Hi Tom
I have some questions to clear things up.
1. simply could not furl my jib in 20 knots of wind
Does this mean you could not get the furler to rotate and thereby not furl?
Or that you could not control the sail in the furling process?
2.Turned on to the wind but couldn’t stay on it
Did you have the engine running to try to keep her on ?
Or were you trying to hold her with just the sails?
Did you have the main up?
3, mooring with jib partially hanging out
Was this because of a furler malfunction?
4. How did the furler function in the past and how was it when you finally berthed?
Knowing these thing would give us more to go on in advising you.
All the best
Gary
Will reply here and thanks for all on responses. I know its an amateur inquiry - but this is where I go with any and all questions. Some of your questions answered:
- Main up and centered as best as possible - I usually take care of jib first.
- Engine running at about 3 knots and wheel in locked position. Odd channel tides where I was so boat would still veer.
- I did eventually get the furler line moving - just very difficult to do so and in the end the sail was not fully wound - not really even close.
LIGHTBULB: Wondering if I simply didn't have enough line wound on the furler? That wouldn't explain the tough start, but maybe not being able to finish the process??
- In less brisk conditions furler has worked well - on either tack - I always lube every spring and it was spinning well.
- Once on the mooring I detached the furling line and manually wound the sail in. On reattaching furling line I gave it a few manual runs around the drum to give myself a bit more/less? line to work with. (See LIGHTBULB above).
- The thought of furling jib on a broad reach with main out feels like a bit of a challenge - but jib sail position certainly makes sense, and on the run always "feels" calmer. Guess I want the process to occur in a sane manor, irrespective of wind conditions. Of course, we don't always get what we want.....
- I don't want to spend the $'s on a fancy auto-pilot - any recommendations for a homemade version?
- Aside, have had some difficulty getting this O'Day 28 into a heave-to position. Pretty sure I have sail positions correct but it just about always rounds across the wind. Frustrating. Too much jib sail out? I'm told this should be a simple, and important, maneuver.
Thanks guys. Be safe. Tom O'Day 28.