Mast furling (UNfurling) issue

cymeyer · Oct 6, 2014

Hey Steve,

A number of things can help.

First, the angle of the boom makes a big difference. Make sure the boom is relatively high (less than 90 degree angle to the mast).

Second, I spray sail lube on the drum and that helps. Don't use WD40 since it will make it stick.

Lastly, does your boom car move freely? If not, clean the bearings or get a steel ball bearing one which rides on top of the boom (not inside).

Give me a call if you need some help.

Chris
313 550 9951

jibstay · Oct 6, 2014

Had a similar problem. Resolved it by putting more tension on the halyard. Turns out the main wasn't quite all the way up.

Also McLube'd the heck out of all the moving parts.

bob_pattison · Oct 7, 2014

furling your main

Steve,
See my post here regarding the mystery of furling mainsails...
If you can do it by hand, you need to mcLube the heck out of the boom track, the car and bearings, the boom sheaves, both ends, the sail block, deck blocks.
Then it will work like magic.
Bob Pattison

stevemylescarinosa said:
Hi experts,
Hope you can point me in the right direction.
Furling mainsail in the mast.
Jams constantly on the way out - sail seems to bite on itself.
I can pull it out by hand by grabbing by the tack and pulling as it unrolls - but using the outhaul just causes it to jam.
Started when a new UV cover was applied - sailmaker denies anything to do with him. Rigger overwhelmed too.
Any ideas??
Always goes in okay.
Tried applying some tension to inhaul as I pull outhaul - sometimes helps but more often than not gets stuck.
Thanks in advance,
Steve

bob_pattison · Oct 7, 2014

Furling Mainsail Truths Revealed
I posted it: 08.29.2013

SettleMeDown · Oct 9, 2014

Having the very same issue here. By hand, the car moves very easily. But trying to move manually from the cockpit by the out haul is impossible. The out haul line is rather stiff. I'm thinking of replacing it as that appears to be the weak link.

Mart3833 · Oct 9, 2014

Hi, ye much the same as the last reply, make sure the boom is not held down, release the kicker and the main sheer from the cleats and point the boat into wind, should be fine :dance:

Mart

TropicalSeattle · Oct 12, 2014

Question on lubricating the car: my yard master says to never use McLube on the ball bearings. A dry lubricant causes them to slide, not roll, and will cause them to flatten on one side eventually which makes them even less effective long term. He only recommends an oil like One Drop (http://www.mclubemarine.com/onedrop/ which is also made by McLube. Is that true?

Ron20324 · Oct 12, 2014

I don't have a roller, due to all the complaints I had seen on these forums before I bought my boat. Contrary to post #2, I had seen suggestions that the boom be 90 degrees to the mast, that reason being that there must be equal pull along the entire luff of the sail- not just the top OR the bottom. My 2 cents.

DougM · Oct 12, 2014

TropicalSeattle said:
Question on lubricating the car: my yard master says to never use McLube on the ball bearings. A dry lubricant causes them to slide, not roll, and will cause them to flatten on one side eventually which makes them even less effective long term. He only recommends an oil like One Drop (http://www.mclubemarine.com/onedrop/ which is also made by McLube. Is that true?

That's a new one... I would have thought a dry lube like Mclube would be preferential to a grease or oil which would tend to,pick up grit more readily over time.
I don't have in mast furling by choice, but would tend to agree with the argument that the boom should be perpendicular with the mast when furling, or just enough tension downward to keep the luff fairly straight so that the sail doesn't wrinkle around the furler. Some of the problems could result because the furling line has grown in diameter over time, and needs replacing.

Davefromoregon · Oct 12, 2014

Don't forget o make sure there is tension on the inhaul as you pull it out and tension on the outhaul as you put it back. I finally had to remove the battens. They added to the problem.

MSN-Travelers · Oct 13, 2014

2 cents devalued.

Ron20324 said:
I don't have a roller, due to all the complaints I had seen on these forums before I bought my boat. Contrary to post #2, I had seen suggestions that the boom be 90 degrees to the mast, that reason being that there must be equal pull along the entire luff of the sail- not just the top OR the bottom. My 2 cents.

And if you had a furling main, you would know that the angle between the foot and the luff is less than 90 degrees. The only way to get an even pull (top & bottom) is if the boom is elevated to closely match that angle. Our 2 cents isn't worth quite a penny.

Ron20324 · Oct 13, 2014

MSN-Travelers said:
And if you had a furling main, you would know that the angle between the foot and the luff is less than 90 degrees. The only way to get an even pull (top & bottom) is if the boom is elevated to closely match that angle. Our 2 cents isn't worth quite a penny.

and the actual angle of the dangle is unknown, but as stated the point was equal tension on the luff.

haebby · Oct 18, 2014

In our case, adjusting the boom to exactly 90 degrees angle solved all the problems we had. Now runs very smoothly. Your mileage might vary...

Doug4bass · Oct 18, 2014

My main boom is raised a few degrees. Never had a problem.

Sailm8 · Oct 18, 2014

I posted this hint in another thread about this same topic. Be sure the leach line is loose or it may cause a fold over at the top of the mast and will jam. Learned this the hard way.

Many of the negative comments are very similar to when furling head sails were introduced. In the anchorages I frequent, furling mains are very well represented and the numbers are growing. I personally hate lazy jacks with a fully battened main but I respect those who love'm. To each their own.

Scotty C-M · Oct 18, 2014

Having the boom slightly raised helps on my boat. Another thing, not mentioned yet, is to deploy and set a bit slower. It may take a moment for the spindle inside the mast to move a bit. I find that this makes a diffence.

Good luck Steve. Let us know how it works out.