.

It is not just a pain in the neck - it can be dangerous! If you are caught out in high wind and the jib wont furl you cannot control the boat, worse, if it gets stuck "half furled" it will start beating against the stay until something breaks.

My current theory (I have had several) is that my mast is bent.

My whole jib nightmare started after my first winter of boat storage. My neighbor convinced me that there was NO WAY that snow load could bend the mast, sure as heck it seemed straight next spring - BUT when I tighten the rig the mast bends the wrong way - reverse mast rake -

When I pull on the furling line the head stay is able to pull sideways -the tip of the mast just dips forward. This could be what is causing my trouble.

Now that spring has come I am waiting until I get a few hours to test my theory.

Let's keep each other posted because your problems and mine sound similar.

John

 

[txjim]

Thanks, I'll be looking forward to seeing your results. Sorry to hear about your mast problems, perhaps you can extend the topping lift as a temporary backstay. I also hesitate to mention this but are you sure the upper stay is connected to the rear padeye? I know they are only a few inches apart and really don't have any reason to think this would cause your problem but it's worth mentioning.

After posting the original message, I did try a couple things. I do believe the stays have reasonable tension. Don't have a loos gauge but they are tighter than the J22s or IC24s I've been on (that WERE adjusted with gauges).

I also extended the length of the furling line by downgauging to 4 mm which seems to help quite a bit.

So, the sail seems to wrap better but I have not been in heavier winds yet. I still have exposed sailcloth after furling but not as bad as before due to the longer furling line. Before, if I kept the jib tight while furling I'd run out of line before the sail was fully wrapped. I can now fully wrap the jib and take a couple wraps of jibsheets before I run out of line.

All of this is to avoid the situation you describe, where the jib is beating. I normally crew the foredeck of a Santana 30-30 and have had to fight 150 genoas under worse conditions than my 170 ever saw. I'd rather do that than deal with a partially furled 170 jib, if for no other reason than the deck is more stable and there are 3-4 other guys to manage the rest of the boat!

I'm sorry to say that I've not had a chance to take my boat out yet. It seems that our typical spring storms have been on weekends for the last 3-4 weeks. Hope this weekend is better.

 

[john6206]

my typical spring yard-work and work-work have kept me from getting my boat wet this year. I usually consider myself lucky to launch before June 1st, but I sail frequently in the summer and late into the fall - so no complaints.

The weather has been very summer like here in Michigan for the last week or so, wont be long now and I'll be under sail.

john

 

[phule4fun]

Jib problem

I have problems operating the furling jib on my 170 and hope someone can offer advice. I've searched the archives (thanks to the Mods for bring them online!) but have not found a solution.

The first problem is that, when rolling the jib in heaver winds, the jib wraps tighter and I run out of furling line wraps around the drum before the jib is completly rolled up. This leaves the clew beating in the wind which is only partually controlled with the sheets.

I also notice that the foot of the sail will wrap several times before the head will start wrapping. The 170 is the first roller jib I've used so I don't know if this is normal or not. This appears to be the source of the incomplete furling problem above.

Finally, I have difficulty getting the leach sunsheld completly covering the sailcloth. The lower portion of the sunscreen will overlap 75% or more while the upper portion will leave gaps after it starts wrapping. I keep the boat rigged on a trailer during the season and want to keep the Texas sun off the sail.


I've done the following to try to correct these problems:

- I've tightened stays to assure I have appropriate forestay tension. I don't have a Loos gauge but, for test purposes, the tension is more than I'd normally expect to maintain.

- I normally start off with the jib sheets wrapped around the jib 2-3 times to "pre-load" the drum before deploying the jib. I'd try more but would run out of furl line and would not be able to fully unwrap the jib.

- I generally am head to wind before rolling the jib and control tension using the sheets

So, I have a few questions for the 170 pros:

1) Is it normal for the foot to take several wraps before the head starts wrapping? If not, what is generally the problem?

2) I have the full 15 feet of furl line that Hunter specifies but my next step is to try a few more feet. Has anyone else resorted to this?

3) Anyone else have exposed sailcloth after rolling the jib?

On the plus side, we've had great weather in North Texas the last few weeks and hope to be on the lake next weekend to try any and all suggestions.

Thanks to all...

I replaced the short jib line with a equal rope in diameter, but six feet longer. I also lubed the furler, and the top piece. Did the trick. I will also store the jib in the off season(like we have one here "California winter HA!") rolled opposite of the direction that the furler rolls it.