Jib resting on grab rails

[Chicago Lifer]

We have a roller furling that looks exactly like this (sorry, no make/model number, have owned the boat for about one day):

http://sailing.about.com/od/learntosail/ss/rollerfurlingjib.htm

We took the boat onto the water today to mess around, charge the batteries that have sat dormant for awhile. While out, we decided to unfurl the jib to clean all the wildlife off of it, maybe explain the use of telltales, masthead fly, and explain points of sail to some friends who have less experience than me (about 4 lessons... yeah, I'm "that" guy). Anyway, after the job was completely unfurled, I realized it was too low - maybe 12" of it was resting on/over the grab rail. In all 12 hours I have of actual sailing (lessons), I was not briefed on roller furlings. So while not a complete moron, the only thing I could think of was the halyard needed to be raised a little to pull the jib up the forestay? But, I tried it on a winch briefly, didn't make much difference before I gave up in fear of somehow damaging the rigging.

Questions:

Is there something (shackle, etc.) that needs to be released near the furler drum to raise the jib higher?

If not, is the halyard the way to go and maybe I am just being too cautious about too much tension on the rigging? From what I could see, nothing was hung up - and I am sure I was raising the correct halyard...

Thanks ~

 

[David in Sandusky]

Jib on bow pulpit

Cutting the jib so that its foot cleared the bow pulpit (grab rails) would result in an important loss of sail area. I asked our sailmaker about this when he made our current jib, and he said having the jib ride on the pulpit is a common compromise, since the pulpit is an important safety feature, and the sail should come as close as possible to the deck.

If the jib were sheeted inside the shrouds (which run through the toerails on our Cherubini designs), the jib might be sheeted off the pulpit when close hauled. This would have to be a 100 or 90 jib to fit inside the shrouds on our boats, though. The minute you cracked off onto a close reach, however, it would be back on the pulpit.

In short, don't sweat it, this is normal!

 

[Joe]

The sail is "tacked" to a shackle on the top of the drum.(look at the picture) You can't raise the sail any higher. If you disconnect it you will have problems with the roller furling... to raise the tack higher you would need to to raise the drum.

If you want the sail's foot to clear the pulpit and life lines.... don't unroll it all the way.. just far enough for the desired clearance. Leave the halyard alone. If you unroll it all the way and the foot presses up against the lifelines.. you should have a crew simply lift the sail over them.. it's called "skirting" the jib... also sheeting the sail on the inside or outside of the lifelines may require skirting... it just depends on the situation... but don't waste your time trying to raise the sail higher with the halyard.

Now....... since you can't raise the sail higher off the deck without major alterations... forget this matter and concentrate on becoming a better sailor.

 

[dscribner]

Chicago Lifer,

I had the same problem first time out. The stories I could tell. The sail swept the deck so I thought it was a "sweeper". Truth is, I had it hoisted wrong. Loosen the line holding the tack to the drum. There should be a halyard that allows you to pull the sail further up the foil. Once its as far as it can go, tie this halyard to the drum and reattach the tack. If it STILL isn't off the rail, (mine ins't) consider taking your life line down to the base of the bow pulpit. This gives just enough space for the sail to sneak through and maintain shape.

If the sail is on the deck, you can't see off the leeward side. If your slipping at all, and who doesn't, that's the direction that your sailing. Explains why we hit a bright orange buoy the size of a VW first time out!

 

[Warren Milberg]

I think the first thing to consider is whether there is any space above the upper swivel on the foil/extrusion to see if the sail could be raised higher. If there is, then you could add a pendant to lthe ower end of the sail and shackle that to the drum. I did this with the 150 genoa on my boat and it raised the foot by about a foot and it now clears the lifelines-- and avoids chafing the sail there. While I may have given up a small amount of performance when sailing very close hauled, I think the tradeoff is well worth it. I also gained some visibility to leeward under sail which I found very helpful when sailing alone.

I also have a smaller genoa that happens to have a longer luff than the 150. As a result, it could not be raised higher to clear the lifelines. I had a sailmaker recut the tack to reduce the luff length by about 5 inches in order to allow it clear the lifelines. This was not an expensive sail modification (<$100).

Another possibility it to reroute your lifelines (if that is what you mean by "grab rails"). On some boats, it is possible to terminate the forward lifelines on deck rather than to the upper aft end of the bow pulpit. This can create a slot for the sail to pass through an avoid chafe. Whatever works, works....

 

[SeacretSailor]

I had the same issue on my C&C 29, with the 150% genoa riding up and over the top lifeline. My simple solution was to disconnect the top lifeline at the bow pulpit and "lower" it by reconnecting it to the forward toerail, so as it comes forward, near the bow, the lifeline takes a 45 deg angle down. This now clears a perfect path for the genoa to exit the furling drum and to come out without hitting a lifeline. I've really ejoyed this modification.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

It is ok if your genoa rubs on the bow rail. Many boats without furlers experience the same thing. If there is chafe, you can add material to protect the sail more.