Mainsail Furler Fouling

[Bruce]

The mailsail decals "h-380" have come unglued, wrapped around the in-mast furler (Selden). Result: Sail could not be unfurled more than 1/2. Sail could not be lowered. Fortunately, we did re-furl the sail. Put a big strain on the power winch before popping the breaker.Went up the mast & removed an 18" strip of sticky blue plastic decal material from inside the mast slot. Additional decal material is suspected to be still stuck inside. Sail then unfurled, but haulyard car stuck in the furler slot midway between spreaders.Three people hanging on the sail luff forced the car through the stuck area & now have the sail down and removed. Needless to say, all decals have been removed. Now plan to go back up the mast, clear and clean the furler slot before rehoisting the main. Potential of such a jam under sail gives a few chills up the spine.

 

[David Foster]

Complexity does add failure modes!

<nm>

 

[jcherubini]

In-mast furling problems.

I'm certainly not teaching Bruce anything here, but as I have said a jillion times before, I think we really have to soberly consider the installation and use of in-mast mainsail furling systems. The convenience aspect of such a device has got to make way for the more practical issues. I know that Bruce never expected to have DECALS foul the guts of this thing but really, let's all look at that. What if these bloody decals had managed to come unglued in about... 35 kts whilst heeled about 20+ degrees with a falling barometer near dusk about 80 miles out? Then what?(For the still-optimistic I reiterate my claim that the serrated kitchen steak knife ought to be numbered among the most useful emergency tools on the boat. --the next tool in this case might be the EPIRB or man-overboard pole and, if that could be bypassed, undoubtedly the MasterCard for a new mainsail.)PLEASE, people, consider very seriously your dependence on something with the potential for such catastrophic failure!!! The point of sailing is to have fun and be safe. For some the hassle of learning few skills and having to use them is 'inconvenient'. For me it's a no-brainer.With all due respect to Bruce, I hope we can all gain something from this.JC